No, this is not a blog post about a wonderfully fast speed workout or some kind of amazing long run. It’s about one of those runs I almost never do any more. You know, the ones without feedback in the form of garmin.
Garmin needed charging, so I headed out on my three mile loop with no electronics. I just ran. I planned to go nice and easy, but it ended up being more of a fartlek. I would occasionally get deep in thought and then realize that I was really pushing it. I also had to do some sprinting to catch lights before they changed. All in all, it was a pretty good run and it cleared my head which was the most important thing.
Do you ever run just to run? Or is every run about a goal and carefully logged? Some days I dream about going back to the days before my first race where I used to just go out to run. I didn’t run for speed, I didn’t run for distance. I ran 30-40 minutes to clear my head and stay fit. In some ways, I liked running a lot better back then. Back then, I wouldn’t be contemplating yet another 10 mile run in pouring rain. Yeah, back then definitely had its good points…
UPDATE: So, I wrote this post early this morning, but didn’t get a chance to post it. Why? Because my kids decided to throw my life for a loop. Jones woke up with a stomach ache. I managed to get him to go to school long enough to take his economics test. While he was there, I ran 3.9 miles. I literally jumped off the treadmill and went back to pick him up. I’m hoping for a double today, but if not, whatever. I’ll get those miles in someday. ;o)
Bummer about your kids this morning!! I love running without my Garmin every now and then!! It is amazing how different it feels and how much thinking gets done! Great post!
Hope the kiddo is better soonI do sometimes run without Garmin, but no more often than once every few weeks. I love running just to run, but I also need structure sometimes.
I almost always take my Garmin with me although there are runs where I never look at it once.
Great post. I love running just to run but I DO NOT do that enough these days. Thanks for the reminder.
I always always wear my Garmin. I just like having the data, though I quite often will run without paying any attention to it until the end. I hope Mr. Sicky is feeling better soon… and doesn't pass anything on!
When my A-race for the season is over I tend to run for a while, 4-6 weeks, without specific goals, just to do it. Then I get ansy about the watch again even if I am not training yet. Going out on the bike without data is even more freeing – I love riding with no bike computer.
i love my garmin but i do want to have days where i just go run to run….
These kind of runs are sometimes my favorite!
I was just writing my own post about running "naked" for the love of the run!!! It must be in the air! Thanks for your comment, it made me smile (not that I"m not already smiling a lot these days!)
Last time I ran 'to run', it turned into my very first longer distance run at a sub-10 minute pace. I ran 7 miles exactly at a 9:50 pace. It wasn't really a run just 'to run'… it was a run to clear my head. Wayyyyy too much drama in my family, so running helps me deal. 🙂
I tend to run garmin free on shorter easy runs or all runs immediately following a big race. I have to say I miss the days when I would run just to run!
only 2 of so runs per week are actually related to some goal. i run just bc i like to most days. i leave my garmin at home sometimes, i often run the same course so i know where to turn around, lol. i guess i just love to hear that chirping!
Because I travel so much for work and am very absent minded, I often end up forgetting my Garmin/find it uncharged when I go to run. I like knowing how fast and how far after every run and find it frustrating not KNOWING, but I find it very freeing and a lot more fun while running.
At the moment I'm just running for running's sake – no goals except to keep my heart rate low and to feel good at the end of the run.
I have been running around the Fair grounds and not mapping it. I am pretty good about gauging my speed and just estimate how far I am going based on time. If I had a garmin I'm sure I would get addicted to it. Until then, I just wing it and watch the time.On known routes that are mapped out, I love to know how far and fast I go!
I run without my garmin pretty regularly, because I love just focusing on how I feel while running. Hope the kidlet is better soon!
That is exactly why I don't have a Garmin and never look at my watch during a run or race. Just relax and run how I feel!