"Don't tell me how I'm doing!" This line comes from a rather amusing episode of Cougar Town (yes, I'm referencing Cougar Town!) where redneckish golf pro Bobby Cobb nails the front 9 and then his play is apparently sabotaged feedback from his friends on the back 9. At the beginning of the round, Bobby insists on not knowing how he's doing score-wise. From there his play falls apart.
So what does this story from an ABC show of questionable quality have to do with running and triathlon? When it comes to yours truly, quite a bit. Today I am really going to unzip my lid and expose my racing mental state (or states) and my theories behind. I'm also coming off from two races in 10 days-a total rarity for me-one from each category.
After completing a few tris but no road races since January's relay, it was nice to wear some non-spandex and no helmet, hit 'start and stop' on my watch and just go for it on Wednesday. I initially felt almost out of place at the 5-miler, but that feeling quickly was replaced by a sense of familiarity. Of course the act and approach to my running is the same. I don't even think my gait is much different off the bike. Mentally, however, after reflecting back on my past two races, I find quite different.
In most road races I run, unless it's a massive one with waves, you know where you basically stand at all times. On Wednesday, halfway through I could see the third place female ahead of me but nobody really behind me. I knew that it was highly likely I was coming in 4th after doing some estimation. I hate to admit it, but it did have some effect on my thought processes and perhaps caused me to shut down and be perhaps a little complacent mentally. I noticed in tris once you start the run, it's very hard to tell where you stack since you are grouped tightly by age group and sent into the water in specific intervals. A lot can happen in between now and there. My theory is that this fact keeps me focused and "running scared" as pretty much I 'don't know how I'm doing', other than the effort I'm putting out. I also just wear a regular watch in tris. Apparently, and I have gone down this road more than once, my perceived effort is sufficient feedback.
Regular readers know where this is heading....time for one of my token "Adrienne vs. the GPS" discussions....
Wednesday I wore a Garmin for the road race when I have been refraining from doing so in tris. I had a target pace that I did not maintain for the duration; summertime in SE Texas can do that. So can lots of recent withdrawls from your fitness bank: triathlon race, awesome track workout, swimming, biking, etc... . But whatever. All I see when in an oxygen-deprived state is numbers. Instant feedback on what and how I'm doing. A known trigger for me if I don't like what I see. While I didn't let this totally tank my mental state during this race, I didn't find this as necessarily a positive thing either. Who likes to see data that is not what you planned for? I think even though I'm getting pretty good at talking myself through, I couldn't help but believe that seeing data kind of sabotaged my true feel of the race, even if on an unconscious level.
Instant feedback on pace and place in race is not necessarily a negative thing-it can go the other way too.
To tie these two observations together, I have been racing not really knowing exactly where I'm at in tris, and doing so with just a regular Timex. They still hurt the same, but with the way I'm wired, having that degree of mystery seems to work really well.
My argument to myself is this: If a race is going to hurt, and I'm going to be vascillating speeds, why make it worse by looking for external cues that can make you sad while you're already hurting?! I'm really big on athletes really knowing themselves and their tendencies and I offer myself no exception. For whatever reason, I seem to have a mental advantage by running
I wouldn't say I'm overly biased to either one since running is what I love doing, but triathlon in almost an accidental sense has helped me pinpoint how I should be racing, whether I'm sporting a Brooks Singlet or a PowerBar tri suit that day: simple and and as gutsy as I can that day. Just don't tell me how I'm doing!
Stay the course.
10 comments:
This is an excellent post. I think many, many runners struggle with this, only most of us blind to what exactly *it* is causing the breakdown. What is the cure for this? Ditching Garmin? Running by feel? It sounds great in theory, but then what happens to those runners that bust out a 6:00 mile in a marathon?
I'm in such a love/hate relationship with the Garmin. What did we DO before them? Hahaha.
No matter what type of watch you wear, you ROCK! Keep up the good work!
Coming from someone that doesn't even own a Garmin, I could never imagine buying one. Running by the watch and feel have become so ingrained in my approach that I have no interest in changing.
However, I can still relate. I tend to do very poorly when I become a "slave" to the watch and my pace. In fact, just about every good race I've run lately, I go in with only a general plan for pace, and only look at the numbers as a guide.
Once I force myself onto a pace, and see numbers that don't match, it kills me! Running blind really isn't so blind. In truth, it forces you to be in tune with what really matters, how you feel, what kind of terrain you are running on, and who/what is around you. I guess that's what I need to pay attention to in order to run well!
At least that's my bias 0.02 cents.
Great post! I have loved reading how you have been able to incorporate changes in your training and racing as you have added triathlons to your racing calendar.
For me, my Garmin is a great training tool for guiding me in maintaining a specific training pace in addition to its tracking abilities for my logs. When I race I adjust my 910 XT to show me the information I choose to see and go from there. At the half iron and full iron distances the information provides a good guide for me, for the sprint and Olympic distance races it is mostly just numbers on a screen that I intuitively understand but it doesn't affect my effort for those distances.
It was fun reading your observations here. I have often heard of people racing watchless. Scientifically, the problem is that there is no way to truly compare performances with and without the watch, since no matter what, circumstances can't be duplicated. (Darn). But what one has to go on then is gut feelings, and you know better than anyone what motivates you to perform well.
I have raced one 10k without a watch. It was a pathetic performance.. haha. so from now on, I'll be the one trying to figure out my screens and wearing two watches.
And if they ever make a shock collar for runners, I might buy it. Beeping pace alerts will work for now. :)
I am a Garmin addict, but I have gotten pretty good at not looking at it too much, especially when racing. I love the feedback afterwards though.
And you ROCK to be able to use a Cougar Town quote in this post. :) Hugs!
I love coming over to your blog and getting a little bit of free head advice :). My Garmin and I have separated a few times and there are races where I just won't wear it and usually those races end up being PRs. But I do love him and let him come back now and then. I guess we have a great love/hate relationship. :)
Totally speaking my language here! I have tried Garmins and learned they just aren't for me. I am much happier and better at racing and training w/ just my plain old Timex.
Cheers!
Totally agree with you on tri's you never really know where you are at. Although I love that I'm a runner and can pass people throughout the course.
I own the 910xt as well and I have learned to race by feel and I usually know where my times are anyways. I don't let my times own my feelings anymore as a Good Race means I've given it my all.
Nice post, as always. I too feel like I get some free head work from your blog ;)
I have a garmin but am really not sure why. I rarely wear it and when I do I rarely look at it. I have been wanting a regular stop watch for a while and think I might go get one and lay the garmin to rest. It's important (for me) to have a few runs where I am focused on time and really go for my best time over a set distance but with the heat and humidity here in houston I perform these runs on the treadmill for a big part of the year so watch not required.
I strongly believe that the garmin just limits what people think they can achieve, how off putting to see what pace your running ALL the time, and 'see' the gap that exists between where you are and where you want to be (I imagine most of us are aspiring to get faster).
I think it's so important, for me at least, to be present in a race or tough training run and all distractions that take me 'outside' of how I'm running and feeling are unwelcome and I don't think there's a bigger distraction than the garmin.
I am also only 18 months back into running and am still utterly in love with how it feels to just be running. I wonder if sometimes fellow runners forget the sheer joy that is possible from just running. We tend to get very serious about it all and I've noticed some people become obsessed with mile splits and stats of this nature. I very rarely read a post or article where the writer talks about how great it felt at the 5 mile mark or how strong they felt on the uphill section or how their lungs were so free and easy the entire time blah blah blah. It's all about times and splits. bluch.
I am a runner who is chasing not a time so much (sure I have time goals) but a feeling. I've had it years ago and I want it again and the watch can't and never will capture that for me nor will it help me get there. I have to be 100% present in my running to capture that feeling and I know what it feels like to hurt and I know how to push and I am learning how to not start off too fast (boy it's taken me a long time to learn that lesson!)
Sorry, I am passionate about this watch thing and have a tendency to go on and on and on!
Down with the garmin! ;)
Cool blog. Check out my "Garmin Golf Watch" blog.
Garmin Golf Watch
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