Yesterday afternoon was gorgeous - absolutely perfect running weather. The sun was shining brightly and the air was warmish, but with a faint hint of fall's crispness, the sort of weather where you only need a tshirt but it crosses your mind that you'll need your long sleeved shirts soon. I arranged to meet a friend to run a loop of Prospect Park mid afternoon to take advantage of the weather.
I got to our meeting place a few minutes early, and I sat down to wait for him. I was waiting at a drinking fountain situated next to an entrance to the park, and while I waited a lot of runners stopped there for water or as they finished up their runs. One by one, I watched these runners stop, immediately turn off their watches, and grimace as they looked down at their wrists.
It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of my Garmin. As much as I love the data it gives me, I also hate feeling chained to it - and seeing these runners on Sunday really helped to crystallize that for me. Yesterday was one of those days that was made for running, the sort of day where we runners wake up, look at the sky, and think immediately of our running routes and of how amazing it's going to feel to be out there. Why ruin that feeling? Does it change your run to know that you averaged 9:27 minute miles when you like to aim for around 9:15s?
Even better than the perfect weather and great company I anticipated, it started raining lightly midway through our run. A gorgeous day with good conversation and a light misting of rain falling on us to cool us off and refresh us - does life get any better?
I got to our meeting place a few minutes early, and I sat down to wait for him. I was waiting at a drinking fountain situated next to an entrance to the park, and while I waited a lot of runners stopped there for water or as they finished up their runs. One by one, I watched these runners stop, immediately turn off their watches, and grimace as they looked down at their wrists.
It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of my Garmin. As much as I love the data it gives me, I also hate feeling chained to it - and seeing these runners on Sunday really helped to crystallize that for me. Yesterday was one of those days that was made for running, the sort of day where we runners wake up, look at the sky, and think immediately of our running routes and of how amazing it's going to feel to be out there. Why ruin that feeling? Does it change your run to know that you averaged 9:27 minute miles when you like to aim for around 9:15s?
Even better than the perfect weather and great company I anticipated, it started raining lightly midway through our run. A gorgeous day with good conversation and a light misting of rain falling on us to cool us off and refresh us - does life get any better?
I love this time of year for running. The colors of the leaves changing. The annoying heat that is gone. And yes, on long runs I hardly ever check my Garmin - there a so many more beautiful things to look at. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat point. I need to keep that in mind. I also need to be running more, and giving myself more opportunities to keep it in mind.
ReplyDeleteGreat point. I need to keep that in mind. I also need to be running more, and giving myself more opportunities to keep it in mind.
ReplyDelete