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Listen to your body not your watch

running watch

running watchI used to run without a watch. I’d simply head out the door and run in whatever direction felt right that day. But at one point, my approach to running changed and it became filled with gadgets and accessories. I mapped my routes online and I became obsessed with pace. When you are working at setting a PB, these are helpful tools to gauge your progress and plan, but when you are recovering your best tool is your mind.

I’ve caught myself recently telling myself “You can’t stop yet!” But maybe I should. I’m gasping for air, my thighs are burning, my heart is racing.

I realize that I’ve stopped listening to my body telling me to slow down. Why? Because my watch always tells me that I’m keeping up the pace, I needed to go faster. It’s reminding me that my comfortable 6:00/km pace is no longer achievable for more than 500m.

This morning at hot yoga, the instructor Estelle Thomson said something profound about listening to your body that I must bring back into my running.  She said, “If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream.”

At least once a week, I have a dream where I’m running.  It’s effortless, I feel strong and guess what – never once do I look down at my watch!

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