Could your tracker actually be slowing you down? A growing number of run gurus say yes. Here’s why.
Your race bib flutters as your feet pound the footpath in perfect cadence. You glance down at your GPS watch [5:41]. The precise pace you’ll need to maintain if you’re going to complete this half-marathon in your goal time of under two hours. You have five kilometres left to go when you hit a tough hill. Despite raucous cheers from spectators flanking the route, your pace falters [5:58]. But then, suddenly, salvation: a downhill [5:32]. You rush towards the finish line, skipping the celebratory fist pump to stop your watch as you don’t want to be a second late. You anxiously inspect the screen. 1:59:42. Yes! Cloud. Nine.Not to burst your bubble, but what would your time be if you weren’t connected to that mobile cloud in the sky? Could you have finished in 1:55... 1:50... maybe even 1:45?
Yes, say many coaches. Tracking may help you hit your goal, but it can also stop you from running your best. Why? Because it becomes all about staying on pace. “We see it all the time,” says ultra-marathoner and running coach Alec Blenis. “A runner will feel fantastic and could go faster but stays on pace. Or they’ll be running faster than their goal pace, then check their watch and slow down.” Blenis is part of a growing group of experts who claim we over-rely on electronic feedback.
NAKED RUN. HUH?
This story is from the December 2017 edition of Women's Health Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2017 edition of Women's Health Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Clean Up Your Digital Act
The realistic way to make over your relationship with tech
9 Biggest Lies In Wellness
Whether activating your glutes or your almonds, the struggle to decipher #fitspo fact from fiction is real. Between social media influencers, Reddit zealots and that pushy guy at the supplement store, some seriously ridiculous – and potentially dangerous – ideas have moved from fringe theory to health gospel. It doesn’t help that the booming wellness industry, worth an estimated $4.5 trillion, is difficult to regulate. So to help you navigate these heavily filtered waters, here are the new health virtues that shouldn’t be – and a few simple tactics you can use to actually improve your life.
Kate The Fighter
Actress Kate Beckinsale is stronger than ever thanks to a no B.S diet, near-daily workouts and a refreshingly optimistic outlook. (oh, and she’ll date whoever she wants, thank you very much)
Welcome to the land of Oat Milk & Manuka Honey
Nestled in the rural outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, lies the town of Serenbe: a revolutionary wellness utopia designed to keep its residents fit, thriving and happy – for life. Could it hold the cure for the maladies of urban living? Or should its promises be taken with a healthy pinch of Himalayan salt? Before the world went into lockdown, one zen-seeking writer made the journey to find out
Ride Big
Laura Enever walked away from her pro surfing career to conquer the big waves as a freesurfer. Here, she reveals why she followed her heart
OUR KINDA GIRL... Elle Ferguson
Take a scroll through Elle Ferguson’s Instagram and you’d be forgiven for thinking the mogul had it easy: an impressive following, a successful tanning product range, and better locks than a haircare commercial. What you won’t find on there are the sleepless nights, countless rejections and the time she spent relabelling bottles on her living room floor. Here, the 32-year-old talks backing yourself and the secret behind her beauty brand, Elle Effect.
If it's not a Hell Yeah, it's a NO!
Sure thing! No probs! Of course! Happy to help! The word ‘yes’ easily rolls off the tongue in a million agreeable ways. But what if we told you that, contrary to everything the world has taught you so far, saying yes isn’t actually the key to winning at life? In fact, it might just be holding you back.
How to Live to...120
Jennifer Aniston, J.Lo and Jane Fonda have nailed the art of defying time, but us mere mortals don’t have their kind of dough (or specialists). Instead, take a lesson in longevity from the “blue zones”, hot spots that are home to the planet’s longest-living populations.
The AI Revolution Is Coming: Here's How To Future -Proof Your Career
Robots are coming for your job. Not only yours, but another 20 million jobs around the world over the next 10 years. That’s how media outlets reported on the results of a 2019 paper released by global forecaster Oxford Economics. If you think that sounds rather dystopian, wait until your anxiety-fuelled googling brings up news headlines claiming it’s actually 800 million jobs – not a meagre 20 mill – that will be eliminated by robots by the time 2030 hits.
Where Have All The Drinkers Gone?
Teetotalism has become a badge of honour, the alcohol-free market is booming and mindfulness has ousted getting messy. But while millennials are showing up for sober club nights, the next generation has opted out of drinking culture entirely. WH finds out why...
