Minimalist Running is Playful. Are Garmin's?
Running is one of the most popular sports in the world because of its simplicity. Lace up a pair of shoes (and even that’s not necessary) and you can run out your front door for a great workout. You don’t need equipment, a pool, a field, or gear. Now that’s minimalist running; it’s one of the reasons why I love this sport so much.
Today, all this is changing as runners buy more gear that promises to make them faster, more resistant to injury, and stronger. Minimalist running, or embracing the purity of the sport and sticking to basics, has taken a back seat to Garmin GPS systems, heart-rate monitors, fuel belts, and exotic recovery powders.
Instead of a running shoe that helps us run with better form, we rely on motion-control shoes with Impact Guidance Systems, Space Trusstic Systems, and DuoMax Support Systems. Why are there so many “systems” in one shoe? Studies have even shown that expensive shoes – somebody has to pay for all of these systems! – are more likely to cause injury than cheap running shoes.
Many new runners train exclusively on the treadmill so they can control pace, distance, terrain, and elevation. Outside, these factors can’t be controlled so the outdoor world is avoided. When I started running as a freshman in high school, my coach told me to go run in the woods strictly by feel. What happened to exploring the outdoors and the new gift of running?
Our reliance on technology is replacing our reliance on listening to our bodies. We don’t run what’s comfortable for us on that particular day – we run what C25k (Couch to 5k) tell us to run, despite how we feel. Instead of practicing good running form, we let our $129.99 pair of Brooks Beast motion control shoes “correct” our form.
Minimalist Running
I want this to change. I want runners to stop spending time calibrating their GPS gadgets, leave the fuel belt and iPod at home today (that stuff is heavy), remember to run easy when you’re supposed to, and get off the treadmill and into the woods. Let’s start a revolution.
The human body is not a machine and can’t be calibrated to a specific pace or distance every day, no matter how hard you try. It’s important to remember this. Just because your Runner’s World 10k training plan (that’s the same template for everyone) says you should run 7 miles today doesn’t mean you should. Maybe you feel great and should run 8 miles! Or maybe cut that run to an easy 5 and focus on general strength. Either way, keep in mind that schedules have their limits and to always let your body guide you.
I have run with music in the past, probably 5-7 times in my 12 years of running. It does not compare to the symphony of footsteps, breathing, birds, wind, and running water that you will experience on a forest trail. Finding the perfect song and making sure the earplugs stayed in was too stressful for me. It detracted from the innate pleasure of a good run.
The six months that I owned a heart rate monitor were increasingly neurotic – I started wearing it on easy runs in addition to tempo workouts. I even wore it to bed to determine my lowest possible heart rate. I’m done having a piece of technology dictate my training.
I know some runners who do most of their runs on an outdoor track! Talk about boring. Ditch your high-tech gadgets and the same routes in your neighborhood (after all, variety is a hallmark of a good training program). Get off the treadmill. Need inspiration to run the outdoors without your Garmin? Check out the videos and images at MovNat.
The fastest runners I know don’t own GPS watches or run on treadmills. They run outside and don’t wear motion-control shoes. None of them wear iPods, use a generic training plan from Active, or do their distance runs on a track.
I cringe when I hear what some runners bring with them for a training run: credit card, license, keys, fuel belt (with three different types of carbohydrate drinks), iPod with arm strap, and a heart-rate monitor. Where does it all go?
When I run, I have my watch and a RoadID bracelet for safety. No keys, no fancy technology, and no music. Even for longer runs of 2+ hours, I don’t carry any extra gear. Simplicity!
Let’s get back to basics and embrace minimalist running. Ditch the gadgets that you just don’t need. Who’s with me?
Photo Credit: NattuSimilar Posts:
- Barefoot Running Research, Run Faster, and Free Shoes!
- Using Minimalism as a Tool Not a Way of Life
- How to Avoid Injury: Know Your Limitations When You’re Making Bad Decisions
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
All excellent points. Dig the post.
Curious, you don’t carry water with you when you’re out for 2+ hours? I rarely do myself, but that’s only because there are a couple conveniently placed water fountains on my longest runs. Do you benefit from the same, or are you a super camel?
And secondly, do you have recommendations for speed workouts if not on a track or a treadmill? I struggle with speed and am trying to bring it up, but I require either others to help pace me or a treadmill to control it. I’m not good on my own, especially with brutal summer heat.
Also, there are no woods near me. Only miles of scorched, flat suburbia. Miami = far from ideal running conditions.
Meg – thanks for the comments here. To give you some rapid-fire answers…yes, I’m somewhat of a water camel. I start my runs very hydrated and only occasionally use water fountains during long runs.
My favorite workouts that don’t use the track or treadmill are simple tempo and fartlek workouts based on effort level. I should post about this…
Suburbia isn’t ideal but I used to do it for years. Better than city running!
Yes please! I’d love a fartlek post.
City running is def tough. Lived in NY for years, whoa baby. It also means that I have zero trail running experience to speak of.
I hadn’t heard of the RoadID before. I just ordered one. I’m training for a half marathon this year, and hopefully a marathon next year, and plan on doing a fair amount of trail running. Carrying ID is a no-brainer, glad that there are companies that make them especially for athletes! Even in a worst-case scenario, at least they’ll know my blood type and that I’m an organ donor…
I also hear you about getting fixated on the numbers. I don’t do a heart rate monitor anymore, but I do like bringing my Garmin. I’ve stopped checking it constantly during my runs, though, so I can focus on enjoying myself more. I like reviewing the data after I get home, though, and it makes it easy to keep a training log.
Elaine – I totally get you about fixating on numbers. Even with just a watch, I find myself checking my stopwatch every few minutes at certain landmarks to make sure I’m “on pace.” It’s a bad habit and definitely not true to running by feel.
I always use to wear an iPod for running because I needed the music to distract me from the discomfort and boredom. Now that I am more into trail running I don’t need it anymore. In fact, I like the peace and stillness around me in the woods, with the only sound my breathing and quiet steps. Well, quiet when there aren’t any magnolia trees around. Those leaves are nature’s burglar alarm!
I have just started running on the C25K program. I have no sport experience and definately no running experience. My plan is to stay on the program till i can consistantly run 5km without walking intervals and THEN ditch the program for a “run as you feel” kinda thing.
the issue though is that i can’t seem to run except on treadmills! i tried a trail once.. it nearly killed me! VERY tough! tried the road one, made it.. only to fail on my last running interval (made half the last interval)
What do you recommend!? should I keep training on the treadmill till i have it down correctly and then go for outdoors?
Hi Fadi – I’m going to shoot you an email with my thoughts…stay tuned!
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