BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Appreciate What You Have

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog

Now let's get started by talking about what a runner "needs" to complete a run. To do that, though, we need to understand that a need is defined as a necessity. Which means “need,” in this case, indicates something that we can't run without... period. Why is this important? Because, if you began running recently or within the last 10-15 years, you most likely don't know how good you have it. You've always had music and GPS tracking available and you've never needed to guess your pace or distance, much less sing to yourself to stay entertained. 

So, I'm not going to go all out and give you a story about how "back in my day" I walked to school with no shoes five miles all uphill in the snow and so you don't know how good you've got it. But I will tell you that "back in my day," when I began running as a young lass, there were no GPS watches and no way to bring music on a run except by carrying a transistor radio. Get this... when looking to qualify for my first Boston Marathon, I had to actually do the math (calculating splits) in my head using mile markers and a Timex watch! Crazy right? 

And when the first GPS watches came out, they looked like something out of Star Trek (I had all the ones pictured above) and required actual batteries (can you believe that???)--batteries that seemed to go dead at the worst possible time. I thought I had won the lottery when I purchased my first rechargeable Garmin! To help you understand how good you have it now, I would be remiss if I didn't also tell you that these early GPS watches were only for running. That's right. You would have to take the Garmin off after your workout and then put your daily watch back on to tell the time. 

Now why am I telling you this? Well... so you can not only appreciate what you have, but to consider how different your running would be if you chose not to run with any music or your GPS watch. 

This was something I was thinking about after reading the answers to the polled question on the BPFS Facebook page yesterday. "Would you rather run without music or GPS?" And while there were many comments, the majority of runners said they would go without music. Which means neither is a necessity, but both are very nice added bonuses. 

That being said, let's look at the pros and cons of both for comparisons sake. And then, let me know in the comment section what your answer would be.... "Would you rather run without music or without GPS?" 

Running with music boosts motivation and distracts from fatigue, helping you maintain a steady cadence and run longer or faster. However, it reduces environmental awareness, which can be dangerous near traffic. Some races and trails also ban headphones, making it risky to become completely dependent on them.

Insights from the Running Community

Some runners swear by their playlists to get them through a grueling workout, while others prefer the peace of running completely unplugged. 

Key Advantages

Increased Endurance: Fast-paced, high-tempo songs can elevate your heart rate and adrenaline, making tough workouts feel less taxing.

Pain Dissociation: Music provides a mental escape, helping to distract your brain from the physical sensations of fatigue and soreness.

Mood Booster: A favorite playlist triggers the release of dopamine, keeping you upbeat and motivated to finish your miles. 

Main Drawbacks

Safety Risks: Blocking out the ambient sounds of nature, passing cyclists, or approaching traffic can lead to accidents.

Pacing Issues: You might accidentally run too fast or off-tempo if you sync your steps to a high-energy track rather than listening to your body.

Event Rules: Many official races and track events strictly prohibit headphones for safety and fairness. 

Running with a GPS watch provides highly accurate pacing, real-time metric tracking, and the freedom to leave your phone at home, but it can also foster an unhealthy obsession with data and cost hundreds of dollars. Finding the right balance between tech-driven insights and listening to your body is essential for maximizing performance without burning out.

The Pros

Real-time pacing data: Instantly see your exact speed to hit specific race targets.

Phone-free running: Tracks and maps your exact route without a bulky smartphone.

Physical tactical buttons: Easy to tap with sweaty hands, gloves, or in heavy rain.

Rugged hardware durability: Built with sapphire crystals or titanium to handle tough trails.

Structured training programs: Pre-load complex interval workouts that beep when to switch paces.

Biometric tracking metrics: Monitors continuous heart rate, sleep quality, and elevation changes.

Seamless platform syncing: Automatically uploads workouts directly to tracking apps like Strava.

The Cons

High financial cost: Premium models or dedicated smartwatches require a major upfront investment.

Data-driven anxiety: Fixating heavily on numbers can cause performance stress or fear of public judgment.

Ignoring bodily cues: Runners often over-rely on screens rather than listening to physical exhaustion.

Signal connection errors: Tall buildings, dense trees, and bad weather can disrupt tracking accuracy.

Battery maintenance chores: Demands regular recharging, which can fail mid-marathon if unmanaged.

Physical skin discomfort: Watch bands can cause painful wrist chafing on hot, sweaty days.

And there you have it friends. While having GPS navigation and music are great things and can definitely enhance your running, going "naked," or without any tech devices, from time to time eliminates digital distractions, maximizes safety, and forces a runner to build an intuitive, self-sufficient connection with their body. Ditching the data and the playlist shifts your workout from a performance-tracked chore to a mindful, liberating experience. So, give it a try sometime (at least ditching one or the other instead of both) and let me know what you think. Happy Running!