The naked runner

Technically preparing for a run over the past few years includes -

* Making sure Garmin is charged

* Getting signal before running

* Locating HRM strap

* Phone has enough charge and spotify playlist has downloaded added songs

* Wireless headphones have enough charge

* Stryd Power Meter is charged and set up on whichever of the 6 pairs of trainers I am running in today

During the run, constantly looking at several data fields and wondering -

* Is my Garmin working properly as it feels like 6/mm not 7/mm

* Why is my HR at threshold when it's supposed to be an easy pace

* Why can't I push my power any higher

* Why did I add this song to my playlist. Better stop and skip it

And then once finished -

* Upload to Garmin, which in turn means checking -

* Strava - change title to let everyone know how great I am if pace was ok or how tired I am if pace was shit

* Training peaks - where the honest appraisal happens

* Fetcheveryone - because I've logged on there for over 10 years and can't stop now even though nobody including me ever looks

* Stryd - to check what power was even though I don't fully understand it yet!

* Blog - to constantly bemoan my niggles / injury / form

Now all of this is perfectly fine and well when you are flying and feel great.  But lets be honest, that's a lot of palarva for what is supposed to be the simplest of sports!

I will admit, I love data and analysis.  You only have to see how many pointless blog posts I have made here to see how important it is to me to know what's happening and what the key is to unlocking fitness.  But sometimes enough is enough.

So I am on a break from technology for a while.  I started last Monday with the 100m and just decided to run. No technology, just get out and run like I did when I was a kid.  Distances and paces made up in my head.

And it feels pretty good.  I've run 5 days this week, including a couple of days of intervals and I feel happy with how it's going.  I'm still rehabbing the achillies so this week was always a cut back, but it's been nice to just run to feel and not really know how far, how long or how slow I have been.  It's quite refreshing and exciting to 'think' you are in good shape but never quite know!

I'll start uploading everything again in a week or so no doubt, but right now I feel pretty relaxed and happy with everything.

400m race tomorrow, that's going to be interesting!  First up, preying that my achillies holds up. Ran 68 & 67 in training so sub 65 is the target. Either way be good to get something on the board.  Still many weeks off fitness but everything is improving.