Applications for jogging can reduce your progress

15 years ago, chances are you would take a jog only watch and listing program, found on some Runner's World. Back at home, you would have had a drink of water, take a shower and recorded their run in the notebook (the paper or in the good old Windows 98).

A few years later, you could get as a gift for the New Year miracle of technology of those times - a hefty supertehnologichnogo watch like Garmin 305. Just imagine how you impressed with their ability to measure the tempo straight during a run. You could even be tracked through them when accelerated, and when to slow down.

Later happened is something quite magical couple of years. There were smartphones, and with them the weight of applications that can not only keep track of your movements, but also to manage your jog. Today, some RunKeeper every kilometer tells you whether or not fast enough, you ran and how many kilometers still left. You can choose an interval program and receive instructions, when to accelerate and when to slow down. All data about your jogging stored somewhere on your server, and you do not even need to look for a cable to transfer data from your phone to a computer - thanks to the Cloud!

And now seriously. Experience shows that the more you run, and generally engaged in fitness, the less you have to take care of all these figures. Most of them will not help you to train more effectively. Some quite harmless. But others may even cheat and push toward the wrong goals. For example, the desire to see the right number can lead to the fact that you lose control over their own feelings. This is a sure path to failure.

Technology can be a hindrance to progress

Where there figures, There is a desire to improve them. Some lucky people manage to collect tons of data, but to treat them reasonably, discarding unnecessary and remembering only the ones that really matter. But many of us are not able to find a middle ground. This can lead to inappropriate actions based on the figures: "Tomorrow I will be able to reduce the number of calories consumed by 1 000 "- or frustration in your own physical abilities:" Why do I fail to run as fast as calculated clever calculator?".

Take, for example, the average rate that the app tells you at the end of the workout. Based on the fact that the average rate - is one of only three digits, which provides the majority of cross-applications, we can assume that its value is very high. For sure you will strive to improve this figure each run, or at least after regular training for a long time. But this approach will not help you in the long run. your slow jogging We must remain slow. A quality jogging speed is not measured by the total exercise time, which should include a complete warm-up and relaxation.

Instead, you should evaluate your training based on the goals you have set ourselves. Including those that can not be measured.

For example, during recovery jogs important to relax, and kilometers thus simply added to the common fund as coins. During the interval jogging goal - to reach a certain speed. But this must be done in sequence, starting from the way are felt these intervals. In general, the correct impression of the run is not based on the figures, namely sensations.

Thus, the technology may hinder your progress. You are better and worse days, there are injury (Including micro) and recovery periods. You want to improve in the race. And applications can overtake depression, showing how "slow" you run. At the same time an improvement of some indicators can please you today, even though in the long term to maintain the progress they will not.

Tools that can really help you run better

It is not about to go back to the stone age and refuse technology. But it makes sense to rely on them less. For effective enough runs three things: pencils, paper notepad, and a watch with a stopwatch. And just watch you need on the treadmill.

Pen and paper

Identify goals for themselves and the figures that really matter. If you do not put any goals in the race, not at all need something to write. But it was tracking progress towards its goal of day-to-day and from week to week will show whether you are better run. Here is an approximate plan of records:

• In the upper right corner of the goal record on the week: something global, but at the same time it is quite simple, such as "To run for 1 km more," or "Spend at least two runs, despite the vacation."
• Draw a vertical line dividing the sheet into two columns (in a ratio of about 1: 4) and six horizontal lines to separate each day of the week.
• In the right column, write down your goals for each day, leaving the place in each cell.
• After each run record in the right column of the real results, with the ones that really matter, such as:
  • distance in reducing day;
  • the average time interval if you are working on increasing the speed;
  • own feelings (eg, when you are back on track after injury).
• In the left column, write down the distance as well as smiling or hmuryaschiysya smile to see how well the program you have selected.
• At the end of the week Bottom line - count the total distance (you can also record the remainder of the target, say, a year).

Please note, there is no need to fix the average rate. When working on the speed of your progress will reflect the average time intervals.

And your path on the map? Is it somehow helps you achieve your goals?

The numbers that really help track progress:

• Number of regular jogging and gradually increase weekly mileage.
• Personal data jogs on interval, which clearly show the improvement rate.
• Joyful mood that motivates continue to run.

Wrist Watch

The second essential tool - watch. Moreover, it is necessary and sufficient that they had a stopwatch. They are more comfortable than a smartphone, and usually cheaper.

Wristwatches are suitable for the majority of cross-country tasks, but they are especially good in the following cases:

• while jogging on technology 10-20-30;
• during regular interval runs - watches are more accurate than the estimation of applications.

The only thing that can do cheap watches, - remember the time of each interval. But in fact, the accuracy is not so important. Suffice it to evaluate more or less time you spend than expected, so as not to overdo it, but at the same time keep up with the plan.

Using your smartphone while jogging

Smartphone, of course, will be useful to:

• stay safe - you can call someone you know if there will be something unexpected;
• listen to music, which will help do not get bored while jogging;
• keep track of the distance the new route.

But no need to constantly check with the application indicated. It is better to remove the smartphone in your pocket and try to forget about its existence, concentrating on the sensations.

In any case it is necessary to keep track of just what contributes to your progress. Disabling notifications in running applications will help to keep the focus on what really matters.

Running Apps Have Hurt My Progress, Not Helped It