How to go tech-free on your run

Here at On, we love sharing apps, smartwatches and our favorite digital tools for optimizing our runs. But just like anyone who spends a lot of their time in front of a screen, sometimes, a break is necessary. When the technology doesn’t work, the music doesn’t play or the GPS doesn’t track, your run can be ruined, leaving you feeling out of place, or worse, like it was a waste of time and effort. If this sounds a little too familiar, perhaps it's time to take a break from Bluetooth connections, and rather, reconnect your mind with the sport you love.

For some, disconnecting from tech can be just the change needed to feel more in tune with how their body feels. For others, a lack of stimuli can free the mind for clearer, distraction-free thinking and the opportunity to concentrate on technique and form. Just like breaking any habit, going cold turkey on tech can be hard, so to help you get started, we’ve listed the three most commonly used technologies people engage with while running, and the “remedy” for giving it up.

Music. 

Music can be a great training partner and source of motivation. Some studies even suggest that listening to music can improve your performance by up to 10 percent, which is a bonus when it comes to chasing new records. But run after run, time after time, it’s possible that the effects of music can do more harm than good. If the BPM is inconsistent, or the music stops, it can be hard to maintain a good rhythm. Plus, if you’re not feeling the track that’s playing, you’ll have to divert your attention to find an alternative. We’ve all been there. 

Remedy: Run a major marathon. 

42 kilometers, thousands of spectators, and hours on the road. But when it comes to the major marathons, everyone who has ever been lucky enough to cross the finish line says the same thing that surprised them on the day: the crowd. The sound of applause and cheers from strangers calling out words of encouragement, telling you they believe in you – it’s an unmissable experience. The noise of a major marathon is incomparable to the sound of any running playlist so sign up to take part (see our guide to running the marathon here). As your miles increase during training, try to ditch the headphones. Once the race starts and the crowd is cheering you on, you’ll be glad you did.

Phones.

Never far from us, our phones have fast become one of our favorite running companions. Used for listening to music, tracking speed and distance, taking photos and even the occasional mid-run notification check, our devices can quickly become an unwelcome distraction. For many, the point of running – or any form of exercise – is to disconnect from the world, which often means leaving our smartphones at the starting line.

Remedy: Run with someone else.

So, the best way to give up running with your smartphone? Run with someone else instead. Running with a friend not only allows for like-minded conversation but can be an opportunity for some healthy competition and encouragement. Plus, running together means you’ve got each other covered from a safety perspective. And if your friends aren’t runners, a short online search should help you find a club or meet-up in your area.

Time trackers.

Around a third of runners track their runs in some way – whether that's with a smartwatch, a smartphone app, a GPS or other device. There's no denying that knowing our run times is the best way to gauge our progress and reach the goals we set for ourselves, but of course, before we all had the latest high-tech tracking devices, people still make progress.

Remedy: Go old-school.

Believe it or not, you can still keep track of your time without the aid of technology. Check the clock before and after your run. Writing down your time manually with a pen and paper has a satisfying charm. Or, go a step further and don’t track at all. Without the confines of tracking and mapping, it’s a sure way to enjoy a truly freeing running experience.

Ultimately, disconnecting from our tech, even if only for a short while can help us feel more in tune with our run. By ditching the notifications, the music, and the rest of it, we can bring awareness to the sensations that made us love running in the first place. 

Since we’re on the topic of elevating sensations…