After three weeks in Switzerland, it was time to get back to Cape Town. Snow and ice in Zurich had made proper training a challenge. Intervals and tempo runs were modified or skipped, and long runs turned into very slow slogs. I managed only one 24 km run and shortened or skipped a few others. Mr. Garmin was not impressed!
When we finally landed back in Cape Town, Garmin wasted no time delivering its verdict: “Unproductive.” Another drop in VO2 max, just in case I had missed the point the first time. Well thanks! Nothing like a watch telling you that you have travelled across continents and apparently left all athletic credibility behind.
I had already been uneasy about a 30 km race this early in my training cycle. After that cheerful assessment, my confidence moved straight into the cellar.
Fortunately, the organisers offered a 15 km option. Yes! Downgrading felt like a gift. This was no longer about surviving a distance. It could be about running well, enjoying the day, and not digging myself into a hole this early in the season.
Oddly enough, the most stressful part wasn’t the race, it was getting to the start line in Hout Bay. Normally a 30-minute drive, race morning turned it into a maze of road closures and detours. Our Uber driver did his best, but while minutes ticked away, and I felt myself getting all frantic. At one point, we were stuck in the 30 km race itself, surrounded by runners flowing past the car. By now, my nerves were in tatters, and for a moment I was convinced I was about to become a spectator at my own race.
Miraculously, we arrived with 15 minutes to spare. The Uber driver looked just as relieved as we did. We tipped him generously – this guy had earned every cent. No time for porta-pottis, a bush had to do.
Finally, it was time to focus on the race! At 7 am on the dot, we were off.
The first 5 km were hilly, but soon we crested the hill and enjoyed a gentle downhill – enough to just let yourself effortlessly glide. It was pure bliss.
As an added bonus, there were plenty of 30 km runners to overtake. We were fresh, while many of them were very clearly deep in survival mode. For the sake of the 30 km runners, it might have been helpful if 15 km runners had worn “15k” tags on their backs to make it clear that yes, we were still fresh, and no, this was not a fair comparison.
I crossed the finish line in 1:09, second in my age group, sandwiched between two sisters: Annie first, Vanessa third. Kai finished in 1:15, an excellent 11th in his age group (results here). The ladies of our running club also won the team prize!
Overall, it was a fabulous day. And my lesson? Less can be more. I’ll take a fun, solid 15 km over a miserable 30 km any day!
As for Mr Garmin, he remains unimpressed: “Unproductive!” Fine. November fitness won’t reappear overnight, but it will come!
- Have you ever had to “downgrade” your plans at the last minute – and it turned out better than the original plan?
- Does your fitness tracker/smart watch/ring affect your mindset?
I am linking up with Jenny from Runners Fly and Jenn from Runs with Pugs for Tuesday Topics as well as Runners’ Roundup with Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs!
Guten Morgen, liebe Catrina, kaum zu glauben, wenn man die Fotos sieht, erst im Tiefschnee, dann mit kurzen Klamotten gleich wieder beim Wettkampf, ich glaube, du brauchst das – oder ?
Dann noch die Aufregung davor, das braucht keiner, aber zum Glück alles mit gutem Ende !!
Kein Wunder, wenn Garmin streikt !! Aber DU machst das immer mit links, stehst gleich wieder auf dem Treppchen und strahlst wie ein Honigkuchen ! Perfetto !! Glückwunsch !!
Das Jahr beginnt gut, kann nur noch besser werden, die Daumen sind gedrückt, aber das weißt du ja !!
Hier Sonnenschein -3 Grad, ich gehe gleich auf die Piste.
Liebe Grüße von ganz oben
Ich brauche das, liebe Margitta! 😅
Der Kontrast ist schon ziemlich absurd… aber der Wechsel von der Kälte ins Warme ins einiges einfacher als umgekehrt.
Die Aufregung davor hätte wirklich niemand gebraucht. Ich glaube, ich war noch nie so froh, endlich an der Startlinie zu stehen, am Schluss ging alles ganz schnell. Der Garmin schmollt immer noch, leider, ich denke, das wird eine Woche dauern, bis er die Winterläufe verdaut hat.😉
Danke dir für die lieben Worte!! Ich habe den Lauf richtig genossen und das Treppchen war ein schöner i-Punkt.
Das klingt nach einem perfekten Wintertag bei dir – mit Sonne ist doch alles gleich viel einfacher. Viel Spass auf der Piste und geniesse es!!
Ganz liebe Grüsse aus dem Süden ☀️
Liebe Catrina,
au weia, ich glaube, in dem Auto, das nicht vorwärts kommt, bist du fast explodiert! Aber ich kann es verstehen, ginge mir genauso.
Umso besser, dass deine Entscheidung zur kürzeren Strecke sich im Nachgang bestätigt hat! Dein Super-Ergebnis ist sicher mehr Motivation, als ein hingewürgter 30-km-Lauf! Glückwunsch für dich und Kai!
Ach und war es nicht herrlich, in dieser Kulisse zu laufen? Klar, toll verschneite Landschaft in der Schweiz sieht auch prima aus, ist aber für uns Läufer tückisch. Das wirft mich auch öfter zurück, wenn wir im BeO sind.
Und deine meckernde Uhr? Lass’ die digitale Zicke meckern, was zählt ist dein Gefühl und deine Rahmenbedingungen. Ich hatte da ja auch gerade so ein Fehlurteil, was mir völlig egal ist. Die soll km und Zeiten messen, aber Rückschlüsse ziehe ich selber.
Was Laufverkürzung angeht, das habe ich mal im Salzburg-Marathon gemacht. Der geht über 2 Runden und man kann sogar noch unterwegs entscheiden, ab man Voll- oder Halbdistanz läuft. An dem Tag wäre trotz Vorbereitung ein Marathon wetterbedingt übel geworden, also lief ich zur Habdistanz rein. In Wien ginge das auch, aber da bin ich munter und mit Freude am Scheidepunkt vorbei zu den 42 km gelaufen.
Euch wieder eine gute Zeit in sommerlicher Umgebung!
Liebe Grüße aus dem kalten, sonnigen Rheinland!
Elke
Liebe Elke,
Ich war nahe am explodieren! Gleichzeitig war ich dankbar für den Uber-Fahrer, der sein bestes gab. Der Arme! 😅
Danke dir! Weniger Leiden, mehr Freude: ich bin froh, dass es so gut aufgegangen ist. Es war ein richtig schöner Tag.
Genau so ist es: Schnee ist auch schön, aber es ist einfach schwierig für die Lauferei. Das kennst du ja bestens aus dem BeO. Geht ihr eigentlich in nächster Zeit wieder hin?
Ha, ja, dein “Exzellent” war ja auch cool. Du hast schon recht, man sollte mehr auf das Gefühl achten. Die Garmin ist immer noch hässig auf mich… heute trotz 8km war sie nicht happy.
Deine Salzburg und Wien Beispiele finde ich super! Ich liebe diese Flexibilität unterwegs zu entscheiden, ob man den langen oder kurzen Weg nimmt – gerade wenn die Bedingungen nicht ideal sind. Und natürlich macht es richtig Spass, wenn man sich die 42 km in Wien zutraut und dann munter weiterläuft!
Sonniges Rheinland hört sich auch gut an! Ich kann mir vorstellen, dass es dich wieder rauszieht bei diesen idealen Bedingungen. Dein “Exzellent” wird dir erhalten bleiben!
Liebe Grüsse aus dem sonnig-windigen Cape Town!
Theoretisch wäre ich Anfang Februar im BeO zum Skifahren, aber da ich meine rechte Hand wegen des Daumens dann sicher nicht wie nötig belasten kann, fällt das aus, leider.
Oh nein, schade! Vielleicht könnt ihr ja etwas später gehen – im März sollte es hoffentlich noch ein bisschen Schnee haben.
Liebe Catrina,
das downgraden war ganz sicher eine gute Entscheidung. Eigentlich müsste es ja umgekehrt laufen – in Südafrika vorbereiten und dann in der Schweiz starten. 😉 Aber du hast das Dilemma wunderbar gelöst und selbst eine holprige Anfahrt konnte nichts am Treppchenplatz ändern.
Hihi – Mr. Garmin soll mal keine großen Töne spucken – der muss ja nicht auf eisig-rutschigen Wegen laufen ohne dabei zu verunfallen! Da ich meine Uhr wirklich nur für die Sporteinheiten trage – außer wenn ich auf Urlaub bin – kann sie mir gar nix sagen. Ich starte sie vor dem Training, stoppe sie danach, übertrage meine Daten und schon liegt sie wieder in ihrem Körbchen. 😀
Liebe Doris,
Stimmt! In der Wärme vorbereiten, und dann voller Elan in Zürich starten… Das wäre dann die Idee mit London im April. Aber bis dahin werden die Temperaturen in Cape Town und London etwa gleich sein, so ist der Wärmevorteil auch wieder weg. 😅
Wie so können diese smarte Uhren nicht eine “Wetterbedingungen” Einstellung haben, wo man sagen kann, es liegt Schnee und Eis auf dem Boden??? Deine Idee, diese nur während dein Einheiten zu tragen, ist gut – weniger Paranoia und Abhängigkeit. Deine Uhr müsste eigentlich begeistert sein, wenn du dein Eis-Schwümme machst – wird dein Puls eigentlich langsamer wegen der Kälte, trotz Schwimmaktivität?
Gute Frage – ich achte beim Schwimmen gar nicht so auf den Puls, aber da sich die Gefäße in der Kälte zusammenziehen, muss das Herz ja gegen einen größeren Widerstand “anpumpen” und dadurch ist das Schwimmen dann viel anstrengender, als in der Wärme.
Ach so, wieder was gelernt! 😄 Habe ich gar nicht gedacht, aber klingt absolut logisch. Jetzt habe ich noch mehr Respekt für die Eisschwimmer – und für die Leute hier, die den Robben Island Schwumm machen in 12C Wasser (7km von der ehemaligen Gefangeneninsel bis zum Festland).
Ha! Das war doch eine super “Strategie”! Im Auto schon mal ordentlich Adrenalin tanken, nur noch wenig Zeit haben, dann total unter Strom lospreschen und eine super Platzierung hinlegen. Herzlichen Glückwunsch!! Ihr solltet immer so knapp zum Start ankommen 🤣😉
Naja und meine Meinung zu langen Läufen kennst du ja, wird völlig überbewertet.
Die Unproduktivität von Herrn Garmin verstehe ich allerdings nicht, diese paar Tage hätten nicht so runterziehen dürfen. Das setzt meine Coros Uhr anders um, sowas wird eher als Tapering oder Vorbereitung gewertet. Aber was wissen die Uhren schon, ich schaue da kaum drauf und höre lieber auf mein Körpergefühl.
Ein Rennen verkürzt hab ich bisher noch nie, aber mal eins spontan verlängert (von 10 auf 21), ist ewig her.
Und jetzt raus mit dir, rennen und Herrn Garmin erfreuen 🏃♂️➡️💪
Ha, genau! 😄 Im Nachhinein habe ich das auch gedacht. Ich hatte nicht mal Zeit für ein Aufwärmen, aber das war anscheinend auch ok. Der Adrenalin-Kick war genug!🤣
Stimmt! Ich brauche die wohl eher mental – so im Stil “ich habe trainiert und kann das”… ich bin nicht cool genug, einfach so einen langen Lauf aus dem Ärmel zu schütteln! 😂
Ich glaube, was Herrn Garmin wirklich störte, waren die langsamen Schneeläufe. Es waren ja mehr als 2 Wochen, und dann die fehlenden Einheiten noch dazu, das gab ihm den Rest. Solch ein Dramatiker! Ich bin gespannt, wie lange es dauert, bis er wieder mit mir spricht. Aufs Körpergefühl zu achten ist viel vernünftiger. Coros scheint das eindeutig besser im Griff zu haben!
Und wow, spontan von 10 auf 21 km? Das ist sehr cool. Könntest du auch heute noch ohne weiteres durchziehen.
Elke sagt, dass die Sonne bei euch scheint, dann gebe ich dir das zurück: Raus mit dir, lieber Oliver!! 🏃♀️💪
That was definitely the right call! No need to break down so early in the training cycle. I would be bothered by garmin’s remark, even shut it up hahaha!
I had to drop the marathon race last year because of the knee issue. It was a bummer but the right call. Hopefully this year I can get there on the start line.
Oh yes, I remember you dropping the marathon race last year. I really hope that New York will work out for you this year – it would be so exciting!
You are good at listening to your body and you have a very balanced training regime – you will be fit and healthy for it.
I know right?! Why are we enslaved to the Garmins??
Oh, isn’t Garmin the best at making you feel like shit? LOL! One thing I question is how “you’re fitness is declining” and still it recommends you to rest and focus on nutrition instead of getting back to proper training!
My Garmin isn’t that dramatic (perhaps because I don’t have a running watch), but it (or possibly Strava) will tell me I’m “below my weekly average” which isn’t that inspiring either.
Right now I live through everyone who has weather for shorts and tank tops, while I sit here with a miserable sore throat and sniffles and we always have feels-like -1 with either frost, strong winds or sideways rain (although, it IS milder at the moment).
Nice job at the race and congrats to the 2nd place!
That’s exactly what I was wondering about! Shouldn’t it be telling me to get up and go and stick to the schedule?? It doesn’t make sense at all. Today, I went on a 8km run and I’m still unproductive. It’ll probably take a week until I’m in “maintaining” territory.
That “below your weekly average” message is not exactly motivating either, but at least it’s probably factually correct. Do you have the paid version of Strava? Do you log your walks on Strava? I need to follow you!
Oh no, sounds like you’re not better yet! A sore throat and sniffles plus miserable winter weather sounds rough. I hope you have a nice, hot cup of tea right next to you. Hopefully it will all clear quickly and you get some proper feel-good walks in again soon.
Thanks, Susanne! Second place was a nice bonus on a beautiful morning.
Yes, I do use the paid version and log everything there, although walks are SO scarce at the moment. Feel free to follow me! I have quite strict privacy controls because of some creepy stuff that has happened to people because of Strava details, but I followed you now so feel free to follow back. If my maps are boringly hidden, please let me know and I’ll try to fix it, because at least my followers should be allowed to see them.
I saw that you followed me, thanks! I followed you back! Your maps are showing, so it’s all good.
I’m looking forward to keeping up with your activities!
A smart runner knows her limits and you did the right thing by dropping down. Like you said, it’s better to run a fun, solid 15k than a miserable 30k any day. What a boost for your confidence and a good reminder of why we do this! Congrats on 2d in your AG, too. What does Garmin know about productivity anyway?
Thanks, Wendy! I felt bad when I first decided to drop down, but I told myself it’s the smarter decision. The 15 km was such a good reminder that running is meant to feel good, not like a punishment. I was so glad for the confidence boost!
RIGHT?! I wish I could learn to ignore Garmin’s “smart” remarks!😅
Congratulations 🏃♀️💨🤚 2nd is awesome! 🌞 As usual I am interested in your award! Money, gear or trophy?
Yeah transitioning from winter to summer is a huge shock! When I used to travel south in the winter, it was always discombobulating. It felt too hot to be comfortable.
Ahh so snow running is not your pleasure! 😅💦 You can understand why I use my treadmill. I don’t know what I would do without it. I too don’t enjoy running in the cold wind, swirling snow and on ice and snow. In summer there is carcinogenic solar rays to deal with along w humidity & biting flies. Solution! Treadmill to the rescue. This activity is for fitness fun. No use beating up your skin and getting injured if you fall.
Garmin feedback is just that based on the limited factors assessed. There is low credibility for sure. They are extremely general indicators at best. My watch says sometimes I had a lousy sleep and should just pack it in. When in fact, I feel great and have an awesome training run. Feeling is what is the best indicator as others have said here. So you can ignore your watch and take it lightly to be meaningful. 😅💦
Thanks, Yves! I think this race was really lucrative, they will transfer me CAD 60! And then some more for the team prize. I tell you, I will need a tax advisor soon! 😂
I find going from cold to hot is easier than the other way round… You were in Africa, too right? In West Africa, if I remember correctly?
Yes, I agree! There is no way you can get any speed work done on snow. Plus, the soft and slippery underground is a recipe for injuries (similar to running on sand). And then in summer, who wants skin cancer or horse flies? Just yesterday I saw a guy on social media who is a dad, a CEO and a 19x Iron Man finisher. He trains in a hot climate – and he does it all on the treadmill! So yes, it can really be a life saviour.
Yes!! There should be an option for “how are you feeling today?” when you wake up in the morning that it factors in. Also, why is it telling me to slow down and rest more when clearly I’m missing all my target workouts? I should really ignore Garmin, but it’s hard!
Yes I hope you don’t need to pay you are obligated to pay taxes?😅💦💦💦
Ahh good memory. Yes Ghana. Oh boy was it ever hot & humid. There was nothing to but move slow like a sloth. Get up early do some work, take the afternoon off unless you were in AC. We were not but working outdoors. And then continue in late afternoon until the sun set around 18:00 h. Yeah definitely no running. I don’t like hot 》30C so going to cold is a joy.
It was great toy saw family & friends. Good to stay connected. I bet they are happy to see you.
See you on Strava!🏃♀️💨🤚
Haha, yes, fingers crossed no extra taxes! 😅
Wow, Ghana sounds intense! I’ve never been, but that heat and humidity sound brutal – sloth pace sounds about right. I totally get it about no running in >30°C weather (and I guess it’s also not easy to find a place to run!). Coming back to cooler temps must have been such a relief!
It was really wonderful to see family and friends in Switzerland. I have a video call with my parents every second day – it’s so important to stay in contact! I’ll be seeing them in April again.
See you on Strava soon! 🏃♀️💨🤚
Okay, once I got past the stress of the drive to the race….I was thrilled.
This is a GREAT post, Catrina. I was just thinking yesterday that sometimes we make goals and just dig our heels in because WE ARE GOING TO DO THE THING but the smarter thing is to actually step back and acknowledge that circumstances change. I love what you said here: “This was no longer about surviving a distance. It could be about running well, enjoying the day, and not digging myself into a hole this early in the season.” YES YES YES. I 100% support this attitude. At some point we have to say “what are we doing this for” and if the only reason we are doing a thing is because we had decided earlier we were going to do it…well, often things change! We have to roll with it! This is something I am working on in my own life, to be more adaptable when things change. And look! You had such a great day! Coming in second!!! That is fabulous. Great post, great lesson for us all.
Ah, yes, Nicole, you’ve nailed exactly what I was trying to say. That stubborn “I said I would do the thing, so now I MUST do the thing” mindset can be so loud, even when circumstances have clearly shifted. Stepping back and asking why we’re doing something in the first place is hard, but so necessary.
And then you are the Queen of Adapting. It seems to me that you bounce through life, happily adjusting and adapting to whatever life throws at you. I find that very cool – it’s a great mindset. This race was such a good reminder for me that choosing the option that lets you show up well, rather than just tough it out, can lead to a far better day all around.
Thank you, Nicole, for reflecting it back so clearly. And yes, second place was a lovely bonus!
Okay, one more comment: your VO2 Max is 55????? That is INSANE. Girl! I think mine is like 43, 44 on a good day! That is incredible. Also Switzerland is so beautiful. We have had basically no snow this year and it’s not like I miss it…but also I kind of do?
Haha, thanks, Nicole! I’m sure that your VO2max would skyrocket if you ran as much as I do – which is not necessarily the healthiest thing.
I think going for long walks, yoga and strength training is a healthier way to live!
Hopefully you will get some snow soon – not the annoying kind, just the pretty to look at kind!
Shut up, Garmin! You just ran a great race and placed second in your AG, so don’t listen to that watch. That said, it was probably a good decision to do the 15K. You could have completed the 30K, but probably wouldn’t have felt as good about it. Congratulations!
Haha, exactly!! Garmin really needs an off switch sometimes 😅 Second place and a great run should count for something, right?
You’re spot on. I could have finished the 30 km, but it would have been a very different experience and not nearly as satisfying. The 15 km felt just right.
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Jenny!!
I love that you listened to your body and KICKED BUTT at the race and had a great time. Such a great lesson for all of us.
Enjoy the warmer temps. It is a winter wonderland in Canada right now, so I got my cardio yesterday and today from shovelling. Not my favourite activity… but it works 😉
Haha, Elisabeth, thank you! Yes, listening to the body (even when Garmin is whining) really paid off – fun and a strong result at the same time. Definitely a good reminder that sometimes less is more! 😄
Oh wow, shovelling as cardio… I just read that it’s a very intense workout, you burn more calories than with running! Stay warm in that winter wonderland, and enjoy those little bursts of unexpected fitness. At least Indy can go sledging now!
Sheesh, Mr. Garmin sure is JUDGY! I get notifications from my Oura ring but lately they’ve been more positive since my sleep has improved and I’m exercising more consistently than I have in probably a year since I’m not in pain from a flare, surgery, or burns. But I received a lot of judgy “what is going on!!” type of messages this fall when I was not sleeping well and wasn’t able to exercise as much as I’d like.
That drive to the race sounded horrible! The picture of your uber driver w/ his hand on his face says it all! I am glad you arrived with a bit of time to spare. Dropping down was definitely the right call. And how cool to be sandwiched by sisters!
2 Thanksgivings ago, I had to drop from the 10k to the 5k because I’d been sick w/ a respiratory illness for the weeks leading up to the race. They were going to charge me to drop to the 5k, so I just sneakily only did one lap instead of 2 and no one said a thing.
Haha, Lisa, yes! Mr. Garmin is relentless with the judgy notifications 😅 I totally get what you mean about the Oura messages! If only Oura had known about the accident! It’s funny how a tracker can make you feel guilty about things even if you have a perfectly valid reason for not having great stats.
That Uber ride… oh dear, what a stress fest! The poor guy looked like he was ready to collapse too 😆 I had another Uber ride today that was equally stressful, but for another reason: I was sitting in the back seat and had the window slightly open. We were stopped at a red light on a busy street when a guy reached through the window and tried to steal my phone. But I held on to it and screamed and he ran off empty-handed. Talk about an adrenaline rush, ha! Another lesson learned: no open car windows in Cape Town!
Your Thanksgiving 5k story is perfect! Of course you improvised – who wants to pay for running LESS?? Flexibility beats stubbornness every time! Nicely done!
Yes Mr. Garmin is harsh! Congrats to both of you on a strong showing. Dropping down is a wise decision for sure. Look at that gorgeous course along the water! Pure bliss indeed!
Haha, yes, Mr. Garmin can be brutal 😅 Thank you so much, Marcia! Dropping down really was the right call, and it made the whole day so much more enjoyable.
You must have seen that coast line when you were here – it’s between Camps Bay and Hout Bay. Really beautiful!
*wein* – wohin ist jetzt mein langer Kommentar verschwunden? 👻
Also nochmal in kurz: meckernde Klugscheisseruhren brauch‘ ich eigentlich nicht. Wobei es immerhin eine Minimalform an Konversation bietet – muss mensch abwägen …
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum nervenstarken Fahrer, sportlichen Gatten, den tollen Lebenslandschaften im Umfeld und natürlich der geschwisterlich eingebetteten Zweitplatzierung mit gigantischer Zielzeit!
Oh nein, Lizzy!!! Der Klassiker!!! 😱👻
Diese verschwundenen Kommentare sind einfach brutal. Deine Kommentare sind immer so fluffig lustig, schade! Aber der kurze ist auch fluffig und lustig!
Und ja, diese Klugscheisseruhren mit ihrem passiv-aggressiven Feedback. Aber du hast recht, zumindest redet jemand mit dir, auch wenn die Uhr gerade sauer ist. 😂
Haha, das war der beste Uber-Fahrer überhaupt. A propos Uber-Fahrten, das hier muss ich gerade los werden: da sitze ich heute nichtsahnend in einem Uber. Ein Strasse in der Innenstadt, wo viel läuft und wir stehen an einem Rotlicht. Ich sitze auf dem Rücksitz, das Fenster ist leicht geöffnet. Ich texte gerade auf dem Telefon. Und da, schwupp, greift doch tatsächlich ein frecher Typ durch den offenen Fensterschlitz nach meinem Telefon. Ich schreie, der Uber Fahrer fährt los und der Typ lässt mein Telefon zum Glück los. Das war vielleicht ein Adrenalin-Kick! 😂
Aber ja, der Sonntag war einfach nur herrlich: ich nehme das Gesamtpaket, das du so schön beschrieben hast, dankend an!!! 😄🏃♀️✨
Of only my Garmin could talk, it would have a lot to say about my lack of activity… I blame it on illness but it cold also be the weather.
Either way I will probably downgrade my 15k to a 3.5 miler. I’m not ready but only hesitation is my training plan for the half calls for more miles…
Congrats on a great race. I think you made the right call. Welcome back So Africa.
Haha, Darlene, I hear you! If our Garmins could really talk, we’d be in trouble! All the judgy comments! 😅
Downgrading is often the smartest call, even if your training plan says otherwise. You will manage that upcoming half either way – you’ve done it so many times already, your body will know how to respond.
Thanks so much! And yes, it feels good to be back in warmer weather. Hopefully your 3.5-miler will feel just right for the day!
thanks for your support. I’ll keep you posted.
What a smart move to switch from the 30K to the 15K. Sometimes we just have to listen to our bodies and in this case it sounds like that was exactly what you needed. Congrats on that 2nd place age group!
BTW, if you start focusing on rest and stress management your Garmin is going to say, “Get out of bed you lazy bum and start exercising!” I’ve decided Garmin is like the boss you can never please. 😉
Haha, Debbie, exactly! Sometimes listening to the body is the only smart choice, and in this case it really paid off. The 15K was fun, enjoyable, and yes…a second-place bonus didn’t hurt either 😄
And oh yes, Garmin as the impossible boss, that is so true! No matter what you do, it always finds a way to nag. I did another 9km this morning at a good pace and Mr Garmin is still unhappy…😂
Sounds like you made a really smart decision and it paid off! Looks like a beautiful course too! Congratulations
Thanks, Deborah! Running along the coast always feels special.
What a smart move, and what a fab finish time! It was a win in so many ways 🙂 I had to scale back, from a half marathon to 10K, and I had a very similar experience. I didn’t claim a 2nd place AG, b finished with a PR ….and my body (and mind) were in a great place. Congrats to you & Kai on your strong races!
Thanks so much, Kim! 🤗
It sounds like your 10K was the perfect example – a PR and happy body and mind, that’s what counts!
Sometimes scaling back is the smartest move, even if it feels a little disappointing at first. It’s amazing how much better you feel physically and mentally when you do!
Gute Entscheidung, liebe Catrina, sehr gute Entscheidung!!!
… und jetzt hast du Zeit deine Form wieder in Form zu bringen! 😉
Vielleicht kennst du ja meine Meinung, dass weniger oft mehr ist, auch wenn ich natürlich nicht sagen kann, dass Training überbewertet wird. Aber Kommentare von beleidigten Uhren kann man getrost beiseite schieben und darf sie nicht überbewerten!
Jetzt erstmal Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur ‘Silbermedaille’! Die wäre vielleicht bei einer längeren Distanz nicht rausgesprungen, obwohl ich glaube, dass die 2 Wochen Schweiz, in denen du nicht so trainieren konntest, wie du es für dein Gefühl gebraucht hättest, gar nicht sooo viel ausgemacht haben. Bald bist du wieder im Flow, versprochen! Auch an Kai Glückwünsche und hier schon mal liebe Grüße!
Solche Taxi-Fahrer braucht man. Ruhig und überlegen handeln. Leider war mein Vater in Neapel vor Jahrzehnten nicht so geistesgegenwärtig und die Handtasche meiner Mutter (von der Mittelkonsole) war weg! 😥
An ein Downgraden kann ich mich im Moment nicht erinnern. In der Regel konnte ich und hab ich meine Pläne durchgezogen. Evtl. lief dann der Wettkampf nicht so gut!
Da ich Fitness-Tracker, Smartwatch und Ring nicht (so) nutze, können sie mich auch nicht so beeinflussen, beeinträchtigen!
Bleib dran, aber das machst du sowieso!
Liebe Grüße aus dem jetzt verschneiten Darmstadt, Manfred
(Morgen soll es schon wieder auf +4° gehen, also Tauwetter)
Danke vielmals, Manfred! 😄
Ja, das Downgraden war wirklich die beste Entscheidung – weniger Stress, mehr Spass und dann noch eine Silbermedaille obendrauf! Du hast so recht: Kommentare von beleidigten Uhren darf man getrost ignorieren. Garmin kann meckern, ich entscheide, wie sich der Lauf anfühlt 😅. Übrigens ist die Garmin IMMER noch beleidigt – sie ist immer noch der Meinung, dass ich unproduktiv bin. Ich bin ja gespannt, wie lange das noch dauert!
Und ja, ich hatte wirklich Glück mit dem Uber-Fahrer – ich bin so froh, dass ich mein Telefon noch habe! Das bringt alles so viel Umtrieb mit sich. Deine Neapel-Geschichte zeigt, dass man manchmal einfach die Nerven behalten muss… puh, schlimme Erfahrung! 😱
Dass du noch nie ein Downgraden gemacht hast, zeigt, dass du dich immer korrekt eingeschätzt hast und alle Wettkämpfe auf dein Training abgestimmt waren. Ist doch super! Und ohne Fitnesstracker lebt es sich eindeutig leichter, ha!
Liebe Grüsse zurück ins verschneite Darmstadt! Tauwetter klingt herrlich nach perfektem Marschier-Wetter! 😄❄️🏃♀️
Liebe Catrina,
der eigentliche Stress fing für meine Eltern erst danach an. In der Handtasche waren sämtliche Papiere. In einer fremden Stadt Ersatzdokumente besorgen und das in Italien. Die konnten dort doch kein Deutsch und nicht so gut Englisch, mein Vater vielleicht ein paar Brocken italienisch?
Ob ich mich immer gut eingeschätzt habe, wage ich zu bezweifeln. Ich weiß nur noch, dass ich dann immer mal langsamer ‘rauskam’, als ich es vorher vom Training her hochgerechnet hatte.
Das Tauwetter greift, aber ich komme heute nicht raus. Mal sehen wie es morgen aussieht und sich marschieren lässt.
Liebe Grüße Manfred
Lieber Manfred,
Auweia! Das war dann wirklich Stress pur für deine Eltern 😬 In einer fremden Stadt ohne Papiere, dazu noch die Sprachbarriere…. Das ist so ziemlich Albtraum-mässig.
Ah, verstehe! Das Gefühl kenne ich! Dass du langsamer rausgekommen bist, klingt im Rückblick schon sehr menschlich 😉
Super, dann geht’s morgen mit voller Kraft wieder los. Mal sehen, was du wieder für Baumformationen entdeckst! 🌳😀
I can’t imagine running in the snow, especially for workouts where you’re trying to hit a pace. No Thanks! My Garmin says I’m in recovery now, which I wish I was, I’m just not running because of this stupid virus. I’m not looking forward to my stats when I can run again, and I just started to get fitness back after my last virus, which is annoying.
That UBER ride sounds so stressful. Luckily you arrived before the race started, and didn’t have any lingering effects from the pre-race anxiety provoking drive.
I think you made the right call on downgrading the distance. It would be different if you were closer to the marathon and needed longer runs. Having a solid-paced race will be a great base to build on for London, and there is nothing like a confidence-building race. Ignore Garmin—it will catch up to what is actually going on soon. What a fantastic result for you and your team.
I have not had to officially downgrade a race, but I often downgrade my expectations—LOL.
Thanks so much, Melissa!
Yes, snow running is definitely not my idea of fun, especially for intervals or tempo work. Ugh, that virus is the worst, especially when you’ve just started to feel fit again. Why doesn’t Garmin have a function where you can enter some life/health details? I’m sure when you do start training properly again, that Garmin will shower you with “Productive”! A running blogger in Germany just broke her thumb and couldn’t run. Now that she started out again, she’s getting all kind of praise!
The Uber ride…oh my, what a stress fest! But yes, we made it with a few minutes to spare, so I could actually enjoy the race instead of panicking.
Downgrading really was the right call this time. You are absolutely right, a solid, fun 15K gave me confidence and a great base for London, without the misery of 30K. There’s another 30k in March, about 6 weeks before London, which suits my training plan much better. I will definitely sign up for that one.
Haha! Yes, downgrading expectations is part of the game – but it’s also smart, that way we won’t be disappointed with our finishing times! 😂
That is a great option to be able to run a shorter distance! Glad that worked out, and congrats on your race! My watch can definitely mess with my head. I was using a Garmin leading into my last marathon and I think seeing the data affected my mindset. I switched back to Coros for now and its a little nicer with its feedback.
Thanks, Lisa! Yes, being able to switch to a shorter distance was such a relief – it made the whole day way more enjoyable.
Oh, I totally get what you mean about watches messing with your head. Oh, that’s nice to hear about Coros! Less judging, more fun! 😄
I don’t dare to look at what my Garmin thinks of my running lately. Yours, however, I am always impressed with.
The logistics of a race always drive me crazy. Getting there, parking, etc. offer so many challenges. I clearly remember sitting on a bus, stuck in traffic, knowing that we were just minutes away from race start. When the bus finally parked, we all ran across the parking lot, dropping off our throwaway warmups in trash cans as we ran. I guess that qualifies as a warmup!
Haha, Debbie, yes! Garmin can be so judgy! Who knows how long it take to get mine all the way back up… if ever!
Oh, that sounds like a nightmare! I can totally picture that scene on the bus—racing the clock, everyone scrambling, and a full-on warmup courtesy of a sprint across the parking lot. Sometimes the pre-race chaos is its own kind of training, right? 😄
well done!
I wish you were here. I would love to see you take on the Gate River Run, our local race that is also the largest 15K in the country. You would absolutely be in the elite corral with those paces!
I”m glad you were able to step back and enjoy your day!
And ugh on the drive! That kind of thing absolutely ruins me! I would have been a mess!
Ha, that is tempting, Jenn! I just went and re-read your Gate River Run recap from March 2024. YES!! I would love to race that one – it looks just up my street! Not sure if I would make it into the elite corral, though, unless they had age groups. 😄
And yes, the drive. Absolute nightmare. I was this close to losing my cool, so “stepping back and enjoying the day” definitely started after the start line, not before!
Congratulations on a great race. I think it was smart to drop down to the 15k… sometimes life throws your curve balls in the form of quality time with friends, lovely snowy weather, but not great options to keep up your running routine 😉
That’s what you get when you’re jetting around the world.
Thanks so much, San! 😊
Ah, yes, you are right, sometimes the curve balls are the good kind: time with friends, snowy landscapes, and life happening…just not exactly interval-friendly 😉 You hit the nail on the head – as you know only too well, a long haul flight can knock you out of your rhythm in more ways than a jetlag!
Another incredible accomplishment, Catrina. You are amazing. Travel is so hard on the body. You made a great decision. I’ve dropped distances twice over the years. Both times I was very happy I made the decision to go the shorter distance.
Thanks so much, Carl! 😊
Travel really does mess with everything, doesn’t it? Sleep, routine, training rhythm… all slightly off. I kept telling myself I could “push through,” but deep down I knew the shorter distance was the smarter move.
Good to hear you’ve done the same and never regretted it. That says a lot!
This was a great result for you and Kai both.
I like the idea of enjoying a race or event more by picking a shorter option. At least it isn’t as much of a big build up and nervous affair.
I have personally stopped worrying too much about Vo2 max stats. I read recently from a coach who is of the opinion that Vo2 max is overrated that once you’re sitting in a ‘great for your age’ range, or a Vo2 max of 50 and over, it becomes less of an indicator of how you’ll actually perform than other factors do such as muscular endurance etc… From what I understand a large factor in getting Vo2 max scores above the 50-60 range comes down to genetics.
It’s certainly taken away some unecessary worry from me when I’ve seen garmin downgrading my Vo2 max by a point or 2!
The conversation I listened to around this was on a podcast from Evoke Endurance coach Scott Johnston, if you’re ever interested or looking for an interesting podcast to listen to on a long run.
PS, the other bizarre algorithm Garmin has is your ‘endurance score’. That seems completely random to me, and sometimes I see it climbing well into the excellent range and them for seemingly no reason at all falling again over a course of 8 weeks or so down to the level below. Weird patterns like this that make no sense to me. Again, I’m trying to ignore those stats as otherwise they can have a mental impact…
Thanks so much, Sean! 😊
I totally agree! Picking the shorter distance made the race so much more enjoyable and way less stressful. It’s funny how much anxiety builds just from the “what if” of a longer race.
That’s good to hear! I fixate far too much over Garmin’s stats. I think you are right, once you’re in a solid range, the details shouldn’t matter as much. Genetics is a factor I have never thought about, but it makes sense! I have just seen that Garmin is showing an upward trend again in my VO2 max… and yet nothing has changed, I am training the same as always…
Thanks for the podcast tip! Scott Johnston sounds interesting, I’ll check it out!
What? I don’t have an “endurance score” on my watch. At least something less to worry about, my goodness! I’m sure Garmin is just messing with us. Yes, best to ignore it (if you can!) and run by feel!
Oh don’t upgrade to a newer model then! I think the Garmin Fenix 7 and newer, and Epix? newer watches enable more stats. There are endurance scores, hill endurance, hill strength, etc… A nightmare for those of us who love a good statistic 😂
Haha, Sean, you’re speaking my language! 😅
I think I’ll definitely stick with my current watch. Enough statistics to drive me slightly crazy already!
Sometimes I really wish Garmin would just chill and let us run!