\When you track your run, should you count in any breaks you take?

[SirenDep]

If you want to run, say, 5K, should you let the watch count nonstop until you complete it, no matter what? What if you stop and sit down, or want to take off your jacket, or you get tired and start walking, or you want to go buy water? Should you let the watch count or you should pause it and count only the time you actually run?

I mean, if I count only the time I run, it shows I did the 5K quicker, but it's not realistic. If I count the breaks, there is significant downfall, which is more realistic but it makes me feel bad.

[Anonymous]

If you're in a race the clock never stops. The important thing is that you finish. This week may be 40 minutes next 38 & so on. That's how you track your progress. You're listening to your body, do what it tells you. Maybe try to go an extra minute, 1/2 minute. Try to do a few seconds faster each time. Take 5 seconds or less break each time. Drink water 1/2 hr. before you run that may help.
Where I live it's still 100, so I run inside. During monsoon season which just ended I don't do as well because of the humidity. Some days I run 30 min. others 35. It also depends if I'm in the foothills which is higher elevation. That's why I go to different gyms. Maybe you can take a different route?

[SirenDep]

Well, performance definitely suffers in hot and humid weather. In my city it's almost always humid, but the summer heat is intolerable.

[SirenDep]

so if I want to race, I should not press pause when I train?

[Opinion Owner]

Listen to your body. I'd rather walk then stop. Don't think about time. Finishing is the goal. Next race try to beat your time. I don't like stopping because your heart rate is elevated.
I hear you, it was 100 & it rained. Even inside I was soaked. I have water with me on the treadmill.
They should have water for you every mile in a race.
You'll do fine! In a race you also have a certain amount of excitement.

[SirenDep]

I haven't participated in a race yet. I want to participate when the next one takes place in my city. I want to train and be prepared. do you press pause when you walk?

[Opinion Owner]

:)
...

[FemWorship]

Give yourself bonus points for fewer breaks, of course
Give yourself bonus points for fast sprint sections
Give yourself bonus points for aggregate time when taking breaks
is how you train all week
THEN
once/week you actually time a nonstop 5k to measure how you'll do in the real deal

Too complicated? Then pace yourself nonstop = times used for improvement, even if you're almost walking... never stop.

[SirenDep]

that's a good idea actually!

[Jxpxtxr]

Haha I never stop and sit down while I'm on a run. If I get really exhausted for some reason I'll take "walking breaks" but I wouldn't completely stop moving, that's also not good for your body.

[SirenDep]

I don't stop and sit down usually either, but I can't stand too much heat. When I was running in the summer I had to, to avoid getting a heat stroke.

[Jxpxtxr]

I understand but it's very bad for your heart to make abrupt breaks like that, you ever hear of people dying from heart attacks or strokes while being on a run? It's usually due to abrupt stopping or just generally unstructured running patterns.

[mikemx55]

If your goal is to compare improvement, then you can count however you feel like, as long as you always do it the same way, and the rests that you take are significant to change the outcome of that time.

Don't worry about the actual time, just about comparizons and averages. Don't rely on a single day to compare improvement.

[jman46241]

There's plenty of apps on a smartphone (if you have one) that will track your speed and movement and give an aggregate and average of your 5K..

[akadatank44]

Well on my fitbit you can pause workouts so thats what I would do if I need to tie my shoe or soemthing if I was to ever run lol.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Yes nonstop, because eventually you'll be doing it without taking breaks and you want to accurately pain a picture of your progress.

[iawetsa]

i think u can do it either ways. The most important thing is make it consistent so that u see ur improvement... I guess. don't feel bad anyways ;)

[vekin]

I also count when I run, when I pause I stop the counting

[madelacroix]

You take a break during a 5k? Lol
Yea, were not all Olympians