Rediscovering the Joy of Running Without GPS and Metrics

I recently found myself running in a way that felt both nostalgic and liberating. For the first time in years, I went out for a run without turning on GPS, checking my pace, or logging my distance. In fact, I didn’t even upload it to Strava—something that felt like breaking a cardinal rule of running in this modern era! Instead, I just used a stopwatch, ran a pre-measured mile, and focused entirely on the feel of my body in motion. It was a refreshing reminder of how I started running many years ago, before technology began measuring every step or heartbeat. 

Back to Basics: Running by Feel 

Back in the day, there were no GPS watches. We relied on MapQuest (or something similar) to pre-plan our routes. I even created a binder for my wife (then girlfriend) so she could choose a course near her house that was pre-measured for a specific distance. Then, we’d lace up our shoes, hit start on our Timex stopwatch, and just run. Running wasn’t about chasing data or uploading it for others to see; it was simply about the run. Going back to that stripped-down approach took me right back to those roots. No pace goals. No exact splits. No pressure to share my run with the world. Just me, the road, and how I felt in that moment. 

I started this experiment while in the middle of another challenge: running at least one mile every day. I was doing it to develop consistency and build daily muscle memory. Many days, I barely got past the minimum mileage, and I had a stretch of one-mile runs I was tracking. One day, I thought: “What if I didn’t log this and just went old school?” 

For someone who lives by numbers (I’m a data analyst, after all), it was a big shift. It was hard not checking my numbers and times. I wasn’t chasing a faster time, obsessing over heart rates, or living and dying by my paces. Instead, I found myself naturally recalibrating—running faster when I felt energized and slowing down when my legs were heavy. If I had logged some of these runs, I’m sure I’d see some wild swings in pace. It’s funny because I used to be able to judge my pace perfectly by feel. Over the years, technology dulled that skill since I could always look down for the exact number. Going tech-free has helped me sharpen that awareness again. 

Tuning in to Your Body’s Rhythm

There’s something magical that happens when you take away all the digital distractions. Without music pumping through my headphones or a watch beeping at set distances or heart rates, I became really aware of my breathing, the sound of my footsteps, and the rhythm of my cadence. I could sense when my pace changed, not because my watch told me, but because my body did. These short, tech-free runs reconnected me to the physical sensations of running—the steady thud of my feet on the pavement and the feeling of the wind rushing by when I sped up. 

It was almost like a meditation, bringing me into the present moment, tuning out the noise of metrics, and tuning in to my body’s natural rhythms. It’s a way of running that doesn’t demand anything from you but your presence. And in that presence, I found freedom. 

The Mental Break: Running for Myself Again 

Perhaps the greatest benefit of running without GPS or a music playlist wasn’t even physical. It was mental. Stripping away the metrics meant that I wasn’t running to prove anything. There were no splits to post on Strava, no distances to boast about. I didn’t have to hit a certain pace to impress myself or anyone else. I was running purely for me, because I wanted to. 

There was no pressure to meet a goal or share my progress. In doing this, I began to rediscover something crucial: the joy of running for its own sake. For someone who thrives on numbers and analysis, this mental shift was a bit hard. Yet, running tech-free gave my brain the space to cut loose and just run however it felt that day—no expectations, no judgments, just freedom. 

Blending the Old and New 

I ended my tech-free streak recently with a short one-mile run alongside my wife, Kelly, during a family wedding vacation in Oneonta. The only runs I logged during the tech-free streak were those vacation runs. But that run reminded me of something important: balance. Now that I’ve rediscovered the joy of running disconnected, I’m hoping to combine that experience with the benefits of modern running tech. Yes, GPS and heart-rate monitors are great tools, but they’re just that—tools. They shouldn’t control the run; they should complement it. 

Moving forward, my goal is to integrate both worlds. I plan on using the tech when it enhances my training while also knowing when to leave it behind and just listen to my body. I can shut down watch notifications and set specific screens as default, turning certain features on and off based on the day’s goal. In the end, the best runs aren’t always the ones where you hit a PR or when everything goes to plan. Sometimes, the best runs are the ones where you simply lose yourself in the rhythm of your feet, your breath, and the road or trail ahead. 

I highly recommend trying some “disconnected” runs. Do it for a week, or just during short recovery runs, to really listen to your body. Running isn’t always about how the miles or minutes add up. Sometimes it’s about the fun and freedom of a sport that can take you anywhere. 

Let me know what you think—would you take on a challenge like this?