Running unplugged – by Emlyn Maher

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When working with runners it’s very easy to over-complicate things. With a barrage of advice on everything from cadence to cross-training and a hundred ‘must do’ activities I often wonder, can’t we just run? Today guest blogger Emlyn Maher discusses this very topic!…

Emlyn is a runner from Clonlara, a small Village on the banks of the Shannon River in East Clare, Ireland. Follow him on Twitter via @Clonsports.

These days everyone is on the grid whether they like it or not, phones buzz and beep in our hands our pockets and screens flicker and pump through every conceivable image known to man from images of raw beauty to moments of pure terror. If I want anything at any time I can just log on and most likely there it is on some obscure website waiting for me.

People seem to need constant reassurance; How often should I run? What should I eat? When is a good time for me to run?

It is like we have stopped listening to ourselves and our own thoughts and intelligence and put all our faith in someone else because they wrote it on the internet.

We have companies telling us that if we don’t wear their magical band and listen to its alarms and stare at wonderment at its flashing lights that we won’t somehow succeed in life or running. Companies tell us this device can analyse your sleep patterns? And I am sorry but of what benefit will that be, I can’t remember at any stage during any single night’s sleep that I must try and sleep deeper or more relaxed. There is nothing you can do about it!

Here is my point, to truly connect with yourself you will need to disconnect with all this silicon and data that surrounds you.

When I first started running again at the age of 26 or so I thought I couldn’t run without music, that this would somehow motivate me and keep my pace on an even keel. Playlists were designed for specific stages of training and when I was nearing the end Metallica would somehow propel me into overdrive and I would run faster than I ever could. Sure I tried to run to its beat but I quickly realised that something was off. As a kid growing up I was lucky to watch an uncle of mine become National Marathon champion of Ireland in the mid 80’s and I always stared in amazement at his beanpole (I’m built like a Lego block) frame languidly eat up the miles covering over 100 miles a week. And what did he bring with him on his runs? Nothing! Not a phone, not an mp3, not so much as a snug fitting water bottle belt, and yet today you see people lining up looking like an SAS member with every possible solution to every possible event. And if that’s what gets you through the race well fair play but is it really necessary?

Other people are data junkies, pace per mile, ml of sweat per mile etc. and that is fine if you actually understand the data which you are looking at and how you can interpret it and put it into practice and structure your training plan around it. And here I must confess I have a trusty Garmin FR210 and have had it for the best part of 4 years and yep I like to look back after a run and see my performance. But not once during a run do I look at it.

Everyone asks me why don’t I run in a group or would you like to join our group? And no thank you I would not like to join your group. It’s not out of disrespect or the fact that I don’t think your nice people. I simply enjoy the process of running. I don’t want to curb my pace to run at someone else’s pace. I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to play catch up and I don’t want to set the pace. And more importantly I don’t want to be waiting around for people. I just want to put on my runners and run.

The day I dropped my ear phones my running improved dramatically. And I always give people this advice but only if they ask! I am not an expert the best result I have ever had was a top20 in a 10km I will never threaten Mo Farah but the one thing I do is thoroughly enjoy my running. It is my church a time of reflection and a time during which I can forget the day which I have had and process thoughts in a way that the busy modern world won’t allow. When I switched off I straightened up, I stopped fidgeting with my cables and buttons and I ran fluidly I could feel my stride lengthen and was generally more sure footed, and this will be hard to prove without testing but I do believe I suffered less injuries.

I am lucky to live in the Irish countryside and although there are days when the roads are covered in cow pats my environment is one which is thoroughly enjoyable and I like to take it in no matter the weather. We are multi-sensory creature’s smells, sights and sounds make up our world and sometimes we try and block them out or refine them.

My reward has been a clearer mind and when I get back from my runs I tend to work better and am generally I would think a better person from a mood point of view. So for me I really would love if people began to take ownership of their runs again. Don’t let yourself think you need other people or devices to succeed, you don’t.

The next time you tie up your laces and pick up the mp3 or the phone to strap onto your arm just stop for two minutes and ask yourself do you really need that on your arm or in your pocket. Unplug and connect with your running. And remember less is more.