Amazing thread. I was thinking I needed to read it as just this week I was moving out of my house and saw an old timex of mine and was wondering if it would work if I found a new battery. It's always blown my mind that the apple watch (which I have) can't take a simple split by pushing a button - it's not possible. Like when I bought, I spent hours trying to figure out how to do it until I learned you can't.
I currently have no watch as my apple watch has been misplaced temporarily as it always has to be charged. BUt I may have done it on purpose as with no watch I don't have to train, right? ;)
Best is to run by feel and have the gps watch record it, but don’t look at the watch
Finally, someone else who is not pretending that GPS watches must be looked at constantly and in doing so will spoil your run.
I don't have a problem with Luddites but I do have a problem with people who invent problems that are not real or don't understand something so dream up their incorrect ideas and refuse to listen.
Jon Gault 14:25 5k - Suunto Digital Fastime RW3 - Blue
Easy is easy, moderate is moderate, effort is the most important thing. Go to the track once a week, or a measured loop - hit the workout to see where you're at, then run easy by feel to recover, log it all in a book, do it again. Mileage is a biproduct of the work that actually needs to be done... None of this silly Strava mileage tracking, data selling, social media distractions to getting in your way.
Time the run, log the time or miles, get the effort, and keep it rolling. Somedays are faster naturally, and some days are slower - the body decides, not the watch.
DISCUS
Step 1: disable auto lap
Step 2: set the data screen to elapsed time only
Congratulations, you now have a stopwatch that automatically logs your runs. I agree with the idea of running by effort according to how your body is feeling, but like others have pointed out, just be intentional about what you’re preaching. No need to buy a cheap watch when you can just repurpose what you have to fit what you want. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯