37. Why You Can’t Hold Pace (Even When You Feel Fine) - And How Your Watch Might Be Sabotaging You

Have you ever been out on a run feeling strong, steady, and totally in control…until you looked at your watch, and suddenly everything fell apart?In this episode, Coach G is unpacking why you can’t hold a pace that physically feels fine, and how your watch - pace, heart rate, and all those numbers - might be quietly sabotaging your confidence and performance. If you’ve ever thought “I was feeling totally fine until I looked at my watch”, this conversation will hit home.You’ll hear a real coaching story from a runner who felt fit, capable, and experienced - yet consistently backed off the moment the data appeared. We’ll explore why this isn’t a fitness issue, but a mindset and perception-of-effort problem, and how outsourcing trust to your watch can trigger tension, panic, and self-doubt mid-run - even when your body is more than capable.In this episode, we’ll talk about:Why you struggle to hold pace even when running feels comfortableHow pace and heart rate data can hijack confidence and decision-makingThe difference between capacity and perceived effortSimple mindset shifts to stop your watch dictating your runHow to rebuild trust in your body and enjoy stronger, more confident pacingThis isn’t about ditching data - it’s about changing your relationship with it. Because the strongest runners don’t need permission from a device. They lead from embodied trust and integrate the numbers after the run, not during it.If this episode makes you realise “wow… this isn’t about my legs at all”, then you’ll love the deeper identity and mindset work inside The Runner Identity Project, where we help runners rebuild confidence, trust their effort, and stop self-sabotaging when it matters most.Links:- Join the Summer Consistency Reset {limited spots}- Re-write your running story with The Runner Identity Project (aka TRIP)- Curious about what coaching could do for you? Jump on a consultation call with Coach G- Break through what’s holding you back and unlock your next level with 1:1 Coaching- Join 31x31: 31-Day Self-Trust Challenge- If you like to listen to music on your run, grab your new fav running playlist here- If you are guessing what to eat before, during & after your run then look no further - grab this 3-part running fuel series.Let's stay in touch:Follow @gmacspurrcoaching on InstagramJoin the Your Running Coach by GMacSpurr community and keep the conversation goingwww.gmacspurr.com