EP59: If You Say You Can't, Maybe You Should | The Naked Running Experiment & the Data Debate

Rich has ditched his watch. Not just for one run - for the entire Yorkshire Marathon training block. No Garmin, no heart rate monitor, no Strava, no data of any kind. Just running to feel, a whiteboard on the wall, and 20 years of experience to go on. He's calling it the naked running experiment, and it's already producing results he didn't expect.Two weeks in, he ran Leeds 10K without a watch and took 90 seconds off his PB. His average pace was 4:02 per kilometre - faster than he believes he would have allowed himself to run if the watch had been telling him otherwise. No data, no limiting belief, no ceiling.This week, Rich and Andy dig into what that actually means. Why does removing the data feel so uncomfortable to so many people? Why do we use our watches to confirm what we already know, but also to cap what we think we're capable of? Andy's Garmin has been telling him he can run a 4-hour marathon for years. His PB is 3:30-something. At what point does the data stop being useful and start being a ceiling?And then Andy makes the connection that stops the conversation in its tracks. When Rich says people keep telling him "I couldn't do that" about running without a watch, Andy says: that's exactly what people say about going alcohol-free. And if you genuinely believe you can't go without it - whether it's the watch or the drink - maybe that's the most important reason to try.Also in this episode: Rich's chaotic Manchester Half Marathon, Andy navigating the post-big-event lull, and what happens when your friends and family are done hearing about the race you just ran.Yorkshire Marathon training block officially starts June 29th. One Valencia place still available - details in the show notes.One Valencia spot still available. DM clean.break.coaching on Instagram if that's you.FRIDAY CONNECTION CALL 1PM EVERY FRIDAY Register here - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/friday-connection-call-pageAre you interested in training with us towards you Autumn/Winter Goals - On-boarding until the end of July ONLY - Come and join the Clean Break Collective.