I used to be anti-smartwatch, but after using the Fitbit Ionic, I realized technology helped me achieve a goal I didn’t perceive possible at the NYC Marathon.
Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you, I’m highly passionate about digital detoxing and steering clear of digital addictions. I’ve never wanted a smartwatch for I viewed it as another device taking you away from the present moment. You can imagine my surprise however, at how using a Fitbit watch not only helped me obtain my marathon goal, but exceed it. This tech tool changed my view on the power of well designed technology to impact fitness goals.
I completed the NYC Marathon two weeks ago. It was a venture into a sport completely foreign to me as I had never run more than a 10K prior to training.
I trained by myself for months, pushing myself to have the discipline to go for 18 mile runs on a Sunday, cross train with yoga and pilates, and track my sleep and nutrition. The sport of running was new to me. I was stressed and anxious about having all the right gear; quality shoes, compression leggings, blister-free socks, a breathable sports bra. Running for four hours at at time also brought up another issue; where do I put all my stuff? Where do I carry my phone, cash, energy gels, and headphones? As if training to run 26.2 miles wasn’t stressful enough, I had to think about all the proper gear and logistics to prevent injuries and prepare for emergencies. I began using the Fitbit Ionic to track my training and minimize the bulk of things I was carrying with me while running. Less is clearly more in this situation, and using the Fitbit Ionic seemed like a great way to make my journey easier.
I had the opportunity to meet with Fitbit Ambassador Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes in Central Park the weekend of the marathon. He gave me last minute tips and strategies regarding sleep, nutrition, and running a successful race. He kept reminding me, “It will be hard to do so, but discipline yourself to run slower the first half of the marathon to save your energy. Believe me, when you get to mile 21, you will be grateful you started out slower”. After hearing him say this more than once, I internalized that it must be important.
Before the NYC Marathon, many of us waited for five hours prior to our start time. We stood in a sea of runners full of adrenaline and excitement, and then the iconic Frank Sinatra song “New York, New York” played over the loud speakers as all the runners began to cheer...it felt almost impossible not to sprint right out the gate while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. I tried to remember Dean’s advice, however, which is where the Fitbit Ionic helped. No matter how fast I wanted to go, I used the watch to force myself to slow it down, enjoy the start and save my energy.
The NYC Marathon is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Wearing the Fitbit Ionic allowed me to be in the moment, while still staying true to a steady pace. I watched my mile times increase-decrease-increase. I was able to push myself the second half by strategically increasing my pace, which helped me beat my Marathon finish time goal by 45 minutes. This was an incredibly huge accomplishment for me. Yet-even better than capitalizing on my pace strategy- was the Fitbit Ionic texting capabilities. I never thought of this being important to me, but during the race I was overjoyed to see texts from loved ones and friends pop up encouraging me at different miles to push through. Technology had brought me closer to my supporters during my marathon journey.
During the last 5 miles, where every step hurt, reading the positive messages without having to stop gave me the extra nudge to push myself farther than I ever imagined.
I’ve learned a lot on this marathon journey- about myself, running, practical tools and surprisingly- technology. Fitbit has made this digital skeptic a believer in the power of harnessing technology to achieve your best self and fitness goals. I’m looking forward to my utilizing the Fitbit in my next athletic endeavor.