Feedback from runners using power

Why choose to Run with Power?

Starting something new is always a nervous time – will it work? will I be able to do it? will I get what I’m expecting to get from it?

Which is why it may be useful to hear from other runners who’ve chosen to Run with Power.

The posts in this topic group summarise feedback from two annual surveys, and feedback gathered while researching two of my books (‘Why’ and ‘Getting Started’), when asking runners the following questions:

• Why did you start running with power?
• What benefits have you experienced?
• What difficulties have you experienced?
• What advice would you give to someone not yet Running with Power?

But let’s start a little closer to home – here are my answers to those questions.

Why?

I’m not an elite runner (and never will be), but I did want to break sub-4 for the marathon.

I found training using pace or heart rate difficult for several reasons.

Power (training using effort) just made sense to me … plus, I like working with data and metrics.

Benefits?

There’s magic in the numbers – as a runner using power, I can:

• measure (and track) my fitness
• set precise workout targets
• monitor my training load
• set achievable race-day targets

And I can do all of these things using a consistent set of metrics based on me and my capabilities.

As a coach, power makes it possible to set workout goals that I know will be usable whatever route my runners choose to take (hilly or not). And the insights that are possible using power data make fine-tuning (or course-correcting) so much easier.

Difficulties?

It was expensive – I bought a running watch and a Stryd footpod. And it was difficult to use, although the Stryd PowerCenter these days is light years ahead of where it was when I first started.

While it’s now possible to buy a running watch with a power meter inside, it’s remains complex to calculate power metrics outside of the Stryd PowerCenter – hopefully that’ll change in the next few years.

Advice?

Based on running and coaching with power since 2018, I firmly believe Running with Power is the most effective way to train.