Prioritize intrinsic motivation and the pleasure of running at your own pace rather than seeking to impress others with high performance or metrics.

noli's read

This recommendation is strongly supported by the self-determination theory of Deci and Ryan, which demonstrates that intrinsic motivation (the pure enjoyment of the activity) is the best predictor of consistent physical activity. A systematic review by Teixeira et al. (2012) confirms that training for personal well-being and by choice, rather than for external social validation, fosters long-term engagement. Furthermore, another systematic review conducted by Andrade et al. (2023) highlights that self-selecting the intensity of physical effort generates more immediate positive emotions and strengthens the sense of autonomy. Nevertheless, characterizing performance tracking as negative for everyone would be reductive, as for certain profiles, measuring progress satisfies a need for competence that is also highly rewarding. The key is to ensure that the data remains a fun and stimulating tool rather than a source of mental pressure.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.