To predict your race pace, rely more on your sensations and performance during key training sessions rather than the estimates generated by your GPS watch algorithms.

noli's read

This advice is based on the concept of Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), a scientifically validated tool. Studies, such as those published in the 'Journal of Sports Sciences', confirm that perceived exertion is a reliable indicator of intensity regulation, often more precise than isolated external parameters. The argument that watches ignore complex factors such as running economy or metabolic state is accurate: current algorithms are predictive models limited by often incomplete input data. However, it is important to note that technological data (HR, pace) remain valuable tools to avoid overestimating one's capabilities at the start. The approach suggested here encourages a form of self-regulation (intuitive pacing), which is an advanced skill that is highly effective for optimizing overall performance. In short, the creator does not reject technology, but advocates for a balance where internal feedback validates or invalidates external data.

the sources

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