Lies, damn lies and statistics

So I was pondering yesterday while running. I was pondering progress and how you measure it. I have a tonne of statistics since I started wearing a heart monitor at the start of the year but they mean pretty much nothing to me.  I know Ive been progrssing as I feel better on runs, I fatigue less quickly, I can keep up a higher pace for longer and recover faster. All these things are instinct … I just _know_

But my statistics from my watch and HR? I dont see how you can judge improvement from numbers when there are so many external factors. For a start I run on different routes and terrains every single run, its very rare I will follow the exact same path twice. I do different distances, I run at different paces depending on what I stop and photograph or explore.

I can understand how road runners with a single route can judge metrics as they can remove the variables meaning its just their form that determines their time. For me time is relatively meaningless apart from hours on feet.  I thought, perhaps I could just do exactly the same offroad route everynow and again and look at those stats … But thats not why I run, I run to be free and this is choice limiting.

So I guess I’ll look at the fancy stats each run, ponder and think “ahh fuck it I felt good and thats what counts”  Cos to me thats what does.

Wind! I forgot to add wind to my variable list and it was bloody windy yesterday!

Possible sprout field … I will keep you posted as they may be cabbages