[thebigspacefuck]

It’s not necessary, but being able to measure improvement is highly motivating. Part of the fun of the sport for some of us is being able to experiment with variables like nutrition, heart rate zones, pacing , etc and measuring the impact on performance. I’ve had a Garmin watch since 2009 and I have always enjoyed being able to know I hit a new pace or distance. It also makes it easy to run on a new trail for X miles and turn around instead of having to map out a run on an existing course and time the laps with a watch. Probably the greatest addition to the sport since music imo.

[Maursault]

Whatever it takes to get you moving, but it is a little self-deceptive to ignore or replace natural incentives for fitness with artificial incentives of mere shadows on a cave wall. Perhaps the real world is a little boring, but it has the distinct advantage of being authentic.

[macintux]

I make absolutely zero apologies for the fact that the rings on my Watch helped me lose 40 pounds last year. Sure, I’m gaming myself, but good grief.

[Maursault]

Good for you and congratulations, but it was most likely due to your own hard work along with dietary adjustment, so you need not diminish your accomplishment by giving a device as much credit as you give yourself. The Watch really didn't do anything but keep time; you yourself did everything and filled the time.

[sirsinsalot]

That guy who is really organised, isn't degrading his organisational skills by using a calendar.

Get a grip jeez.

[Maursault]

Comparing egotistical obsession to neatness and an Apple Watch gathering absurdly detailed metrics in a running application to a calendar is both false analogy and oversimplification. The last part is ad hominem attack.