In this series of tips, Coach Jay explains why runners must be careful not to put too much importance on numbers when analyzing their training and racing.

Yesterday I went for a six-mile run on an out-and-back course (i.e., run three miles out, then turn around and run three miles back on the same route), accumulating the following mile splits on the way: 8:13, 6:41, 6:38, 7:15, 8:15, 7:20. I ran just under forty-five minutes, yet my splits were all over the place, especially when you consider that an evenly paced run would have been 7:30 per mile. On top of that, my effort was consistent throughout the run, which might make those splits even more confounding.

That is, unless you picture the extremely hilly dirt road. Uphill, downhill, then flat on the way out, then flat, uphill, downhill on the way back. And that doesn't completely explain the splits either because I hit the halfway point at about 21:30, making the return three-mile trip in just under 23:30. Tailwind on the way out, head wind on the way back. And while this simple six-mile run is hilly in both directions, there is a net elevation loss on the way out, which means I had to make up that lost elevation on the way back. Finally, the run started at roughly 9,000 ft (and just 15 miles from the continental divide), which puts the eight-minute splits in a different light than if the run was on a hilly road at sea level.

Most, if not all of you, have run hill courses on days where head winds and/or tail winds have made a difference. But the reason I share these splits and this story with you is that I only took the splits out of curiosity and not once since the run have I thought twice about how silly they look on paper. But most runners, especially novice runners, fail to take into account things like wind, temperature, footing (e.g., you might run on a sloppy, wet dirt road 20-30 seconds a mile slower than on a concrete bike path) when assessing their own workouts and races. Numbers are just numbers, and if you make them (be it splits on a long run, or your PR in the half marathon) the goal of your running journey, then you'll likely make training and racing errors based on numbers alone without taking into account all of the other factors that affect your run.

Remember, the numbers are just numbers. What’s behind the numbers is what really counts.

*Coach Jay’s advice is provided as general training information. Use at your own risk. Always consult with your own heath care provider for questions relating to your specific training and nutrition.

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