Running can be exhilarating and empowering—or it can be stressful and humbling. For years, it was more of the latter for Kelly Roberts. Despite completing an impressive 11 marathons since falling in love with the sport in 2013, her daily runs have often felt less like a passion and more like a job, because as a blogger, social media influencer, and coach of the Badass Lady Gang running group, it actually is her job.
“I really struggled with my body image and health for a couple of years,” said the 33-year-old Roberts. “So I made a promise to myself in 2019 that I would do one last marathon before figuring out how to make sure running was something I enjoyed and did because it made me feel good, not because it paid my bills.”
Some runners set goals to PR in a given race, or to complete X number of marathons in a calendar year. Roberts used to do that, too. Her current ambitions are less tangible but much better for her own physical and mental health. “My goal is to run for life and always find joy in it,” she said. “For that to happen, I need a healthy balance of structure and goal chasing with periods of time with nothing on the calendar, and always giving myself permission to do whatever feels good on a day-to-day basis.”
So far, she’s been successful with that mindset, as we chronicled in her marathon experience. She had some help during that race from her Samsung Galaxy Watch5. It tracked her pace, heart rate, intensity, and other key metrics through the 26.2 miles, and it’s stayed on her wrist ever since the early November event, which means while she enjoys her runs more than ever, she’s also able to keep tabs on her progress.
“I’m in a much healthier place now,” Roberts said. “Running is once again something I love to do and do with others, not who I am or just what I do for a living.” Here’s how a data-tracking tool can help make running more joyful.
Running Smarter
There’s a certain pleasure derived from seeing the data on the Galaxy Watch5’s sapphire crystal display screen. “This may sound super cheesy, but there’s something about having a smartwatch that makes me feel like a runner,” Roberts said. “For me, it was such an exciting day when I got my Galaxy Watch5. I felt so excited to be able to see everything in real time. I love running with it. I love having records to look back on. Data has made me a stronger runner.”
The Galaxy Watch5 features she enjoys most:
Auto Workout Tracking: “I’m the Queen of forgetting to press start on my watch, especially when I’m in a group, starting and stopping, or if I’m distracted,” Roberts said. “I love that even when I forget to press start, or when I'm out for a run and stop at a red light or stop to talk to someone, the Galaxy Watch5 will start again without me having to press ‘resume.’” And although Roberts isn’t as concerned with her pace as she used to be, she still likes knowing how fast she’s running.
Heart Rate Monitor: “The Galaxy Watch5 gives me an easy way to cross-reference my perceived effort level with my heart rate so that I’m staying in the appropriate aerobic zone and building adaptations to run strong for longer distances,” she said. Roberts’ cardiovascular fitness is still important to her, even when she’s enjoying the strides.
Advanced Sleep Tracking: “Tracking my sleep has been really insightful,” Roberts said. “I can spot patterns in sleep disruptions on nights when my dog or partner disrupts my sleep, or if I veer off of my sleep schedule. It’s really beneficial to have that resounding proof that I should take an extra rest day, reschedule a long run or lifting session, or take it easy after not getting enough sleep.”
Multi-Sport Functionality: “One thing I always look for in a smartwatch is the ability to track more than just running,” she said. “I like to swim, lift, do yoga, golf, and cycle, so being able to track all the different activities I enjoy is important, and the Galaxy Watch5 allows me to do that.” All of these other forms of movement make Roberts appreciate running more.
Estimated Sweat Loss: “The Galaxy Watch5 feature I’m most excited about is estimated sweat loss,” Roberts said. “Every athlete can benefit from keeping their eyes on what their individual hydration needs are and tweaking their strategy from there. I’m really excited to play with this over the next year.”
Want to know more about how Roberts is approaching the love-of-running goal? Watch the above video, where she talks about it and how the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 is helping her.
All mentioned features require smartphone with Android 8.0 or later, 1.5GB or more RAM and Samsung Health app (free) version 6.22 or later. The Sleep Tracking and Heart Rate software functions are not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure. mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.
