Blog: Balancing Data & Running by Feel

Balancing Data and Feel in Your Training

As a coach, I’ve worked with athletes who won’t run a step without logging it and others who ditch the watch altogether. I've seen both sides of the spectrum—and there’s value in each.

One of the most common questions I get is, “Should I track every run?”

My answer?

Yes—but not for the reason you might think.

Why Tracking Matters

Tracking your training—whether through GPS, a simple log, or an app—gives us something powerful feedback. 

It shows progress. 

You can look back and see the work you’ve put in. That builds confidence. It’s easy to forget how far you’ve come when you’re deep in the grind.

It helps guide decisions.

Are we stacking too much intensity? Are recovery runs really easy? Are long runs long enough? Good data tells us.

It creates patterns.

When an athlete is tired or struggling, we often find the answer in the log: sleep, life stress, spikes in mileage, etc.

It holds you accountable.

There’s something about seeing a week of work laid out that motivates you to stay consistent.

But I’ll also say this: the best athletes I’ve coached don’t just chase numbers. They chasefeel.

Why Feel Matters

The goal isn’t to run fast every day. The goal is to run with purpose—and sometimes, that means tuning into your body and ignoring the watch.

Feel builds awareness.

When you know what “easy,” “steady,” and “hard” feel like, you can self-regulate in races and adapt in training.

Feel protects you.

You might have a tempo run on the schedule, but if you’re worn out or mentally fried, your body will tell you. Learning to listen is key to staying healthy.

Feel keeps the joy alive.

Some days, it’s okay to run without a plan. To chase a view, not a split. To move because it feels good, not because your watch says so.

Use Both—That’s the Sweet Spot

Here’s how I coach it:

Track your training—not to control every step, but to understand the big picture.

Run by feel—not to avoid structure, but to sharpen your instincts.

One teaches discipline, the other builds intuition. The goal is to develop both.

Use your GPS to capture data, not define your worth. Use your training log to look back and learn, not to dwell on off days. Most importantly, don’t let the pursuit of perfect metrics strip away the reason you started running in the first place.

Live What You Love,

~ Coach Dusty