8: Should You Pause Your Watch?!

In this episode of The Running Channel podcast, hosts Andy Baddeley and Sarah Hartley engage in a lively debate on the controversial topic of whether runners should pause their watches during stops. They introduce the episode with thanks to their sponsors, ASICS and Wahoo, before diving into the main topic. The discussion reveals two camps of thought among runners: those who pause their watches and those who don't. Andy reveals that he never pauses his watch, citing a personal preference for tracking his complete run data, while Sarah supports pausing for accuracy during traffic stops.

The conversation humorously dissects their differing perspectives, with Andy recalling his pre-technology running days and sharing frustrations with stopping the watch, like forgetting to restart it. They explore the implications of auto-pause features on running watches and the data represented through running metrics on platforms like Strava.

The hosts also speculatively discuss when it might be appropriate to pause a watch, drawing on personal anecdotes and general running experiences. They highlight that the decision might depend on a runner’s environment, pace, or even the specific goals of a run. The episode concludes with a call to listeners to share their own experiences and preferences on the matter of pausing watches, further fostering community engagement around the topic. Additionally, the episode features a segment responding to listeners' questions and covering relevant running news, culminating in friendly banter as they navigate through each subject.