Knowledge and power: the value of accurate data tools in learning how to run faster
Data knowledge is critical for documenting baselines and discovering inconsistencies. And - I’ve come to understand - tools that provide accurate data are as important in our personal lives as they are in the workplace. At 65, I’m learning how to run faster. Why? I want to run the 2025 Nashville Rock n Roll Half Marathon in 2 hours and 10 minutes. This means I must run 13.1 miles with an average pace of 9-minutes-55-seconds per mile in order to achieve my goal. It’ll be my fastest half-marathon.
Current-state Lori isn’t even close to that average pace. To get there, over the next four months I must improve my running until I can run consistently a 9-minute-55-second pace for 13.1 miles. In order to improve, I need a baseline, knowledge of where I’m at today. This necessitates a tool that performs data collection with a high degree of accuracy. Enter the Nike Run Club app, my data collection tool of choice. The app offers a half-marathon guided training run, which includes long runs, speed runs, and recovery runs. It tracks me via GPS and records my running data.
During a recent run, the app recorded an unpleasant baseline surprise: I am terribly inconsistent with my pace, as revealed by the data shown in the image below.
Someone once said knowledge is power, which was followed up by someone else pointing out that the power lies in the application of the knowledge. Before using the Nike Run Club app, I wasn’t even aware my pace was all over the board. Now that I see it as data points, I can take action to regulate my pace — while also training to run faster. Not sure how that works, but I’ll keep you posted!
Discovering a baseline of inconsistency
Yellow box = warm-up run
Red boxes = 1-minute intervals running what should be my Mile pace, i.e. around 9 minutes
Green boxes = 2-minute intervals of what should be my 5K pace, i.e. 10 minutes 29 seconds
Operational excellence begins with clarity on workflows and procedures.
This blog was written and edited by a human!
© 2025 Lori K. Barbeau