GPS watches have become a staple for runners and endurance athletes. They give us instant feedback on pace, distance, heart rate, and more—helping us train with structure and precision. I use mine daily and love the extra data.

The data is endless and here is how you can pair data with expert coaching feedback to make the most out of your training; Sleep score is one metric measured by a watch. Garmin categorises sleep as  light, deep, and REM. It measures how much time you spent in each zone and then uses an algorithm to rate your rest. This can be useful if you have a big workout coming up. Perhaps it is worthwhile to push a day to when you are more rested. Checking in with your coach to discuss options can be a great pairing.

Likewise, resting heart rate can be a valuable tool measured by your smart watch. If your HR is 3-4 beats higher, you’re probably just a little fatigued and need an easier day. However, if it is 8-12 beats higher you may be coming down with an illness and a discussion with your caoch can help you to decide if you need a rest day to nip it in the bud before you are forced to take time off.

I’ve learned the hard way that effort is a skill. Tuning into your breathing, energy levels, and muscle fatigue helps you understand how hard you’re actually working—regardless of what your watch says. Over time, this builds intuition, allowing you to adjust in real time and train more sustainably.

Learning to listen to your body is so important and data can help to inform your decisions. As runners we can be our own worst enemies and push through when we should ease off.

The goal is to use your watch and intuition in harmony.

Let data guide your workouts and track your progress, but don’t let it override what your body is telling you. Some days, slowing down is the smartest move you can make—even if the numbers suggest otherwise.

The best athletes combine both: data and feel. We call it a smart watch for a reason.