Kate M. ran: Now, I think it's pre...

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  • 7 miles
  • 01:16 time
  • 10:47 pace
  • 825 calories
  •  
  •  
  • 2453 ft climb
  • 183 max hr
  • 165 avg hr
    • Currently /5 Effort.
    effort /5
great Runner's Math in Action (aka Math Fail 101) 7 mi 01:16 10:47 pace

Now, I think it's pretty safe to say that I'm good at math. Calculus is my friend. I'm taking a graduate level cryptography class right now. Addition *should* be no problem.

However, we must take into account a phenomenon known as Runner's Math, a debilitating disease whereupon after running a few miles, the runner's ability to do simple math declines.

A case study: Today, I set out for my Saturday run, intending to do 6 miles - 2 miles to the park, 2 miles in the park, 2 miles back. It's been about 4 months since I've gone to the park, but I was pretty sure those were the right distances. At mile 3 I get to the park and think, perfect! 3 out, 3 back, done! So I continue into the park, and after about 1.5 miles of running along the river, I turn around... and come to the horrible, horrible realization that.... (3 + 1.5) * 2 = 9, not 6. Ouch. Also, the "2 miles" to the Park? All downhill on the way there... all uphill back.

Epic fail!

So I ran 1.5 back to the park entrance, and then did short hill repeats and a lot of walking on the way back for an extra mile. Good workout, bad math!

almost 2 years ago via Garmin

Gear
Calories
825
  • Don F.
    Don F.
    Don F.

    Sometimes bad math can "add up" to a good workout!!

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Alexis M.
    Alexis M.
    Alexis M.

    I hate when that happens...especially the hill part. I live on a hill and I love my pace on the way out but coming back home always sucks.

    Great workout though!

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Barb G.
    Barb G.
    Barb G.

    sorry 'bout the math- that's something that i would do even before "runner's math" would happen- so you can only imagine what would happen to me *during* a run! ;) great run though! :)

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Tara T.
    Tara T.
    Tara T.

    that is hilarious. i am a math major and often do runners math while running, i keep recomputing because my answers never come out the same but, at least I have a lot of time to redo the problem ha ha. Great run.

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Anna
    Anna
    Anna

    Runner's math! Good term! I am so happy I have my Garmin now - half my energy on previous runs was spent trying to figure out my splits on the old fashioned digital stop clock.

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Todd G.P
    Todd G.
    Todd G.

    So, if a runner leaves Chicago at noon heading east running 8 miles an hour, and another runner leaves New York....

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Rebecca
    Rebecca
    Rebecca

    ha! I seem to do runner math consistently during the marathon at mile 17 = 8 miles to go, um not quite :)

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Stephanie
    Stephanie
    Stephanie

    yep! this happened to me during my first ultra. kept redoing math over and over in my head until i finally pulled out my iphone and used the calculator! ;)

    almost 2 years ago • Like

  • Stefan S.
    Stefan S.
    Stefan S.

    When you are good at maths you are bad at calculating, thats a law. But you better know enough alphabets to pull your variables from :D

    almost 2 years ago • Like