Guess Your Distance | The No Watch Race

[@runningchannel]

Who do you think will win? Do you have any suggestions for the next Challenge Accepted? Are you a miles person or do you run in kilometres? Let us know in the comments below!

[@AlexN0me11]

The next challenge should be who can keep the same or close to the same average pace per km for for 30 minutes. Without looking at your smart watch.

[@mdsmith1019]

I thought Jess would've won. I actually thought the pros were gonna really overdo it and run like 10k and be like "oh man I totally didn't even feel like I just ran 10k. Hmm, I must be in great shape". Really good video with a surprise ending

[@detroit81daddy]

Hi! Sarah! You’re the best! Love watching this channel because of you!! Call me some time 😉 when you visit the states!

[@vincentmarlow105]

Hi Guys love the channel ! the next challenge should be how slowly you can run a 5k for all those runners who struggle to get below 40 mins.

[@nollys8523]

I run in kilometres as it’s a roughly measurable distance for me and I have no sense of distance! I don’t usually check my watch when running, I rely on the buzz to let me know whether I’ve hit a kilometre, then check the other metrics afterwards. I’d say Sarah would probably win the challenge. Yay Sarah!!! I haven’t seen the end yet but I have every confidence in her ability to do what I can’t 😂

[@freddiesen]

I’d be awful - always use my watch as a motivation. Missing Rick with his “music as a timer” technique.

[@robertmcclure3586]

I stopped running with a watch a few years ago and it has been wonderful. I run how I feel and the route falls under my feet as it is. Makes my runs all the more fun not being burdened by the technology. I log the route and what I saw and felt. No longer tracking exact mileage or pace. Old school running for fun!

[@anne-mariedurocher5812]

Such fun to watch. Love these challenges. I particularly like the challenges where the participants are on equal footing and do not depend on their ability, how fast they're usually running etc!

[@Kelly_Ben]

"Internal tirade of abuse!" 😆 I think Andy's inner voice and mine are pals! Loved the dialog of confusion and second guessing- it makes every challenge a good time- for the viewers, any way! 😆 Congratulations Sarah!

[@reselvski]

"apart from when I was as a tube" 😂 Sarah, you're hilarious.

[@ralphvangelderen68]

New challenge idea: run 10km as fast as you can, but every km has to be faster than the previous one. So, if your next km is slower, you are out

[@rad858]

Yes... and only looking when the km lap time comes up, no checking during each km

[@mickfanning93]

They've done a 5k version of this

[@brianjames2000]

Lol watching this I realize I know the three-mile mark in every direction from my house.

[@runningchannel]

Ha! I know what you mean, Brian! I'd have to go somewhere unfamiliar to try this!

[@annestraube8705]

Haha, great challenge. I put my bet on George. Running in open terrain and judging 400m portions seems the most sensible approach to make this work. Well that was before he decided to definitely not wanting to stop short of 5k. Well done, Sarah and good luck for Marathon Day!

[@pascalejacquelinepetit5131]

Best challenge so far! Running whilst "listening" to your own body (outside of competitive races), and relying on your mind, is so important. Also, not everyone has the means to purchase all this technology, and many runners are in areas where signal reception is poor/non-existent (not blessed to be in cities or countries with good comms service).

[@runningchannel]

Love that! Thanks for watching!

[@kaykunz4730]

Well done Sarah. That is a tricky one. I think I would land below the 5k mark. Thank you Jess for the great challenge.

[@seanaepley3180]

I would love to see the Running Channel take on a relay type challenge! Maybe build 2 or 4 teams (none of the stacked with all super speedy people) and then complete a relay course and see which team comes out of top. I think this would work because you could pick distances that work for each team member and have to strategize who to put where etc. Funnily enough I had to run without music/headphones this morning! First time doing a 5k without it, and surprisingly it was ok.

[@arrontrevor7086]

Well done Sarah! I had visions of Anna sitting at home watching this with a big bag of popcorn laughing at how badly everyone thought they were doing!

[@adamz67]

Well done Sarah! I had a difficult time trying to guess who would win, you're all so brilliant runners. I've been running since the 80s, so didn't have the fancy watches like now, I would run my routes just by knowing the distance, and wasn't bothered by the amount of time, just enjoying the moment. But this would be a fun challenge...

[@Dan-sg2vy]

Great video, defiantly going to give this a go. I thought team Andy would have it! All the marathon training has paid off with the timing Sarah!

[@estherowl8075]

I think the next challenge should be the running channel presenters either convincing one another which is the best time of day to run, or running at a time of day they don't usually run (so morning runners run at night for a week). love the video!

[@runningchannel]

That's a great idea! Thanks for watching!

[@hollyandersen9394]

I’ve taken to not looking at the times or paces whilst running and instead listening for the buzz to count how many miles I’ve run. Then after the run I look at the paces to see if they match my perceived effort. It’s helped me realize that my heart rate doesn’t always match a specific pace. Thanks for sharing the challenge.

[@olivergoodacre]

Pretty confident I’d be awful at this challenge!

[@runningchannel]

It's a tricky one for sure!

[@mtimmons441]

Me too! I have a horrible sense of direction so I'm sure I cannot guesstimate distance well.

[@steve7882]

Back in 1981 when I started running we used watches like a Casio with a stopwatch, so at least you still knew the time you were running for, this challenge is so tough as you have nothing to provide you with you with a frame of reference, well done and thanks for another great vid

[@swong005]

Love the inner commentary from everyone as they tried to gauge their distance. I think they're all winners for attempting this challenge!

[@runningchannel]

If we did challenge again tomorrow, we'd have 4 completely different results. That's whats so great about it!

[@michaelrheiner2415]

Well done! The added challenge is that you all were filming which causes distraction. With a fair amount of focus, you may have been able to “count” 400 yard splits and get slightly closer. Since simple challenge! Not easy to do, but simple in design. As we head into winter, more people start running on a treadmill, and both time and cadence become a focal point. It’s a great way to work on shorter strides and higher cadence!

[@gavinclark7695]

The thought of running without my watch terrifies me! In fact, I don't think my inner stato would even allow it 😀 Great Challenge - well done Sarah!

[@mariannemitchell4176]

I’ve just run my third marathon of 2021 and I’m totally ready to run free and play with my running for a couple of months now with fun ideas like this. Will definitely give it a go!

[@runningchannel]

Nice one Marianne, let us know how you get on.

[@tnan123]

The fact that the route has to be new to you really would throw me off as well. I'm good with remembering distances of several sections of my well-trodden routes. Would love to see an endurance focused challenge like running a mile every hour for the most number of hours in a row?

[@kataquack11]

Great challenge idea Jess! I am going to try to get my Strava group to try this. :) Congrats Sarah.

[@DirtyPOMinNZ]

Awesome challenge, and allowed you all to be on an equal playing field. That was a fun video to watch, well done team!!!

[@orchidoclaste]

my fave chanllenge so far ! all the challengers are really starting on equal terms on this one. that was fun! thanks guys :)

[@runningchannel]

We loved this one too. More on the way!

[@claresingleton5805]

I trained for marathons in the mid-2000s and have no idea how I did it without tech. I do remember driving around to map out routes and distances. Watching this made me very anxious - I love my tech!

[@nh6central]

Thumbs up to Jess for such a great challenge. Fun, a little bit scary and hilarious all rolled into one.

[@jothompson6989]

Way to go Sarah! I would totally overthink it and probably not tun very far, thinking i'd run 5km or think telling myself i'd be feeling that and end up running 6-8km!

[@lucydawnruns]

Such a good idea! Definitely something to try with friends or a running group!!!

[@nosirrahm]

I never realized how many canals England has. I love these different locations.

[@runningchannel]

We're reliably informed that Birmingham has more canals than Venice.

[@pepperminttea2460]

Welcome to the team Jess!! This was such a wonderfully fun video, thank you all at TRC ❤️

[@runningchannel]

Thanks for watching, look out for more videos from Jess very soon.

[@B2727]

This is becoming one of my favorite channels on KZbin. Keep up the awesome work! :)

[@BeautybyKarlaJoy]

I think Andy will win! I love watching these challenges! So much fun!

[@runningchannel]

Glad you enjoy them! Thanks for watching 🙂

[@sandyhumissouri5131]

Team Andy as well.

[@ninamaasable]

I recently stopped wearing my watch to try and get better at running by feel. Excited to give this challenge a try!

[@daveinacave]

I feel like it would be interesting to do this by sending eachother where they have to go- then nobody gets the “go half way and turn around” strategy unless one of you is really nice. And you get to explore other areas you love to run!

[@timcavenee3223]

Out and back, brilliant idea. Good show mates!

[@julietwistguernsey]

This was really interesting and shows how much we all rely on our watches. Well done all, and welcome Jess who was great, as was George. Congratulations Sarah!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks so much Julie! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jayg1605]

What a fun challenge! I think I’ll have to give this a go, but can’t imagine it will go well!!

[@oXtopcatXo]

Andy has really became a star of the channel. Enjoyed the video. Well done!

[@kevinodonovan1593]

Tough one, congrats Sarah! Trying to talk to the camera can't help judging the distance either! Might have a go at this one of the days!

[@larahosie9421]

I love these challenges! I spend way too much time looking at my watch and relying on my phone. I may have to try this in my local park and see how it goes!

[@ChristianSeiler]

Congratulations Sarah on your Marathon!!! You’re a huge inspiration!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks Christian, the video for Sarah's marathon is out on Sunday, don't miss it!

[@JohnEHawk]

Awesome challenge! It's good to leave the electronics behind once in a while. Takes a bit to get used to it but once you adjust it's really nice to just enjoy the run. Love it!!!

[@runningchannel]

Very true John! Thanks for watching 😀

[@sammyangelaaa]

I loved the expression on the face of that old lady Sarah ran past at one point.. she looked so excited

[@carolinasilva6366]

I thought Jess was just a regular viewer for a sec there, thought wow! she's a natural in front of the camera! Glad to hear she's a new addition to the team :)

[@runningchannel]

Thanks Carolina 🙂

[@cswwolf]

Do a long distance bleep test! Start with your current 5k pace and add 1:00/km. Start running and your first km has to be at that pace, the second km 10 seconds faster, the third 20 seconds faster, etc. Whoever lasts longest wins!

[@DamianoCambridge]

Definitely had Andy pegged for the winner however I’m so happy for you Sarah! Congratulations!

[@paulcadogan4940]

Love this challenge, the real challenge is finding a route that you've never done before

[@runningchannel]

That's where so many people struggled. We nearly had to blindfold Andy and stick him in the back of a cab!

[@katiepillar]

I’ve got various routes near me where I know about how long they are so I don’t look at my watch much unless I’m doing intervals or something, but drop me into an unknown area and I’d be completely at sea! This was fun to watch

[@ryandowney5798]

Running channel bingo card. A free run where you have to find various landmarks, people, situations, locations, etc. Who ever makes bingo first wins, but also shortest distance to bingo also wins.

[@danielamalik4177]

This is fun!!! Can’t wait to see the results!!!

[@rachelmclaren2992]

Love this! Running without a watch is the best

[@chrishinchliffe3803]

Next Challenge Suggestion - Even effort, after a good warmup, everyone runs for 30 minutes, the person with the most consistent heartrate over that time (difference between average and max heart rate) wins. Everyone's course must include a short hill. This should be a good test of changing pace to maintain effort over mixed terrain.

[@runningchannel]

Heart rate has been the most popular suggestion. We'll have to find a way for the next challenge.

[@christinep3613]

Andy for sure. I can’t wait to try this one!! Seems very difficult. We rely on technology too much

[@kariss71996]

This seems so difficult! Love hearing your thoughts during the challenge

[@kateroy6890]

Ooh guessing distance is one of my talents! I rarely run with technology, but my running buddy always has a watch. Whenever we try out a new route I sometimes ask for a km check, and he always makes me guess before he tells me. I think the furthest I've been off by was about 10 meters. This is a running challenge I could actually do well in LOL!

[@tiffanybrantley7039]

I knew George had gone too far!! I wanted to yell "Don't run to the gate! Stop, George!" ha!

[@emily_munoz]

Yay Sarah! I’m not surprised you went over. 5k must feel like nothing compared to your long runs 😆

[@katiatherunner3547]

I forgot my watch for my track practice last week; it actually felt so nice! Great video!

[@runningchannel]

Glad you enjoyed it Katia

[@tombutler6994]

Great video, I’ve become so reliant on my watch and would struggle to be without it for a workout, I feel naked without it on my wrist!

[@geoffcampbell33]

I had Sarah or Andy as my favourites for this challenge. Well done guys, looks tough!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks so much!

[@kerisallee3976]

This is such a hard challenge! Can’t wait to see who wins!

[@livewire1957239]

Back before I got my watch, I’s start Strava on my phone, stick it in my pocket, run a route I knew was roughly 10k, take the phone out near the end to finish at an even 10km, and it would always be a big surprise whether how I felt it went agreed with what Strava said for average pace and running time. I’d be like… this feels like a 5:20 average pace run and the Strava would say 5:23, or 5:17. But having to guess the distance seems like it would be even more difficult! I’m going to try this one myself some time! Just need to find somewhere I’ve never run before!

[@julietmorrice3205]

I’m going for Sarah 🙌🏻 all that marathon training recently should have given her a good idea for how her pace feels 🤞🏻 Would love to see the team race a Beer Mile 🍻

[@jjjjjjj389]

this would be a tough challenge for sure! enjoyed the video!

[@karenobrien3458]

I rely on my watch so much. I think I would be terrible at this challenge! Well done all 👏

[@MarieRossiter]

I loved this challenge and I was cheering you on Sarah! (ok, all of you! :) ) I'm not sure I could do this in an unfamiliar place. I'd have to dip my toe in the water by starting with an area I'm comfortable with and then graduate to a new place. Technology dependence is really a thing--I half-joke all the time, "If I don't wear my watch, does it even count?" At least you had the watch in a pocket. Great work everyone!

[@michaelgoode9555]

Excellent challenge Jess. Pity you didn't win but definitely the best challenge that I have watched to date.

[@NevadaIsland]

Oh I love this idea! Will try on my next easy run and see how I do :)

[@tonymayall5039]

Great challenge. I know I am absolutely rubbish at guessing pace and distance. If I had got anywhere between 4km and 6km I would be amazed. Looking forward to the next challenge. :-)

[@jannebibbe1960]

Fun challenge! I think my strategy would be to run at what feels like 5 km race pace and stop when I'm too tired. Maybe I'll try it sometime.

[@samanthawilliamson8359]

Running before not much technology, (well driving it the car beforehand😃) to having it, now watching that put me back 20plus years 😂 well done all of you

[@denbriggs82]

Congratulations on the win Sarah. This is a great challenge. Harder than it looks.

[@katrinachandler7174]

Scary to even contemplate running without technology. Sounds like a fun challenge to do though, may give it a go. Thanks for the idea.

[@runningchannel]

Let us know how you get on.

[@kathrynpatterson6565]

Love the challenges. Great to see the girls doing best

[@garydaniels4934]

Orienteering! Plenty of street or park based orienteering routes. Including phone based ones (Maprun). I mean who doesn't want to see Andy trying to navigate without GPS? 😀

[@Bel21987]

Should do a no watch PACES challenge instead of distance next!! This was impossible! Well done!

[@stevebegin2489]

Great vid. & challenge! Before GPS watches, when I ran even as a freshman in high school cross country 5ks - my coach would brag to our rival team's coach that he had me pacing by feel the upperclassmen to his desired finish times for them. At least we had mile splits to help me do that, but I'd come in spot on for the miles at whatever pace he asked me to. Today? No way I could EVER do that. I'd love to get back to that, though.

[@benjaminlauridsen4322]

Great motivation as always, love the positivity

[@pritesh1907]

Well done Sarah! It was funny seeing some of you run around streets I am familiar with near my work 😊 I’ll give this a go sometime!

[@ollieflj]

Not sure how good I’d be at this, but I love the thought that there is a running challenge out there where I have a chance of beating an Olympian!

[@runningchannel]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching, Ollie 🙂

[@domenicobarani863]

Hey! Maybe try different paced Kms by feel for a total of 5k. Eg 1k at 5:30, then 1k at 5:15 etc. The only metric you are allowed to see is distance covered.

[@Motherrrrunner]

Brilliant! How about for another challenge is flipping a coin to whether you turn left or right and see where you end up after running half an hour- trail or road running.

[@runningchannel]

Great idea, Caroline!

[@francisxl368]

My bets on Andy and also I finished a 5 mile xc race PR today! Let’s go folks

[@godanswers]

What a fun challenge! I should try it out for myself sometime. I think my strategy would be similar to Andy's but in smaller segments - I would estimate a 1km distance and run back and forth 5 times!

[@mathilde569]

Great kit ! And now I kind of want to try this challenge myself… pretty sure I would completely under or overestimate my distance, though.

[@youcanrun9109]

Well done Jess. Excellent presenting!

[@sarahickmott6499]

love this! Just a thought - it would be nice to see some coverage on the RC for 'veteran' runners. By which I mean over 45 yrs as whilst I love what you guys do, I can't really relate as a 51 yr old female as perhaps I would like to?

[@charlotteflindall5289]

Yes! Would love to see some 50+ runners on the channel to represent the many older runners out there.

[@clarejackson6629]

Love these challenges. I would be utterly rubbish at this though although I would love to try running tech free.

[@chambobs]

This is sooo good & funny. I know I'd be rubbish at it. Well done all. 👏

[@mattraschke2889]

That was a very cool challenge. Can't wait to give it a go.

[@DJDScotland]

Definitely going to try this as our November challenge for our running group. Could really use the DHB kit too - I’ve lost loads of weight and all my tops now look like caftans!

[@bestofourlifes4725]

I really enjoyed watching this challenge!

[@laureneggenberger1196]

These challenges are so fun to watch, I think Andy will win this one!

[@runningoneddie]

This would be an interesting challenge. I know my usual route to a "T" but throw me in a new spot -- that would be challenging. I'll have to give it a go sometime and see how close I'd get. I also bet that the longer the distance the more wildly "off" a runner would be. Enjoyed the video and the new presenters.

[@dresden_slowjog]

Team Sarah is my guess. She did a lot of training these days so should have a natural feel for distance. Will try out this challenge myself. I run a lot of 4-7 km runs. Curious how I'll do without tech! / Edit: Update: I did it a few weeks afterwards and got to 4.1 km. Certainly room for improvement. That's why I swore I'd reduce to look at my watch ever so often. Indeed, got more in tune what a certain pace and certain breathing feels like. Thanks for getting me off from my hardware dependency!

[@runningchannel]

Very true, Conrad!

[@Adsk8ing]

Brilliant concept. I will give this a try

[@danielclark7960]

I'd have to be dropped off in a foreign land. I know all the distances/landmarks around my house from my door step. Everything is planned out from a 3.1 mile loop to a 22 mile loop. Cheers friends, keep up the fun content.