At this point, I don’t even need to yell “GO!” to start a class.

I just wait for the chorus of beeps as everyone presses ‘Start Workout’ on their smart watches. It’s honestly one of the funniest parts of coaching now—this panicked flurry of button-pushing, like if your Garmin doesn’t capture those first five seconds, the workout never happened.

I get it. We want credit for our effort. We want the data. We want to close the rings, hit the zones, log the session.

And none of that is bad. But sometimes I wonder if we’ve taken it too far.

We all know the value of tracking progress. Whether you’re lifting weights, logging runs, following a nutrition plan, or just trying to get more consistent—having some kind of data is helpful. It keeps you honest. It reminds you of how far you’ve come. It helps guide your next move.

But there’s a fine line between tracking and obsessing. And somewhere along the way, a lot of us crossed it.

Technology is a Tool—Not a Master

In 2025, the fitness industry is fully plugged in. We’ve got watches that track our sleep, our heart rate, our HRV, and even our stress levels. Running apps that give us pace per kilometre breakdowns. Barbell velocity trackers. Real-time feedback on reps, sets, power output, and time-under-tension.

It’s all incredible. It really is.

But it’s also overwhelming.

I’ve seen people so dialed in to their tech that they actually miss the workout they’re doing. So focused on hitting some number on a screen that they forget to pay attention to their own body. Or even worse—they finish the workout disappointed because their watch didn’t give them a gold star.

It’s madness.

Track the Big Rocks

At Round 1, my philosophy is simple: track the big stuff. The big rocks.

• If you’re lifting weights—write down your sets and reps.

• If you’re training for a 5K—note your weekly runs and distances.

• If you’re trying to eat better—plan your meals and stay consistent.

That’s it. You don’t need to know your barbell velocity. You don’t need to monitor your heart rate every second of your session. You don’t need to compare every effort to your lifetime best.

Why?

Because progress is not linear. And because most of us are not training for the Olympics—we’re training to feel better. To move well. To be strong for the life we live outside the gym.

And because let’s be honest: all of this is supposed to be FUN.

When the Numbers Don’t Tell the Full Story

Here’s the problem with relying on numbers alone: they can lie.

You could hit a PB today… on four hours of sleep, full of stress, with bad food in your system—and feel terrible afterward.

You could run slower this week than last—but feel amazing because you paced it better, controlled your breathing, and didn’t collapse at the end.

You might not “move the needle” on a scan—but your jeans fit better, you’re sleeping through the night, and your back doesn’t ache when you wake up.

Those things? They matter just as much—if not more—than whatever the graph says.

The Best Feedback Is Often How You Feel

Instead of obsessing over what the numbers are telling you, ask:

• Did I show up today?

• Did I do the work I planned?

• Did I give a solid effort?

• Did I feel strong? Focused? Capable?

• Am I enjoying the process?

If the answer is mostly “yes,” then guess what? You’re making progress—even if your fitness watch doesn’t agree.

Let It Be a Game, Not a Test

Ultimately, fitness should feel more like a game than an exam. You don’t need a report card at the end of every workout. You don’t need to log every gram of protein, every metre, every millisecond.

The tracking is there to guide you—not to stress you out.

We train because we can. Because it’s part of who we are. Because it makes the rest of life better.

So take the pressure off.
Track the big stuff.
Ignore the noise.
And have fun doing it.