There’s something quietly powerful about having a number to chase.
Not just any number—but one that reflects effort, consistency, and the small decisions you make when no one is watching.
This week has been a perfect example of that.
Between international travel, long days, and a calendar that felt determined to win, it would’ve been easy to let training slip. The diary certainly tried. But somewhere in the middle of the chaos, I carved out time for a run. I was tired—properly tired—but it turned out to be exactly what I needed. Not for performance, not for pace, but for decompression. A reset button on a day that had built up far too much pressure.
That’s where technology has really started to change the game for me.
Using my MyZone MZ-3 heart rate monitor, I’ve been tracking MyZone Effort Points (MEPs)—a system that rewards effort based on how hard your heart is working, rather than just distance or time. It shifts the focus. It’s not about how far or how fast; it’s about how much you’re actually putting in.
And that changes everything.
Because on a day when energy is low, a shorter, harder session still counts. On a stressful day, getting out for something—anything—still moves the needle. It becomes less about perfection and more about consistency.
After work today, I got out on the bike. 40km, no rush, just time in the saddle and space to think. Fresh air, open roads, and that feeling of gradually unwinding as the kilometres tick by. It wasn’t just exercise—it was perspective.
The surprising part?
I’ve already hit my monthly target of 1300 MEPs—and we’re not even halfway through the month.
That’s the kind of feedback loop that builds momentum.
Layer on top of that my Strava fitness score, which is now at its highest point in two years, and it’s clear something is working. Not a dramatic overhaul. Not an extreme plan. Just consistent effort, tracked and reinforced.
That’s the real value of these tools.
They don’t just measure what you’ve done—they influence what you do next.
Seeing progress quantified creates a subtle but powerful incentive. It nudges you out the door when motivation is low. It reframes “just a quick session” into something meaningful. It turns effort into something visible.
And once you start seeing that progress stack up, it becomes addictive—in the best possible way.
So now the goalposts move.
1300 MEPs was the target. It felt like a stretch at the time. Now it feels like a baseline.
Next stop: 2000.
Not because I have to. But because I can see what’s possible.
Technology doesn’t replace motivation—but it amplifies it. It gives structure to effort and clarity to progress. And sometimes, on a tired day in a busy week, that’s exactly the push you need to get out the door.