What is RPE?

any runners will take advantage of the January sales to upgrade their smartwatches. But some will spend more time analyzing their performance data and planning their next workouts than actually running. Using effort as a new measuring stick can help runners who would like to be less focused on the numbers. It’s also great for those who may be stuck in a rut with their training.

MRate of Perceived Exertion ( rpe) is a subjective way to measure the intensity of your workout. It’s about how difficult an exercise feels, based on the level of effort you are prepared to endure, and it allows runners to adapt each run by taking into account how factors like dehydration, fatigue and temperature affect you while running. On any given day, your usual recovery pace may feel like hard work, as you may not be recovered enough to keep up with your past runs. On other days, a tempo run may feel easy, and sticking to your planned pace may limit your performance. Using rpe can help you push yourself out of that comfortable zone.

Rpe is also a great tool for those returning to running after a break. Picking up your old training plan and expecting to go back to your previous benchmarks can be hugely demotivating when you find that you can’t. Using rpe ensures that your focus is on improving your fitness, based on the only factor that matters: your current performance level.

Annie Gélinas is a lifestyle copywriter and avid half-marathon runner who has covered events in Europe, North America and the Middle East.