Ditch the GPS More Often?

I have always been very faithful to my smartphone and Runkeeper.  When I run, they're with me, both for safety, in case of an emergency, but most importantly, Runkeeper lets me know how far I've gone, and what my pace is.

Yesterday, I went out for a 3 mile run.  Runkeeper decided it wasn't into it.  So as I ran, I had no idea was my true mileage/pace was.

I am trying to push my pace back up little by little to get back to where I was.  In the last few weeks, I've only run a few times because of doctor's orders.  Since getting back out there, I was barely making it under a 12 minute mile pace, which is just crazy slow for me.  I've been in the 10's.

Last week, I ran a little over 2 miles, with a pace of 11:58 (SUPER YUCK!)  This past Sunday, my pace was 11:48 (still super yuck!)  I couldn't figure out what was going on.  I didn't feel like I was going that slow, but knew I felt very sluggish on both runs.

Yesterday, I was super stressed out from things and needed a run.  Running is my greatest tool for dealing with stress.  So I headed out before  lunch, and right away,  I knew the GPS was off.  Sometimes it will adjust and catch up pretty quickly.  Not this time.  By the time I was done.....according to Runkeeper, I ran 16.91 miles in 34 minutes!!!!!

When I got home, I used mapmyrun.com to check on my distance and figure out my pace.  I checked it twice, and it seems correct.  I ran just over 3.3 miles at a pace of 10:09!   WHAT???!!!  That's more like it!

Maybe I should go without the GPS more often.  Maybe I'm not pushing myself enough.  Maybe it's better for me NOT to know what my current pace is while I'm running!  Hmmm.  Might just have to test it out and leave the Runkeeper OFF next time I run.