Pick A Card, Run A Mile | Random Pacing Challenge - The Running Channel

Aug 13, 2025

Intro: This is a quick summary of Pick A Card, Run A Mile | Random Pacing Challenge from The Running Channel. It’s a great watch — we’re breaking it down so you can try the random pacing challenge today. Be sure to check out the full video for all the details.

Key Points

No watches allowed: each runner draws a random minute‑second pace (e.g., 8:10 per mile) and runs a single mile.
Score is the sum of seconds above or below the target; lowest total after three rounds wins.
The challenge highlights how easy it is to mis‑judge pace, especially when talking to the camera or using new shoes.
Practical tips: run by feel, avoid speaking to the camera, convert between km and miles, and treat the pace as a “feel‑good” effort rather than an exact time trial.

Workout Example

Round 1 – draw a pace (e.g., 8 min 10 sec per mile). Run 1 mile trying to hit that time.
Round 2 – draw a new pace (e.g., 5 min 10 sec per km or 6 min 40 sec per mile). Run another mile.
Round 3 – draw a third pace (e.g., 6 min 20 sec per mile). Run the final mile.
Record each mile’s time, calculate the absolute difference from the target, and add the three differences. The lowest total wins.

Closing Note Give the random‑pace mile a try—pick your own “card” (e.g., 7 : 40, 6 : 20, or 5 : 10) and see how close you can get without a watch. Adjust the paces to fit your own training using the Pacing app, and have fun testing your feel‑good speed! 🌟