I was curious about what smartwatches notable marathon runners wear and prefer, so I did some research.
The solutions can be found in the article.
Motivation is the most vital aspect of sports and fitness. Most of today's athletes were motivated by great athletes who were doing something remarkable when they were younger.
When we see something comparable in an athlete, we can relate to them the most. What motivates us to strive for the same degree of success as that athlete.
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Of course, not everyone achieves that level of accomplishment, and some of these relationships are limited to simply watching sports. The bulk of amateur players, on the other hand, closely follow the pros.
This is due to their ongoing desire to improve and possibly turn professional and the fact that they are not only cheering on their favorite athlete but also attempting to emulate him on the field by reproducing or attempting to replicate what he does.
It is highly typical, particularly among amateur runners, to learn from and mimic the professionals they admire.
It's vital to see what kind of equipment these runners utilize, whether running marathons or sprints.
There are several reasons for this: motivation; the second is because they are usually the greatest in their profession. Thus their equipment judgement will undoubtedly be superior to ours.
So, today, we'll look at the many types of smartwatches used by elite runners. This involves not only marathon running but also sprinting. We'll also glance at the watches worn by some of the world's most famous marathon runners.
Only watches that are perfect for running will be the center of our attention. This means that we are only interested in watches that provide the correct data for running, not triathlon watches.
It's critical to buy a watch that can track your heart rate, GPS in real-time, and other parameters like pace, cadence, vertical ratio, and so on for this purpose.
The most significant factors to consider for marathon running are battery timing while GPS usage, the accuracy of the metrics computed by the watch, actionable metrics (including a heart rate monitor, altitude calculator, and other maritime capabilities that can be quite useful) comfort.
What Are Smart Watches Used by Marathon Runners? The Experts' Choices
This leads to the main question: what product do the world's most famous marathon runners use? Three years earlier, an online survey was done on the same topic.
The general perception was that most sportsmen, especially marathon runners, did not wear smartwatches at the time.
However, most of them followed the trend and began to utilize technology more frequently.
However, Amanda Nurse, who qualified for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials and ran the Boston Marathon while 13 weeks pregnant, has used Garmin products for marathon running.
She acknowledged using the Garmin Forerunner 235 when questioned.
In a renowned interview, Eliud Kipchoge, once considered the world's best marathoner, stated that he used the Garmin Forerunner 920XT.
That's a huge endorsement for Garmin and its products.
Garmin is also a favorite of Ben Flanagan, who won gold at the Canadian National 10,000m Championships.
He has a Garmin Fenix 3 with him.
It's past time for him to update!
Aisha Praught Leer, who competed for Jamaica in the 2016 Rio Olympics, wears a Polar Vantage V. In contrast, David Ribich, the world record holder in the four-by-one-mile relay, wears a Garmin Forerunner 945.
So, I suppose we may deduce that Garmin knows a thing or two about smartwatches!
Let's have a check at some of the most well-known running brands and smartwatches!
Fitbit:
This is only on the list because it is cost-effective. Some users have claimed that it is quite accurate in its measurements, which is surprising given that the Fitbit Versa 2 was designed solely for recreational runners and people who do not intend to go beyond like the pros.
It has a fantastic screen and is also really comfy to wear. If you want to continue with the Fitbit family of smartwatches, the Fitbit Ionic is a better choice.
The heart rate monitor seems to perform more accurately when you start an intense activity, but it lags during lower intensity sessions.
It can calculate altitude and count flights if you climb a steep hill.
The Fitbit Ionic also records your sleep is probably its best feature. Not only how much sleep you got, but how good it was, distinguishing between REM sleep, light sleep, and deep sleep.
Sleep is, after all, a vital metric to keep track of, particularly for athletes. It not only recharges you, but it also indicates improved health, which is one of the most vital characteristics of an athlete.
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Garmin Forerunner 245:
This is Garmin's best-selling smartwatch, with the best customer evaluations. It is a comprehensive smartwatch for runners.
Garmin is known for creating smartwatches that are specifically designed for active activity. One of the main reasons why Garmin watches appear on almost every smartwatch list is this.
The battery life on the Garmin Forerunner 245 is incredible. It also includes a heart rate monitor of the most recent generation.
This is something that older Garmin models do not have, and it is one of the main reasons you should choose the Forerunner 245 if you are searching for a smartwatch for running.
Given that one does not always replace their watches, it is common sense to choose a wristwatch that is technologically superior to the rest. It weighs less than 40g, significantly less than most watches with similar specifications.
Given how comfortable and light the smartwatch is to wear, this is a significant benefit. Of course, this is great for marathon running.
It may not have the same range of measures as the Polar Vantage V or the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, but it's a beast for the money.
It also works with the Garmin Coach, a training program that will take you from zero to a half marathon in a set amount of time. That is undoubtedly one of the most significant advantages of owning a Garmin; their apps are great!
Polar Vantage V:
The Polar Vantage V is a fantastic piece of equipment. It competes with the Garmin Forerunner 945 and the Suunto 9 Baro but is also less expensive.
The touchscreen on this bad boy is quite large and beautiful, and a Gorilla Glass lens protects it. It also has nine sensors on the rear, weighing little under 70g.
This offers you the assurance that you are, at the very least, dressed. It has a strong battery life, around 40 hours during training, which implies it might last a week on two charges, even for professionals.
The disadvantage is most likely the additional buttons; they may appear confusing and overbearing at first, but it's all about getting used to them. Like other Polar watches, it will not allow you to blend in; instead, it will make you stand out!
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Garmin Forerunner 945:
From the outside, it looks remarkably identical to the Forerunner 935; however, the insides have been changed.
It includes a Sony GPS chip and the new Elevate HR sensor, which performs admirably even in sticky situations.
The battery life on GPS is also excellent, which is a significant improvement over the 935.
It includes many useful functions, such as accident detection, PulseOx, Training Load Focus, and live event sharing, among others.
These don't necessarily feature that would appeal to professionals, but Garmin's goal with the 945 is to make its greatest product appealing to both professionals and non-professionals.
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The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro and the Suunto 9 Baro receive honourable mentions. The Fenix 6 Pro boasts a crisper display that helps the brain to acquire more facts in a single glance.
The Suunto 9 Baro, on the other hand, comes with a barometer. They're both better for short off-roading workouts, but they're also good for marathon running.
MA student of the TransAtlantic Masters program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Political Science with a focus on European Studies. Expressed ideas are open to revision. He not only covers Technical articles but also has skills in the fields of SEO, graphics, web development and coding. .