Suggestions for a fitness tracker watch - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Suggestions for a fitness tracker watch

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate
29 Replies

Looking for recommendations for a watch to monitor times and distance? I'm a novice runner, just about to start Week 5. I'm also not very tech savvy.

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MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTed
Graduate
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29 Replies
John_W profile image
John_WGraduate

Garmin 45 is a good choice and not too £££

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toJohn_W

Thanks, I'll take a look.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

I have a Garmin 45 It's got everything I want from my running watch and more !

And I can honestly say, if it broke today I would go and buy exactly the same one again !

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toInstructor57

Great recommendation, I'll take a look. Thanks.

LanciaA profile image
LanciaAGraduate

I am awaiting delivery of Garmin 55. Suspect it will do more than I need.

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toLanciaA

Exciting, hope you have fun with it.

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

Any Garmin that you can afford would be my choice

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toSueAppleRun

Garmin does seem to be the way to go.

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate in reply toMooIzzTed

I bought a fancy one that has music too and that was a couple of years ago and still love it 😊

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

I rarely track my runs so will leave others to answer your question.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Enjoy your journey.

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toIannodaTruffe

Thanks. I've just read the info on the link, it's made me want to get out running again, but it's my rest day so I'll be sensible!

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduate

I've got a Garmin Forerunner 45s - the s model has a smaller face, which fits my wrist better. It's perfect for me, as I only wear it for running and barely skim the surface of what it can do.

More expensive models will play music, track and provide training for lots of other activities, and look "prettier" i.e. less obviously like a sports watch. So if you want those features, then maybe look at something like the Garmin Venu 2, but be aware that it's around twice the price!

I didn't track anything until I'd completed C25K, and didn't even get a running watch until I'd been running for about a year. I can get way too hung up on stats, so am now deliberately not recording all my runs. I'm in a minority though!

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toCmoi

Thanks. It's looking like a Garmin for me. I want to see how my fitness develops as I'm getting to enjoy the running, which seems bizarre, but I hope to embrace my new enthusiasm.

Wez35 profile image
Wez35

Garmin all day long.

Mandaroodle profile image
Mandaroodle

I have the Garmin forerunner 35,I would recommend

Joliv61 profile image
Joliv61

If you just want times and distance, then look at Amazon, other retailers are available, and see the Xiaomi range. They are cheap as chips, have batteries that last weeks and software is as good as anything else. Plus many do heart monitoring etc as well. Garmins are probably the gold standard that people get and are pricey and tend to need charging up very few days.If you don’t need it as a watch then go for them.

Used them for many years with no problems.

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toJoliv61

Interesting, thanks for that.

Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate

I have a Garmin 45 after recommendations on here having asked the exact same question. It’s just what I need! 😊

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toFrenc

Thanks, I know which way to go now - Garmin!

I have the Garmin 245. Excellent it is too. The battery life is over a week which I think is excellent.

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply to

Fantastic, thanks for that.

Maz1103 profile image
Maz1103Graduate

I've just got a "refurbished " forerunner 45 for £53. It had been returned under warranty because the strap broke. It looks brand new. I'm just getting used to it after my fitbit versa but like it so far.

sTrongFuse profile image
sTrongFuseGraduate

Garmin vivoactive 3 User here which I've had for 3 years. It's been replaced by the 4 but is still available and you can get some good deals on. Does everything I need it to do and looks like an actual watch. I tend to charge it daily, but only needs about 40mins. The sleep monitoring function is pretty weak, so you could just charge it wshile you're asleep.

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply tosTrongFuse

I'll take a look, thanks.

ClutchingAtStraws profile image
ClutchingAtStrawsGraduate

Everyone has said it already but in my opinion Garmin are the best.

Wawacito profile image
WawacitoGraduate

After reading through several posts in this forum concerning tracker watches I bought a Garmin Forerunner 45 - and am very happy with it!

You can use it nearly intuitively. I like that it was buttons and not a touch-screen surfac and the display is large enough that I can read it without reading glasses (🙈). Like some other runners here I am not making use of the full features. I simply track pace, distance an heart rate. The watch has much more to offer though.

It seems that the price varies according to colour. Got myself the blueish one as it was the cheapest at 90£.

Clear recommendation. :-)

MooIzzTed profile image
MooIzzTedGraduate in reply toWawacito

I'm glad it's simple for us less techie users! I've gone for it and ordered the Garmin 45s. Excited to get my hands on it.

Wawacito profile image
WawacitoGraduate in reply toMooIzzTed

Excellent! :-) Got the 45s, to be precise. Same tracker, just smaller. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine.

Comte profile image
ComteGraduate

I just use a smartphone app, namely Decathlon Coach which is free but in French (maybe there is an English version). It gives time and distance and traces out the route on Google Maps but it doesn't count the pace frequency. I cannot see any reason why I would need a watch such as Garmin 45.

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