Hi all, I’m relatively new to the running game but have signed up for the London marathon 2020. Can I ask what gadgets (e.g. Fitbit) people find most useful when training?
I don’t need anything too flash and defo don’t want to spend a fortune but equally want something that does the job and help me track my progress/give me an idea of what sort of time roughly I will be looking at to complete it? TIA
Garmin watches are very popular with runners. 👍 I have an old and basic Garmin Forerunner that still meets all my needs (!) but there are lots of options to choose from.
As far as predicted times, there are online "race time predictors" which will scale up your current run times to give you some idea. However, they do say with a first marathon the best goal is just to complete it, especially if you are newish to running. I have never run further than a Half marathon myself but this sounds sensible advice to me! Good luck! 🙂
Thank you, yes I will be thrilled just to complete it but have no idea how long it will take (or how long my poor partner and kids will have to stand waiting for me)! So just want to get an idea of what rough time I’m looking at as my training progresses. Will definitely look into Garmin, I thought they only did sat-navs 😳😂
I carry my phone with me and run Strava on it. I look at my paces later, and add a brief written summary of how I felt on each run. I also keep records of all my non-running workouts on Strava, and I use all the data to work on my overall performance.
I wear a Fitbit Versa, but I haven't found its running features especially useful, and I don't like to see my data when I run anyway. I do like a lot of the other things it does - step count, sleep record, counting swimming laps. And it's a fabulous watch, I have designed my own watch face for it and I love it 😊😊😊
Does the versa automatically count pool laps or do you have to do it manually while swimming? In theory I have an app on my Garmin that counts pool laps, but it's not in the least bit reliable in my experience (tho it got lots of good reviews).
After raving on about my Fitbit the damn thing's gone and died on me 😡
Oh no! What now? The all important question ....
I'm currently in a whirl of GPS watch comparison...
😂😂😂😂😂
I *whisper it* have bought a Garmin 😮😮😮
I didn't like the sleep recording on mine compared to Fitbit, and it gives me far less steps (though I think it's more accurate), everything else I love! ... which one?
A Fenix 5S Multisport. I actually wanted a Suunto Spartan Trainer, but there seems to be a massive problem with the watch strap falling off it! And it is bulkier than the Garmin. It seems that nothing's perfect 😂
Thank you for your reply - I’m doing most of my training on the treadmill atm but even though I have a waist band thing for my phone it doesn’t seem to pick up the movement consistently for some reason so was thinking a watch may be better. I’ll def have a look at the Versa - thank you.
I take my phone for safety, wear a Garmin 235 forerunner for nerdy stats and pacing, and I use Trekz Air bone conduction headphones for musical entertainment/podcasts. There are certainly cheaper ways of doing the latter two things, but they were the versions that worked best for me and I'd certainly recommend them 🙂
Thanks very much for the recommendation - I will price them up and see what I can afford! 👍🏻
Garmin Forerunner 235 is the basic watch I have (now very cheap to buy because it's not the latest tech). I don't take my phone running so a gps watch is great for using Strava. The watch gives heart rate and calories data too. I find it most useful for monitoring my planned pace or setting pace alarms and max hr alarms etc.
That’s great, thank you - someone else has said the 235 model as well so will defo look into this. It sounds really good!
The Garmin235 is basic and cheap, which suits me. More expensive ones will stream music to your bluetooth headphones and do all the stuff that hiking-type watches do too. The newer more fancy Garmins work with a triathlon hr chest belt that gives extended run data and works when swimming too...but then you are going from £150 to £500 plus cost-wise.
The Garmin forerunner is the go to watch. You can sync it to Strava after your run. Top tip - look on eBay for a second hand watch (225 or 235 model) for about £60 and see how you get on?
Thank you for your reply, good idea about eBay - I’ll defo have a look on there and price them up. The forerunner seems to be the most popular going off everyone’s replies!
I use a garmin forerunner 235 and like it a lot. Apart from heart rate and other useful stats, I like that I can set up training seeions - so intervals or tempo runs with cool downs etc.; a lot easier than trying to use a watch and the phone. I looked on ebay but found they seemed to hold their value pretty well. I bought mine in one of the Amazon sales for less than the secondhand ones were going for, so it may be worth looking out for the next Amazon sale.
Thank you for your reply - ooh yes I do like a good sale item! Will have a look at the Garmin 235 and compare prices on the different websites I think!
Deffo go for a 235. Garmin have just brought out a couple of new watches so there should be some second hand ones coming on to the market now.
Thank you for your reply. The 235 defo seems the most popular so will keep an eye on eBay etc and check out some of the other sites too and price them up 👍🏻
I have a Garmin Vivoactive HR as a watch, synced up to Strava which I find hard not to look at while running now 🤓. I tried using various apps on the phone but found them too cumbersome. I don’t like to think while running. I do use the phone for music and podcasts tho, with some cheap Sony headphones which have been through the wash and still work fine 👍🏼😁
At best bruised...at worst broken? 
‘Maintenance’ Running
Happy big 1-0 to my best running buddy 🐕🎉❤️
Start running they say...Its cheap
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