Running watches have become indispensable tools for both amateur and professional runners. They provide features designed to enhance performance, track progress, and make training more efficient to reach your running goals. With the ever-advancing technology in the market, runners now have more options to choose from.
One reason to get a running watch is for the activity tracking. Smartwatches provide comprehensive activity tracking features, including step count, distance covered, and calories burned. They offer real-time metrics that allow you to monitor your progress and make adjustments to your training as needed.
Another reason for a running watch is for GPS tracking. Many smartwatches have built-in GPS, which accurately tracks your running routes, distance, and pace. GPS tracking enables you to analyze your performance, set goals, and explore new routes while ensuring accurate data for training analysis.
Getting a running watch will also help with heart rate monitoring. Smartwatches equipped with optical heart rate sensors measure your heart rate during exercise. Monitoring your heart rate can help you gauge the intensity of your workouts, track your cardiovascular fitness, and optimize your training zones for more effective results.
If you have specific running goals a running watch will help with training Metrics and insights. Running watches provide a wealth of training metrics and insights that help you understand your performance better. These metrics can include VO2 max estimation, training load analysis, recovery time, and more. By analyzing these data points, you can tailor your training plans, optimize your workouts, and prevent overtraining or injury.
In this article, we will explore the top running watches available and delve into the reasons why you may want to consider running with more than one.
Best Running Watches
Garmin Forerunner 55
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is an awesome running watch that offers a comprehensive set of features. It includes advanced GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, performance metrics, suggested workouts and a two week battery life or 20 hours in GPS mode. Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature, which offers GPS-based pace guidance for a selected course or distance.
Apple Watch Series 8
The Apple Watch Series 8 is more than just a smartwatch; it has become a popular choice among runners who are use to using iOS. With its built-in GPS, heart rate monitor, and ECG capabilities, it provides accurate data for tracking workouts. The Apple Watch Series 8 also offers unique features like crash detection, fall detection and emergency SOS, ensuring the safety of runners. It seamlessly integrates with the Apple ecosystem, allowing users to access their favorite apps and music during their runs.
Fitbit Verse 4
The Fitbit Versa 4 includes GPS tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and more than 40 exercise modes. It also has tools to measure and improve sleep quality and daily stress management with guided breathing sessions and mindfulness content. The Fitbit Versa 4 also keeps you connected with on-wrist Bluetooth calls, texts and phone notifications.
Polar Pacer Pro
The Polar Pacer Pro is a top-tier multi-sport watch that excels in tracking running performance. It employs advanced running power metrics, which provide insights into a runner’s effort and efficiency. The new antenna design tracks every move with improved accuracy – for up to 100 hours of training time. With the Polar Pacer Pro you can see how well your body recovers overnight – with the quality, duration, and time spent in each sleep stage tracked.
Suunto Ambit3 Peak
The Suunto Ambit3 Peak is a rugged and durable running watch designed for endurance athletes. One of the most competitive battery hours in the market, 200 hours with 1 minute accuracy. The Suunto Ambit3 Peak provides accurate GPS tracking, altitude monitoring, and weather information, enabling runners to plan and adapt their routes accordingly. The watch will also allow you to add Photos in movement and create a SUUNTO Movie with the highlights of your adventure to share with your friends.
Benefits of Running with More Than One Watch
While owning a single running watch can be sufficient for most runners, there are several reasons why running with multiple watches can be advantageous:
a. Diverse Features: Different running watches offer unique features and functionalities. By using multiple watches, runners can leverage a variety of metrics and data points to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their performance, training, and recovery.
b. Backup and Redundancy: Running watches are electronic devices that can sometimes encounter technical issues or run out of battery unexpectedly. Having a backup watch ensures that runners can continue their training without interruptions or data loss.
c. Specialized Use Cases: Some watches excel in specific areas, such as GPS accuracy, heart rate monitoring, or advanced training metrics. By using different watches for different purposes, runners can maximize the benefits of each watch and address their specific training needs.
d. Tracking Progress Over Time: Running with multiple watches allows runners to compare data collected from different devices over an extended period. This long-term perspective can provide valuable insights into progress, trends, and potential areas for improvement.
e. Compatibility and Integration: Different watches may offer varying degrees of compatibility with running apps, platforms, or sensors. By using multiple watches, runners can take advantage of the strengths of each device and access a wider range of training tools and resources.
Conclusion
Running watches have revolutionized the way we train and track our running performance. With the top running watches available today, runners have access to a wealth of features and functionalities. It allows you to make data-driven decisions, set achievable goals, and monitor your progress over time. Ultimately, a running watch can be a valuable tool to help you become a more informed and efficient runner.
