Timex - IRONMAN® T300+ Silicone Strap Watch

You don't need to buy a running plan to improve. You can find decent running programs for people of your ability all over the internet. You can even get ChatGPT to make you an acceptable plan. While new technology makes these subscription plans and watch apps fun, they are absolutely not necessary. Remember that lots of people started running and became runners long before GPS watches and smart phones even existed. I highly recommend trying to run "the old fashioned way." Get a Timex Ironman Triathlon watch like we all used to have, do a little running every day, head to the track once a week, do a long run. You'll be just fine. As far as choosing the correct running watch, go with something you can afford, which provides the features you can't live without, and try not to get caught up in all the inaccurate metrics like "body battery" and "recovery time." There are even free HRV apps you can download to your phone that work in conjunction with a simple HR chest strap from Amazon. Essential features only. Every watch does the essentials relatively well.

I don’t because Garmin is ugly and annoying. I prefer Coros. I’ve used all 4 brands at different life points my favorite to lease for running goes Coros, Apple, TimeX, Garmin

I’ve done two Olympic tris and am currently training for another as well as a marathon. I’ve only used a Timex Ironman and my cellphone. I’m sure a GPS watch would be rad but I can’t justify the price and people ran faster than me before they even existed. For intervals, I’m on a track where start/stop/split is more accurate than GPS (I assume). For longer efforts on the roads or trails I train by effort, time, or predetermined distance and the occasional glance at the (spotty) phone GPS. In the pool, I use the pace clock. YMMV.

This is so true. I also run marathons and when I first started running so many years ago I had a Timex Ironman - I still managed quite nicely without any of the metrics that watches of today provide. I used Garmin for a number of years, so much data but in reality how many users even understand what all those metrics means or take any action on based on them - less than 10% I would say? Even professional athletes do not need all that data- they have coaches and a team around them.

When I started running many years ago I started with a timex Ironman, yes Garmin provides a great deal of data and it is fun to look at but unless you are an professional athlete 80-90% of it is irrelevant. A good percentage of Garmin users will not even understand what the data means and never take action on it. So much of it is fluff to sell watches. Garmin is almost cult-like for many, wearing one makes them part of the group and says - I am a serious athlete.

Timex Ironman is the way to go, you don't *need* smart watches, specially if you are just starting. I only care for the total duration of my workout and laps, how far I go (if you’re swimming in a 50m pool, you can easily figure out your total distance or how far you go per drill), and making sure I’m doing with good form.

I use a $49 Timex Ironman. I’ve got over 100 miles of reasonably accurately measured trails to run on. It’s worked well for 37 marathons and ultras. I can’t be the only old school runner, can I?