Your recommendation of best, most intuitive easy to use running watch

[hmcAsWas]

I used to be a runner - lapsed.

Sick of being fair, fat and fifty so am planning to go back to it. Have done some short runs over past couple of weeks in preparation for a relay marathon (where I am running 2.6 miles as are my other 9 team mates) and I have remembered how much healthier (and thinner) I was when doing this regularly.

Soooo impulsively have entered the New Forest 10K on 9 September. Looked at last years results and worked out that a chip time of 57 minutes and 22 secs would get me around 10th position (out of 120 women in the 50-59 category who completed the run) - so obviously being the goal driven type I will aim for that. Will need a running watch - one that is reliable but also very simple and intuitive to use and doesn't need a degree in computer programming to operate. 'Easy to use' is my most important criterion. Your recommendations would be gratefully received

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I bet the best selling Garmins are all relatively easy to use.

I’ve got an Apple Watch very easy to use.
Just tap exercise then outdoor run and you can either set the number of miles, minutes or calories, or you can have an open run.
However it isn’t cheap and you need to have an iPhone too.

Garmin vivoactive 3 user here. Did try a suunto but the app was awful. Have to say that I use it primarily for swimming not running but it’s v easy to use

Thanks all

I have a basic TomTom runner, very reliable & easy to use.

I love my Garmin Forerunner 235. Very easy to use and I wanted buttons rather than touch screen. It doesn't do swimming though, which is a bit annoying.

I have a basic garmin forerunner 25 and am very happy with it. it does everything I want/need it to do.

Forgive my stupid question...

I always run with my iPhone and Bluetooth headphones to listen to music.

Is there any watch that would replace the need to run with the phone?

There are watches that play music, both Tomtom and Garmin do them, and I'm guessing the Apple Watch would too.

DH has Sony headphones that can store music as well as give you updates re pace etc.

Thanks all. Apple Watch looks fabulous (along with the price!)

I have a milestone birthday coming up. Maybe it'll be on my wish list

I've got a TomTom runners watch which is easy to use.

I sometimes run with my iPhone and use an app called ismoothrun which I find really easy to create workouts. You can do run/walk, intervals with a set pace or distance and with headphones it will tell you when to walk and run or go faster or slower.

I use a TomTom that you can load music onto. Cardio spark, I think. But you actually have to buy music to load on, it doesn’t work with streaming sites. I very rarely go out without my phone, so didn’t need that feature.

The recording runs, uploading and syncing to strava works perfectly and is incredibly easy to use.

Thanks for the further recommendations. Decisions, decisions!

Do you want to measure heart rate? If it's just distance and speed you want to measure you could use an app like Strava. I lose gps in the forest where I run with strava. I was also looking for a recommendation for a watch or another app.

Also - if you need a training programme try the C210k app. It does 3 runs a week building up slowly. I am also a returning runner and doing this but doing 4 or 5 runs a week to build up more quickly.

I've got a garmin 210 that I got off ebay for £50 from someone who had to give up due to injury, and it is still going strong 3 years later. You can set up intervals on it, which is really, really handy for training. I'd recommend a newer version of it heartily.

I would like something that tells me to speed up if I am off target for meeting my time objective. So for instance if I plan to run 10kms in 55 minutes I'd like something that would tell me if I am on course for that

Ismoothrun app can do that over headphones. You can set the pace required to run 10k in 55 mins and a voice tells you slower/steady/faster depending on whether you're keeping to the pace .

Okay, thanks Bumply

Hi, I'm thinking about getting a running watch, and really don't know which to get.

All I want it to do is show me (in miles per minute) on a nice clear display, how fast I'm going. I really don't need/want music, as I'll still have my iPhone with me for Spotify. And that means I'll probably still log with Strava and/or Runkeeper as well. Not bothered either way about HR monitor, as I keep my running pretty easy. But as a gadget up, perhaps that'll be something I'll come to want in the future.

Which is the simplest and most idiot proof that's likely to do what I want? Or shouid I just chat up the bloke in the running shop again ?

Garmin forerunner is idiot proof, the basic one will do what you want. My Garmin is linked to strava...so every time I plug it in and it links to the Garmin connect site, it also updates Strava. Strava is over generous with the time though- it makes me look faster than I am, the Garmin is more honest. As to which Garmin you get, if you just want basic stuff, I’d look more at what battery life you want, and check the specs for that.

Love my Garmin Vivosport. It's small as it's an activity tracker, eg counts steps, calories, etc so I wear it all the time, but it has GPS and heart rate monitor for Running, walking, cycling, etc. Garmin Connect is easy to set up and gives you a good dashboard on which to track your improvement.

I am quite an expert idiot, but this all sounds quite encouraging.

I hadn't even given a thought to battery life. My Aftershokz say they do 4+ hours, do Forerunners or Vivosport do similar/more?