The 2026 London Marathon delivered some extraordinary performances, together with Sabastian Sawe’s historic sub two-hour 1:59:30 and Tigst Assefa’s 2:15:41 women-only world document. It additionally gave us a surprisingly clear have a look at what the quickest runners on the earth truly select to put on on race day, and the reply just isn’t costly flagship watches.
Devices & Wearables | AI-generated graphic primarily based on race outcomes and reported watch selections. Information is correct, however some athlete visuals might not precisely match the people proven.
As a substitute of premium titanium fashions full of smartwatch extras, a lot of the prime finishers confirmed up with light-weight, sensible coaching watches constructed for one job: operating nicely. Garmin’s Forerunner 255 appeared on each males’s and ladies’s winners, whereas COROS and even Samsung additionally made the listing.
Garmin’s Forerunner 255 steals the highlight
The most important takeaway might be the dominance of the Garmin Forerunner 255. Each Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa had been noticed sporting the watch throughout their record-breaking runs, which says quite a bit contemplating Garmin has a lot newer and far more costly fashions obtainable.
The Forerunner 255 skips the AMOLED show and premium supplies you get on higher-end gadgets just like the Forerunner 965 or Fenix line. What it affords as an alternative is low weight, glorious GPS accuracy, sturdy battery life and dependable coaching instruments, which is precisely what issues throughout a marathon.
For elite runners, consolation issues greater than luxurious. A lighter watch is less complicated to overlook about over 42.2 kilometres, particularly when each gram begins to rely late within the race.
That’s most likely why the Forerunner 255 continues to indicate up on skilled athletes though it sits comfortably under Garmin’s flagship tier. It does the core job extraordinarily nicely, and for racing, that’s usually sufficient.
COROS continues its elite operating push
COROS additionally had a robust displaying. Yomif Kejelcha, who completed in 1:59:41, was seen sporting the Tempo 3, whereas Hellen Obiri wore the Tempo 4 throughout her 2:15:53 end.
This suits with COROS’s technique over the previous few years. The corporate has centered closely on efficiency runners moderately than normal smartwatch patrons, and its Tempo collection displays that. These watches are mild, easy and constructed round coaching metrics as an alternative of life-style options.
The Tempo line has developed a robust following amongst critical runners as a result of it affords quite a bit with out pointless extras. London Marathon outcomes like this solely strengthen that picture.
The Samsung shock
Probably the most sudden watch within the group was most likely Jacob Kiplimo’s Samsung Watch 8. Seeing a Galaxy Watch on the wrist of a runner producing a 2:00:28 marathon just isn’t one thing most individuals would have predicted.
Samsung watches are normally seen as smartwatches first and sports activities watches second. They deal with notifications, apps and every day life-style options very nicely, however they aren’t the primary selection most marathon purists consider.
That makes Kiplimo’s selection fascinating. It might be linked to sponsorship, private choice or just the truth that the newest Galaxy Watch fashions have change into a lot stronger health gadgets than individuals give them credit score for. Both means, it stands out in a subject dominated by devoted operating manufacturers.
What elite runners truly care about
One factor may be very clear from this lineup. There have been no cumbersome journey watches, no ultra-premium titanium showpieces and no gadgets chosen primarily for smartwatch attraction.
As a substitute, the main target stayed on watches that disappear on the wrist. Dependable GPS, steady coronary heart charge information, lengthy battery life and low weight matter excess of vibrant shows or premium finishes.
Joyciline Jepkosgei’s Garmin Forerunner 955 suits that very same sample. It affords extra superior coaching instruments than the 255, however it’s nonetheless constructed at the beginning for efficiency.
That’s most likely the perfect lesson from this 12 months’s London Marathon. The world’s quickest runners usually are not essentially selecting the costliest watches. They’re selecting those they belief when every thing depends upon the subsequent step.
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