What’s It Like to Race With the Garmin Forerunner 165?

Last week, I ran the Washington, D.C., Half Marathon along with nearly 8,000 other runners. While I usually enjoy running with a Garmin Forerunner 165 (which I’ve reviewed before), when I put it on the morning of the race, I had some doubts. This watch has earned a reputation as a beginner’s watch, and I was worried whether it would ever be up to the task. Would the GPS signal be accurate for the entire 13.1-mile run? Would the pacing features help me reach my goal time?

As I cross the finish line, I’m happy to report that this entry-level watch lived up to my expectations in almost every way.

Workouts with built-in Garmin plans

Ahead of race day, I tested Garmin training plans. They’re simple: after you select a plan in Garmin Connect, your watch automatically receives daily training data, including target pace, intervals, and recovery periods.

For me, the benefit is that Garmin training plans adapt to your performance over time, adjusting your target pace based on your recent runs and fitness assessment. For my marathon training, the plan included everything from easy runs and tempo workouts to speed intervals and long runs (which might not be enough, but more on that later).

As I ‘ve mentioned before , I especially love the pace guidance feature during tempo runs—the watch beeps and displays alerts when I’m outside my target pace zone, helping me put in those hard, long efforts that are so important for race preparation.

However, I’m not sure Garmin’s training philosophy is completely reliable, especially over long distances. I have a sneaking suspicion that the device might not show high enough peak mileage for some runners, but I’ll explore this further after completing a full training cycle. For now, I really like the pace assist feature and the structured workouts.

Creating a Custom Race Day Workout

In the lead-up to the race, I took advantage of one of Garmin’s best features: creating a custom workout. To do this, I opened the Garmin Connect app and went to “Workouts” > “Workouts” > “Create Workout.” Then, I created a step-by-step plan for the race. I created a mile warm-up run (at an easy pace), then the main run (an 11-mile stride with ambitious pace alerts), and an even more ambitious final mile run. The key was setting up pace alerts that would alert me if I was running too fast or too slow relative to my half marathon goal pace.

Once saved, the workout automatically synced with my Forerunner 165 watch, and I could start it like any other race-morning workout. This structure took the guesswork out of it and helped me maintain discipline in the first few kilometers, when the adrenaline and energy of the crowd push me to go too fast.

Forerunner 165 GPS Accuracy

This is where the Forerunner 165 really impressed me. I was genuinely worried about GPS accuracy before the race. Anyone who’s ever been to a concert knows how dense crowds can interfere with GPS on their phones or watches, and this half marathon had about 8,000 runners, and who knows how many spectators were cheering us on. More advanced Garmin watches feature dual-band GPS for greater accuracy, something the Forerunner 165 lacks. I was worried that in the crowded conditions of the race, among tall buildings and thousands of other runners, a single-band GPS might not be accurate.

My fears proved unfounded. Throughout the race, my Garmin tracked the official milestones set by the organizers almost perfectly. Mile after mile, as I reached each milestone, my watch showed deviations from the expected distance to within 0.1 mile. This consistency gave me confidence in my pace and relieved the stress of worrying about whether my watch was leading me astray.

Here you can see how close the Garmin tracking results are to my official race results.

I should note that I’m a very compassionate runner, as I’m actually in the 50th percentile of marathon runners: neither faster nor slower. This means my experience probably reflects what most recreational runners can expect from this watch.

How the Forerunner 165 performed on race day

During the race itself, the Forerunner 165 provided exactly what I needed without overwhelming me with unnecessary data. The screen remained easy to read in any lighting, from the pre-dawn start to the late afternoon. Battery life was a breeze—even after over two hours of GPS use, I still had plenty of charge.

The vibration alerts for pace deviations were perfectly calibrated: noticeable enough to catch my attention without being annoying or distracting. The autolap feature clearly marked each mile, providing me with regular checkpoints to assess my progress against the race plan.

Garmin Forerunner 165 Racing Tips

Based on my racing experience, here are my top tips for getting the most out of your Forerunner 165 during a race:

• Fully charge the battery the night before . Even though the battery holds up well, it’s not worth taking any chances. A full charge will last for any distance.

• Set up your data screens in advance . Choose what information will be displayed on the main screen. I recommend keeping it simple: current pace, average pace, and elapsed time. When you’re running low, too much data can be overwhelming.

• Practice using your personalized workout . Don’t let race day be your first experience with a personalized workout. Test it out during a long run to ensure the pace alerts and structure suit your preferences.

• Trust the GPS . What surprised me most was how accurate the GPS remained throughout the race. Trust the distance and pace shown by your watch, rather than trying to estimate it based on course markers or your own feelings.

• Use the lap button strategically . While the automatic lap function is good, manually pressing the lap button at key moments (such as mid-distance or at the beginning of a finishing kick) can provide useful psychological cues.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 may be positioned as an entry-level watch, but it did exactly what I needed on race day: accurate GPS, reliable pace feedback, and a user-friendly display. Sometimes, it seems, you don’t need the most advanced features—sometimes you just need a watch that works when you need it.

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