There’s a Good Reason Why New York City Marathon Winners Wore This Particular Watch.
Last week, more than 60,000 runners crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon. When you think of elite athletes vying for a place on the podium, you might expect to see only the most expensive and feature-rich GPS watches money can buy—historically, the most premium Garmin Forerunner models . However, a glance at the wrists of this year’s New York City Marathon medalists reveals that Garmin—the default name for most amateur runners—was far from the only brand on the course.
Here are the watches that I have been able to confirm were among the top finishers of the New York City Marathon:
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Men’s winner Andreas Almgren: Coros Pace 4 (supported by)
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Second place among men went to Yemaneberhan Krippa: Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro (sponsored by)
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Jessica McClain, second place women’s watch: Garmin Forerunner 570 (sponsored).
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Third place women, Helen Obiri: Coros Pace 4 (sponsored)
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Non-binary winner, Ryan Montgomery: Suunto Race 3S watch (almost certainly sponsored, as this watch was released last month ).
Important note: I have not spoken to any of these athletes. What follows is my opinion based on what I know running watches offer to those who wear them.
Is Garmin still the king?
Garmin has long been the standard answer to the question “which running watch should I buy?” It earned its place thanks to its reliable GPS, excellent software, and vast ecosystem. And now it’s represented by the Forerunner 570—an excellent watch, but at a price most runners will find difficult to justify .
Of course, sponsorship is confusing, since athletes wear what sponsors put on their wrists. But that’s the point: other brands are investing in elite runners because they believe their products can compete with Garmin’s, and it seems they’re making the right bet.
It’s fair to wonder if Garmin’s position is weakening. The company is increasingly leaning toward releasing the most expensive watches with the most features at ever-increasing prices. The Forerunner 570 starts at $500. Meanwhile, COROS, Amazfit, and others are proving that a reliable and competitive watch doesn’t necessarily have to cost that much. Is Garmin still the best running watch overall? In terms of ecosystem, build quality, and feature depth, it remains a strong contender. But “best” no longer means “the only serious option,” and the gap between Garmin and the rest of the market has narrowed compared to recent years. Whether sponsored or not, it’s worth noting that two models, the Coros Pace 4 and the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro, are among the leaders.
What do I look for in a reliable running watch?
You don’t need an expensive watch to be an elite athlete—just look at the inexpensive running watches worn by the men who broke the two-hour barrier at the London Marathon last spring. Training load metrics, recovery indicators, maps, music, and smart notifications are certainly nice, but they’re additional features. If you’re choosing a watch, spend the money on basic functions that are implemented properly, and don’t feel obligated to pay for features you’ll never use. Anything other than time and pace is just a nice extra.
Whatever brand you choose, when choosing a running watch, focus on the following key points:
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Reliable pace and distance
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Accurate heart rate sensor
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A screen where information can be read at a glance.
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Simple and reliable buttons
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A battery that will last you the entire race.
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Comfort
The New York City Marathon podium demonstrates that the running watch market has become a bit more competitive and interesting than the “just buy a Garmin” era suggested. Garmin is still excellent, but we’re now seeing evidence that Coros, Amazfit, and Suunto produce watches good enough for the fastest people on the planet. If they can trust their watches on the most crucial days, then we can probably trust them for our Saturday long runs, too.