FITNESS AND ENDURANCE SPORTS ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER; WHETHER YOU’RE RUNNING A MARATHON ON YOUR BALCONY OR JUST TRYING TO SQUEEZE IN 10,000 DAILY STEPS, IT’S NEVER BEEN EASIER TO TRACK YOUR PROGRESS WITH WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY.
Not all running watches are created equal: there are huge variations in functionality, compatibility with 3rd party apps, battery life, weight, design, and pretty much every other variable one can think of.
With such diversity in the market and seemingly endless iterations of the evergreen smartwatch, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. Whether you’re in the market for a swish timepiece that’ll let you plan a 50 mile bike ride whilst you answer WhatsApp messages, or a simpler bit of kit to track your resting heart rate and changes in VO2 max, picking the right device comes down to tailoring it to your specific needs.
FITBIT VERSA 2 – £199.99/$199.95
Fitbit are the doyenne of wearable technology, having branched out from clip on sleep and step trackers to full blown smart watches over the last decade. The Versa 2 is Fitbit’s answer to the Apple Watch, right down to the iconic square design, but at a more accessible price. Unlike other Fitbit offerings, the Versa 2 supports 3rd party apps and even enables contactless payment via device, it also supports on-device music storage and – unlike the Apple Watch – has native sleep tracking. However, what the Versa 2 succeeds at in being a jack-of-all-trades it fails by being a master of none: multiple other smartwatches perform the same functions as the Versa 2 with better integration with smartphones. Another drawback is that it lacks a GPS chip and relies on your phone’s GPS so potentially it isn’t the tracker of choice for hardcore endurance sports enthusiasts. This being said, it’s still a great entry level running watch for those looking for something more reasonably priced.
Ideal race: Richmond Runfest 10K
Our rating: 6/10
APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 – £399.99/$399
Apple produces phenomenally popular timepieces, outselling the entire Swiss watch industry in 2019. First launched in 2015, Apple have quickly eclipsed competitors by producing everything-but-the-kitchen-sink devices. With the notable lack of any native sleep tracking apps, and the ability to receive regular notifications from iPhones, the Apple Watch is perhaps better suited for those looking to stay connected and less concerned with tracking recovery.
Smaller and lighter than the Series 3, the Apple Watch Series 5 has ironed out some of the creases found in earlier devices and introduced new features. The new always on display which is useful for keeping track of time during workouts – something which was notably absent from earlier generations. Other interesting additions to WatchOS 6 is the Noise app, which warns wearers when they enter noisy environments, and advanced haptic feedback making the device itself much more responsive.
Ideal race: San Francisco Half Marathon
Our rating: 7.5/10
POLAR IGNITE – £174.50/$229.95
The Polar Ignite is a sleek smartwatch that falls at the lower end of the price range, competing with the Apple Watch Series 3 and Fitbit Versa, whilst aiming to provide the features of a higher-end watch. Both the Nightly Recharge (similar to the Garmin’s Body Battery) and the FitSpark virtual coach are used to tailor workout programmes for the wearer and definitely are ahead of the game in terms of bespoke exercise recommendation. One small drawback, however, is the lack of GPS accuracy, which is disappointing, and a relative lack of responsivity to haptic feedback. However, unlike the Fitbit Versa, the Polar Ignite’s GPS system is inbuilt rather than reliant on a phone, making it that little bit easier to track runs and rides on the go.
Ideal race: Superfeet Sandman Triathlon & Duathlon
Our rating: 8/10
GARMIN FĒNIX 6 – £699.99/$799.99
Garmin are a household name, having been producing GPS technology for the past 30 years. From handheld GPS eTrex devices to multisport smartwatches like the Fenix 6. The Fenix 6 is a top end smartwatch, promising to build on Garmin’s previous smartwatch offerings and add a host of new features – and it does that. An excellent choice for those who are really serious about fitness, the Fenix 6 offers amazing GPS accuracy, colour topographic map displays, a 46 day battery life when set to ‘expedition mode’, and a sensitive barometric altimeter for the serious hikers among us. The only slight drawback is that it is absolutely enormous, maybe a little too heavy to be watch of choice for those in the market for something a little more lightweight. This being said, the Fenix 6 provides all sorts of advanced training metrics and trip-routing which makes it perfect for serious trail runners and those tackling ultra distances.
Ideal race: Snowdonia Trail Ultra Marathon
Our rating: 9.5/10
CASIO PRO-TREK WSD-F30 – £449/$549
The Casio Pro-Trek WSD-F30 is tough, as in tested to military spec for temperature shock and waterproof to 50m tough, making it the most outdoorsy watch listed in this article. The design itself harks back to Casio W-Series and G-Shock watches. More suited to hikers than gym bunnies, the WSD-F30 doesn’t have any HR or sleep tracking capabilities but instead focuses on tracking trekking, kayaking, and a host of other outdoors activities. What is slightly confusing though is the relatively poor battery life; the WSD-F30 will last maybe 48 hours in the woods which is fine for tackling the Manitou Incline but less useful for mammoth treks like the Annapurna Circuit. On a more positive note, the barometric altimeter is incredibly useful for adjusting training to altitude, the GLONASS-GPS-Galileo system ensures accurate coverage, and magnetic declination calibration makes for an accurate compass which comes in handy if you’ve taken the wrong turn on your trail.
Ideal race: Santa Barbara Red Rock Endurance Run
Our rating: 7/10
GARMIN FORERUNNER 945 – £519.99/$599.99
With the Forerunner 945 Garmin kept everything that was right about the 935 – the design, the feel, more metrics than you can shake a trekking pole at – and totally revamped the innards, providing a plethora of next-generation features such as a pulse oximeter, Garmin Pay, and support for music storage and playback via Spotify. The Elevate HR sensor improves upon the accuracy of previous Garmin HR sensors – even when tracking underwater – and seeks to strike the balance between a solid running watch with GPS navigation (with added GLONASS and Galileo support) and an everyday smartwatch to free wearers from their phones. The wide variety of sport modes available – encompassing everything from yoga to snowboarding – makes it a great all-round sport watch for multidisciplinarians.
Ideal race: Wild Tri
Our rating: 10/10
SUUNTO 9 BARO – £539/$549
The Finns are known for producing some of the most durable tech in the industry – we’ve all seen the jokes about indestructible Nokia 3210s – and the Suunto 9 Baro is no exception. Suunto have made battery life management their forte, and the 9 Baro can track up to 120 hours of continuous running, miles ahead of Garmin’s 32 hour maximum. This watch is most definitely geared towards ultra runners, with the ability to sync with Suunto Planner for route creation, allowing for easy navigation during long distance outings; the navigation app also uses a barometric altimeter to track elevation gain. Unique battery management modes with real time battery-life stats allow wearers to adjust settings to ensure the most useful balance, for them, between performance and longevity. Another useful addition to the Suunto 9 Baro is FusedTrack, which aims to provide GPS data in areas where there is no existing data (yes, you read that correctly) by using the accelerometer and altimeter to fill in the gaps and it does so to a surprisingly accurate degree. Suunto are evidently appealing to a niche audience, so maybe this isn’t the perfect device for career cyclists and triathletes, but it does absolutely fit the bill for those among us whose idea of heaven is a 250mi race through a desert.
Ideal race: Ultra X Jordan
Our rating: 9/10
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The Challenges Women Face in Running and How It Impacts Participation
Running is often lauded as one of the most accessible sports—just lace up your trainers and go. However, for many women, the barriers to participation go far beyond the logistical. While safety concerns are frequently highlighted, deeper systemic issues like access to the sport and unequal treatment are also preventing more women from running. It was a topic keenly discussed at our In Her Stride panel held at the end of November, with key members of the female running community including Sophie Power, Tasha Thompson, Rehana Mawani and Emily Shane.
Running is often lauded as one of the most accessible sports—just lace up your trainers and go. However, for many women, the barriers to participation go far beyond the logistical. While safety concerns are frequently highlighted, deeper systemic issues like access to the sport and unequal treatment are also preventing more women from running. It was a topic keenly discussed at our In Her Stride panel held at the end of November, with key members of the female running community including Sophie Power, Tasha Thompson, Rehana Mawani and Emily Shane.
Before we kick things off however, we should highlight that female participation in running events is growing, and this is a great thing! According to data from Let’s Do This, women in their 20s are the fastest-growing demographic in event participation this year. However despite this, women are still 16% less likely to run every week compared to men. This disparity is particularly striking given that women report higher levels of personal benefits from running, such as improved fitness, better sleep, and reduced stress.
The reasons for this are complex and personal, however we have broken down three key challenges discussed during our panel and the solutions explored that could help address them.
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1. The Pressure of Pace
One of the biggest hurdles for many women is the pressure to run faster. Despite the average UK woman’s running speed of 06:37 min/km (according to Strava), most run clubs don’t cater to this with the slowest pace often around 6 minutes per km. Add to this the relentless focus on personal bests and fast times on social media, and it’s no surprise that many women feel too intimidated to join in.
Thankfully, there are starting to be more people rebelling against this speed obsession, including our panelist, Emily Shane. Emily has been leading the charge to encourage more women to disregard pace and focus on the experience of running to drive uptake amongst women. Initiatives like events without cutoff times and more inclusive pace groups at running clubs are vital to creating a more welcoming environment and broadening the benefits of running to the experience and community.
2. Perception of Sport in Schools
One of the topics hotly discussed was how for many girls, the barriers to enjoying physical activity start at school. Puberty, coupled with changing bodies and fluctuating emotions, can make sports feel daunting and uncomfortable for teenage girls. Research highlights this disparity: only 38% of girls enjoy sport and exercise compared to 53% of boys, and just 26% of girls feel confident in physical activity versus 43% of boys.
The panel emphasised the need to address this such as:
- Introducing a wider variety of sports and fitness activities to cater to different interests
- Providing more supportive and confidence-boosting PE kits.
- Showcasing more female role models in sport to inspire young girls.
By addressing these issues at the school level, we can foster a love of sport that lasts into adulthood.
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3. Treatment at Events
This is a topic that panelist Sophie Power, founder of SheRACES is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about. Even at organised running events, women often experience unequal treatment. From “unisex: t-shirts (which are actually designed for men) to a lack of sanitary products in portaloos, these "small things" can collectively make women feel like an afterthought. Prize money inequality and rigid event policies—like no deferral options for pregnant or postpartum women—further highlight these disparities.
Thankfully, initiatives like the 50:50 campaign by Threshold (a campaign to get 50% of women at Ultra startlines vs. the current average of 30%) and the advocacy work of SheRACES are driving change, and there are many amazing event organisers such as Maverick, Threshold, Why We Run and many more, that are working hard to make their events are inclusive as possible for women.
Despite these challenges, the panel and attendees felt overwhelmingly optimistic about the future of running for women and the benefits it brings us. Progress is being made, however we all need to add our voices to the conversation to help more women get into the sport and reap the benefits.
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Some Helpful Resources
Here are a few helpful resources. This list isn’t exhaustive by any means, however is a good starting point for those looking for inspiration on where to start.
Female friendly events:
- Threshold Events
- London Landmarks Half Marathon
- Maverick Events
- Why We Run
- Women Run Series London 2025
Female Only Run Clubs
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From Radio to Race Day: Hattie Pearson’s Path to Endurance Event Glory
Hattie Pearson is the type of person who doesn’t just dabble in fitness (or most things…!) She dives in headfirst, often with no hand-holding (except, perhaps, metaphorically). From her first triathlon in 2021 to a series of jaw-dropping endurance feats in 2024, she’s been redefining what’s possible with determination, community, and a big ‘YES’ attitude.
Hattie Pearson is the type of person who doesn’t just dabble in fitness (or most things…!) She dives in headfirst, often with no hand-holding (except, perhaps, metaphorically). From her first triathlon in 2021 to a series of jaw-dropping endurance feats in 2024, she’s been redefining what’s possible with determination, community, and a big ‘YES’ attitude.
Just say YES
Hattie’s ‘yes’ streak started when a friend and her decided to do a sprint triathlon together. “We had such a great time,” Hattie recalls, “and I was like, I want to do more of this.” That spark quickly turned into a blaze of ambition. By the following year, she was competing in Outlaw triathlons and even signing up for a full-distance Ironman—before completing her first half-distance event. “I didn’t give myself the choice to not carry on,” she says.
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The Power of Community
For Hattie, discovering the 10IronWomen network—a group committed to gender parity in triathlons—was a game-changer. “It’s amazing to see a community encouraging women and non-binary folk to show up,” she explains. “Seeing others doing it made me think, I want to be a part of this.” That sense of solidarity and shared purpose has been a recurring theme, whether she’s lacing up for a winter triathlon in the Alps or a grueling ultra-marathon closer to home.
A Year of Big Goals
This year, Hattie set herself a dizzying list of challenges. She swam 500 kilometers (yep, that’s half a million meters!) and tackled a range of events, including a winter triathlon complete with ski touring, the Étape du Tour cycling challenge, and her first ultra-marathon. Each was hard in its own way—whether it was battling snowy trails with crampons or smashing out seven-and-a-half-minute miles for 13.1 miles. But for Hattie, the difficulty is the point. “Every time I achieve something I thought was impossible, I remind myself: I can do hard things.”
Balance and Burnout
With goals that ambitious, fitting it all in can be a challenge. Early mornings help. “I’m one of those people who can get up at 5:00 a.m,” Hattie admits, however it also takes a lot of discipline. With her work on Hits Radio starting later in the day, she carves out time for training, dog walks, and the occasional tantrum over broken goggles. “I’ve definitely had those ‘forgetting-my-swimming-costume’ moments,” she laughs. But her key to staying motivated is simple: keep it fresh and fun. Whether it’s joining her triathlon club for training or trying a completely new event, keeping it fun and different is the secret to staying motivated and on track to reach your goals.
Advice for Aspiring Endurance Athletes
For anyone looking to follow in her footsteps (or strokes), Hattie has this advice:
- Be patient. Results don’t come overnight, and the journey is as important as the destination.
- Stop comparing. “Your journey is completely your own. Social media only shows the highlights,” she reminds us.
- Find your community. Whether it’s a running club, a neighbor for early morning jogs, or an online network, accountability and camaraderie make all the difference.
What’s Next for Hattie?
In 2025, Hattie plans to tackle her first multi-day event, the Monster Triathlon. Admittedly it is as scary as it sounds, kicking off with a 5K swim in Loch Ness, followed by a 1,000-kilometer bike ride to Windsor, and wraps up with a casual 50K run to London(!). Her goals also include more open-water swimming, trail running, and maybe—just maybe—an even bigger endurance challenge. (Though definitely not swimming the English Channel: “No way am I swimming through jellyfish without a wetsuit!”)
Hattie Pearson’s journey is more than a personal triumph. It’s a testament to the power of showing up, saying yes, and proving that with the right mindset, anything is possible. Whether you’re tackling your first 5K or dreaming of an ultra-marathon, Hattie’s story is proof that the finish line is worth the hard miles. And when you cross it? You’ve won your race—medal or not. 🏅
Make your own electrolyte drink
Why spend on expensive sports drinks when you can make a natural, hydrating electrolyte drink right at home? With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a refreshing blend packed with essential minerals and hydration-boosting properties. Perfect for fueling your workout or post-run recovery, this homemade option keeps it natural, affordable, and effective.
Why spend on expensive sports drinks when you can make a natural, hydrating electrolyte drink right at home? With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a refreshing blend packed with essential minerals and hydration-boosting properties. Perfect for fueling your workout or post-run recovery, this homemade option keeps it natural, affordable, and effective.
Ingredients:
- 1 pinch of high-quality sea salt
- Small piece of fresh ginger, peeled
- 500ml coconut water (e.g., Rebel Kitchen)
- Juice of 1 lime
- Fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
- Prepare Salt & Ginger: Add a pinch of sea salt and the peeled ginger to a blender.
- Add Coconut Water & Lime: Pour in the coconut water, squeeze in the lime juice, and add a few mint leaves.
- Blend & Serve: Blend until smooth, pour into a glass, and garnish with extra mint. Enjoy your refreshing, hydrating drink!
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