I took part in the New York City Marathon while donning seven fitness trackers to evaluate their effectiveness, and I found a few that stood out. Even though I got some peculiar looks, I was ready to face the humiliation to determine the ideal fitness tracker for marathon running.
Throughout my training, I utilized a total of 10 different trackers — the latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 (which took the place of my Apple Watch Ultra 2, which replaced my Apple Watch SE), the Garmin Forerunner 570, the Whoop MG, the Pixel Watch 4 (along with the previous Pixel Watch 3), the Suunto Run, the Oura Ring 4, and the Fitbit Charge 6.
In the end, I completed the marathon using the seven most recent models of our leading contenders. I was particularly impressed with the Whoop MG, Garmin Forerunner 570, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. The more budget-friendly Suunto Run also provides a lot of value for runners.
I also aimed to identify the most dependable fitness trackers for marathon training, so each week I concentrated on one tracker or smartwatch. To guarantee optimal data acquisition, I wore it both day and night outside of workouts to assess battery longevity and recovery data gathering.
While I dedicated each week to a different tracker, I utilized all seven models during my training sessions over the 18-week period. Overall, I ran 508 miles, completed 30 weightlifting workouts, cycled 110 miles, and practiced yoga or Pilates approximately once a week. I did all of this while resembling Bucky Barnes.
Reader: It was embarrassing, and I did it all for you.
I sought a wearable that offered a comfortable design, clear workout metrics, valuable recovery metrics, extended battery life, and good value. I wanted it to assist me in training, recovering, and completing the marathon. Here’s what I discovered during my 508-mile journey to find the best fitness trackers for marathon running.
Best health tracker for marathon training
My choice: Whoop MG 4.0
The new Whoop MG is an exceptionally comfortable, minimalist tracker geared towards health and recovery rather than real-time performance, and I genuinely liked it.
Its soft, lightweight band feels nearly non-existent, and due to the absence of a screen, you’re wonderfully free from constant notifications or distractions — something I didn’t realize I needed until I experienced it.
That being said, the lack of a display, GPS, and heart rate feedback during workouts renders it practically ineffective for real-time training metrics, such as pace or distance. Thus, similar to many health trackers, you will likely need a secondary fitness tracker for live data regarding your run, including pace, heart rate, and elevation.
Nonetheless, the insights post-workout are remarkable: you can literally identify spikes in strain or stress — even isolating moments like a fall or difficult interval — giving it a personal and affirming feel.
The recovery metrics are where Whoop excels. Its journaling feature is adaptable, allowing you to record habits such as alcohol consumption, cannabis use, or even eating beans, all of which relate to sleep, stress, and recovery. The sleep tracking is exceptional, breaking down stages, disturbances, and recovery readiness into clear, actionable data that aids you in deciding when to exert yourself or rest. The battery mechanism is brilliant — a slide-on charger means you never have to remove it, not even while showering.
While the subscription model can be a financial burden, Whoop’s extensive recovery data makes it arguably the best tool for understanding your body.
Also evaluated: Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring is possibly the most aesthetically pleasing wearable I tested during the training season. It’s sleek, comfortable, and surprisingly non-intrusive, excelling in recovery tracking. Like the Whoop MG, this shouldn’t be the sole wearable for marathon training — there’s no workout data since there’s no screen, nor does it provide live training feedback like pace or heart rate. It offers minimal useful data during or immediately post workouts, making it more of a wellness tracker than a performance device.
It never pinched or felt uncomfortable — although I wouldn’t advise wearing rings while lifting weights. Concerning workout metrics, the Oura Ring simply isn’t designed for live training feedback.
However, it truly excels in recovery tracking. It keeps track of essential health indicators such as heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, sleep quality, and overall activity, providing consistently valuable data that helps you grasp your readiness and recovery trends.
It’s also surprisingly useful for cycle tracking (if that interests you), offering accurate temperature-based insights. The Oura Ring 4 boasts excellent battery life — it can easily last several days, and I simply charge it while showering without facing low power issues.
Although it’s on the expensive side and requires a subscription, it is HSA/FSA eligible, which is a plus. Overall, the Oura Ring is an outstanding sleep and recovery tracker, best complemented with a dedicated fitness device for training.