First marathon

A 16-week plan and one long race day.

Pick for this goal

What to read

What VO2max is, and what your watch estimates

Explainer, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Suunto Run 2 review

Review, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Multi-band GPS explained

Explainer, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Garmin Forerunner 170 review

Review, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Forerunner 70 vs 170 for training

Comparison, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Forerunner 170 vs Coros Pace 4

Comparison, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Coros Pace 4 Pro review

Review, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

How to choose a GPS mode for your race

How-to, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Best watches for your first marathon

Roundup, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Best open-ear headphones for road running

Roundup, first marathon. 3 November 2026.

Sports watches: GPS battery, in hours

Suunto Vertical 2
£529
75 hmanufacturer claim
Suunto Race 2
£429
65 hmanufacturer claim
Coros Pace 4 Pro
£389
60 hmanufacturer claim
Coros Nomad
£319
50 hmanufacturer claim
Polar Vantage V3
£415.20
43 hmanufacturer claim
Coros Pace 4
£229
41 hmanufacturer claim
Amazfit Bip Max
£99.90
40 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
£299.99
40 hmanufacturer claim
Coros Apex 4
£389
34 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED
£299.99
32 hmanufacturer claim
Polar Pacer
£125.40
32 hmanufacturer claim
Polar Grit X2
£299.25
30 hmanufacturer claim
Polar Pacer Pro
£179.40
30 hmanufacturer claim
Polar Vantage M3
£279.20
30 hmanufacturer claim
Suunto Run 2
£299
30 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Forerunner 970
£629.99
26 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Forerunner 70
£219.99
23 hmanufacturer claim
Amazfit Active 2
£129.90
21 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Forerunner 170
£259.99
20 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Forerunner 170 Music
£299.99
20 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Venu 4
£439.99
20 hmanufacturer claim
Apple Watch Ultra 4
£749
18 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Forerunner 570
£429.99
18 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin Venu X1
£599.99
16 hmanufacturer claim
Amazfit Balance 2
£299.90
GPS battery figure not confirmed
Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro
£449.90
GPS battery figure not confirmed
Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro
£399.90
GPS battery figure not confirmed
Garmin Enduro 4
£799.99
GPS battery figure not confirmed
Garmin fēnix 9
£859.99
GPS battery figure not confirmed
Garmin fēnix 9 Pro
£949.99
GPS battery figure not confirmed
Suunto Race 3S
£435
GPS battery figure not confirmed

Straps and armbands: Battery, in hours

Polar H10
£69.20
400 hmanufacturer claim
Polar H9
£43.51
400 hmanufacturer claim
Wahoo TRACKR Heart Rate
£72
100 hmanufacturer claim
Coros Heart Rate Monitor
£69
38 hmanufacturer claim
Polar Verity Sense
£77.85
30 hmanufacturer claim
Wahoo TICKR FIT
£57
30 hmanufacturer claim
Garmin HRM 200
£79.99
Rated in months, so not on this scale
Garmin HRM 600
£149.99
Rated in months, so not on this scale
Garmin HRM-Fit
£139.99
Rated in months, so not on this scale