The 5 gadgets that got me through marathons and obstacle races (and why they work)

I spend most of my time for ZDNET testing wearable technology, and I don't just test gear with neighborhood walks. I spend time training for events that include half marathons and obstacle course endurance races. I'm a fairly large person, weighing in at 240 pounds, and training is vital for these events, if I want to complete them to my fullest ability (and set some PRs while doing so). 

Participating in multiple sports and activities is most helpful for preparing me for running, jumping, climbing, and more. As a mobile technology enthusiast, I am fascinated by the data that these mobile devices can capture, and I use this data to plot and check trends for my fitness improvement.

There are an increasing number of stunning wearables available to help you achieve your goals, and these are the five most important pieces of technology that help me get ready to roll.

Also: The best smartwatches 

If I had to choose just one wearable to prepare for these events, it would be the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED. It is an expensive GPS sports watch, but it has everything packed in the watch form factor I need to train, track, and complete these events. 

Garmin provides free training plans and coaching to provide specific guidance that helps you progress from recreational form to racing form in a couple of months. The watch lasts for at least a week, has a vibrant, easy-to-read AMOLED display, measures your fitness data accurately, and provides a full body assessment that includes sleep tracking, stress measurements, and more.

This Garmin beat my Apple Watch Ultra in almost every way 

Wearable technology reviewers laud the positioning accuracy and heart rate performance, stating that the Fenix 8 AMOLED may be the best on the market for these key functions. In addition to the AMOLED display and unique LED flashlight, the ability to record voice memos and access core functions via voice are features that make this one of the best - and most expensive - watches available for training.

GPS sports watches are fantastic for long battery life, training guidance, and tracking fitness trends, but on my other wrist I like to mount the best smartwatch available today. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 provides me with cellular connectivity on the go, messaging triage, and a vast number of mobile applications. 

There isn't much I can't do with the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but the two-day battery life can be a bit limiting when training for longer events. Despite the colorful, vibrant display, I proved that the Watch Ultra could survive the rocks, water, and stress of a Tough Mudder event.

WatchOS 26 is bringing Workout Buddy to the Watch Ultra. It is an AI health feature that will consider your fitness history, pace, Activity Rings, Training Load, and more to deliver feedback and encouragement ahead of, during, and after your exercise. With these new features on the way, I may be able to limit myself to a single watch in the near future.

With two watches mounted on my wrists, I have access to all of the data I need to succeed. However, during training runs and cycling sessions, looking down at your wrist or on the handlebars is not always the safest and most efficient way to achieve your goals. That's where these smart glasses come in. The Engo 2 PC glasses function as both sunglasses and clear lens protection, so they can be used in any lighting condition. Both the Garmin Fenix 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 connect easily with the glasses and supply key metrics to the heads-up display. With the Engo 2 Photochromic glasses showing key information, including Strava Live segment data, I am able to keep my head up and body moving in order to set personal bests while training.

Also: I biked with these photochromic glasses and the heads up display was game-changing

As I get older and look for low-impact crosstraining activities, I've found swimming to be one of the most important. For most of my life, I would swim for a set period of time and just roll along at a pace that felt right. Thanks to the Form Smart Swim 2 goggles, key metrics appear in front of your right eye to help you maintain your desired pace and complete various training plans.

Since I also enjoy swimming in open water lakes in Washington, the Smart Swim 2 goggles can be set up to keep you swimming in a straight line so you are not wasting strokes or pausing to confirm your location or track. They connect seamlessly to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Fenix 8, but there is also an optical heart rate sensor on the goggles and sensors for automatic stroke detection so they can be used in stand-alone mode as well.

Also: These smart goggles have a brilliant features that swimmers are going to dive for 

Cycling gives me the opportunity to stretch out the muscles in my legs and enjoy the outdoors with speed. I started with Garmin Edge bike computers, but even with regular use, I was constantly pressing the wrong buttons and having trouble finding the buttons along the edges. In the last few months, I tested my first Wahoo bike computer. The Elemnt Ace has been a joy to use, with easily accessible front buttons that are labeled clearly on the display so I can say goodbye to all those inadvertent button presses.

The Wahoo Elemnt Ace has a large display that is perfect for aging eyes. With simple side button presses, you can dynamically change the text size and number of metrics that appear on the display for easy reading. Double-tapping the display during an activity also activates a loud electronic bike bell to warn others you are riding up behind them. A wind sensor also collects wind speed data that may be helpful for training.

Detailed mapping and navigation help me stay on track and complete pre-defined training routes. The Elemnt Ace supports connectivity to a number of various sensors, too, so each element of your ride can be captured, shared, and studied in order to help you improve your performance. Cycling reviewers enjoy the big screen and functions, but are not pleased with the battery life claims and practicality of the wind sensor. Given that I do not go on rides for more than a few hours, a 15-hour battery life is perfectly fine for providing a week of ride tracking.

Also: This bike computer might just convince me to ditch my smartwatch for workouts 

Why should you trust me?

I started running long distances more than 40 years ago, and physical activities are a key aspect of my life. I am also an extremely competitive person and love challenging my body and mind with various events. In addition to the seven half marathons I have completed, I also completed one full marathon and a large number of shorter 10k races in the past couple of decades.

As you can see in my 19-year history of writing for ZDNET, I have tested different fitness-focused wearables over the past two decades and have seen it all. Gear that I actually keep using on a regular basis rises above the vast number of options available, so I have a solid perspective on the performance of this selected mobile technology.

Why don't you just use one watch?

Apple and Garmin used to be quite different in their focus for the end user, but over the last couple of years we have seen both companies moving to the left and right to bring it all together on their flagship products. Apple incorporated more training features, health and wellness metrics, and improved durability while Garmin added brilliant AMOLED displays, microphones and speakers for voice control, and more third-party applications.

There is still a gap between them, though, with Garmin offering an amazing level of data screen customization, battery life typically exceeding a week, a useful LED flashlight, and more useful, practical daily training guidance. On the other hand, the Apple Watch Ultra offers many apps that you could use it as your primary smartphone in many situations.

What do you use during an actual race?

When it comes to the half marathon race, I wear the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED and Engo 2 PC glasses. I don't need the connectivity and apps of an Apple Watch during the race, so I generally don't wear both watches. The glasses are useful as sunglasses when it's nice out, and having that heads-up display lets me focus on the run in front of me without having to look at my wrist during crowded events.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-watch-ultra-review/

For Tough Mudders, Warrior Dashes, and other obstacle course events I usually wear just the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Watch Ultra tracks the details of the event accurately, is durable and can withstand all of the various elements. Plus, its connectivity allows friends and family to track me on the course. It is also great for safety: during my last Tough Mudder, the alarm was activated during a particular hard landing after a jump.

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