These Are the Cheap Running Watches Worn by the London Marathon Winners

Why It Matters

The choice of budget watches by world‑record holders shows that elite performance depends on core timing functions, not expensive extras, reshaping consumer expectations and pressuring manufacturers to justify premium pricing.

Key Takeaways

• Sabastian Sawe used Garmin Forerunner 55 ($167), no sponsorship.
• Yomif Kejelcha wore Coros Pace 3 ($199), unsponsored.
• Jacob Kiplimo’s Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 ($349‑$429) is sponsored.
• Four of six elites used older models released 2021‑2023.
• High‑end features increase price but don’t boost elite race times.

Pulse Analysis

The London Marathon’s record‑breaking performances have sparked a surprising revelation: the world’s fastest runners are not racing with the newest, most expensive smartwatches. Instead, they favor proven, budget‑friendly devices like Garmin’s Forerunner 55 and Coros’s Pace 3, each priced well below $250. Even the women’s champion, Tigst Assefa, trusted a $243 Garmin Forerunner 255. Only Jacob Kiplimo carried a higher‑priced Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, which also doubled as a sponsorship platform. This pattern underscores that elite athletes prioritize reliable GPS pacing and basic metrics over flashy displays or extensive activity modes.

For elite marathoners, the watch’s primary job is to deliver accurate split times and distance estimates during a race where every second counts. Their training regimens are orchestrated by coaches, and advanced analytics—such as VO₂ max estimates, training load scores, or multi‑sport tracking—are largely redundant. Consequently, features that cater to recreational users, like animated dashboards or extensive health monitoring, add little value on race day. Manufacturers continue to layer new capabilities to justify higher price points, but the data suggest those upgrades do not translate into faster finishes for professionals.

Consumers can draw a clear lesson from these findings: a well‑built, older‑generation watch often offers the best cost‑to‑performance ratio for serious runners. Garmin’s Forerunner 255, still available new, exemplifies this balance, delivering precise GPS and heart‑rate tracking without the premium markup of newer models. As the market evolves, brands may need to shift focus from feature bloat toward durability, battery life, and core accuracy to meet the expectations set by the sport’s top performers.