The Historic 2026 London Marathon
The 2026 London Marathon made history, as not one, but two runners broke the mythical two-hour time barrier. Sabastian Sawe came first, running the London Marathon in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. The runner-up, Yomif Kejelcha, also broke the two-hour record, but came 11 seconds shy of winning the race and setting a new record. That’s got to sting.
The Gear Behind the Victory
However, I’m just as interested in the equipment Sawe used to run his incredible race. On his feet were a pair of some of the best running shoes ever designed, the unreleased Adidas Adizero adios Pro Evo 3. On his wrist… was a five-year-old watch designed for entry-level runners.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Warren Little)
The Trend of Simplicity
Gadgets & Wearables correctly identified a trend of older, cheaper and mid-range watches being worn in London by the fastest runners in the world, suggesting most of them don’t actually care about newer features and just want a simple, reliable and lightweight device.
G&W aren’t sure whether Sawe is wearing a Garmin Forerunner 255 or the cheaper 55, but I’ve done some detective work here: zoom in on the image above (you’ll have to imagine saying “blow it up” and “enhance” like you’re on an episode of CSI) and you can see the thicker line on the “Start | Stop” button caused by the U-shape on the Forerunner 55, as you can see in the picture below.
(Image credit: Future)
The Takeaway from Sawe’s Success
Want to get the watch that broke the boundaries of running? Whether you’re just starting out on your running journey or you’re looking for a stripped-back running essential for your next marathon PB, Sawe has shown that the Garmin Forerunner 55 is a solid choice.
In the US, it’s available at Walmart from $199.99 down to $159.99, saving you $40. In the UK it’s available at Decathlon, from £179.99 down to £119.99, saving you an impressive £60. Check out both deals in full below, along with our widget for more of the best prices in your region.
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