This entry-level Garmin watch helped break running records, and it’s discounted just in time to train for the Aussie marathon season

Marathon season has officially kicked off in Australia, with plenty of running events coming over the next few months, including the Sydney Marathon, which is part of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors to be held on 30 August this year.

It follows the London Marathon that took place recently, when Sabastian Sawe finished first with a time of 1:59:30, breaking records, while runner-up Yomif Kejelcha was just 11 seconds behind.

While the coveted entry ballots to the Sydney Marathon closed a while back, you might be inspired by Sawe to up your running game and train for your first 5K run or even a full ultramarathon, and having the right gear will help with the training.

In Sawe’s case, headlines focused on his shoes, the unreleased Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, but what stood out to me as a tech reporter (and long-time Garmin user) was his running watch — the entry-level and now five-year-old Garmin Forerunner 55.

We’ve had the Forerunner 55 as one of our best Garmin watches for years before newer models edged it out, but Sawe’s win during the London Marathon proves you don’t need the latest and most expensive kit to achieve your goals. Even after all this time, the Forerunner 55 is still reliable, has a wide range of features and, importantly, is affordable (for a Garmin) even at full price. But why pay full price when you get it for a decent discount, just in time for the Aussie marathon season.