Timex Review: Marathon GPS & Ironman 50 Lap Sleek Watch

Last Updated on September 27, 2019 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS

One of the most frequent gear questions I am asked is regarding  what GPS device to purchase.  Which ones work, which ones do I like, which ones are worth the money.  The truth is, running (and cycling and swimming) technology can be intimidating and expensive, and just like buying a car, trying to figure out exactly what you want (and what you don’t need) in a GPS can be overwhelming.   That is when user reviews can come in handy, and I’m happy to be able to present you with two more options from my friends at Timex.

Timex Marathon GPS:

 

Please ignore the flour around the edge of the screen, Geoff took it out for some serious adventure

 

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SPECS:

• GPS Pace, distance and speed with current real time or average data
• 30 Workout Memory
• 5 alarms, two time zones
• 8 hour battery (in full GPS mode):  I know I am slowly getting involved in things far more scary and adventurous than I once was, when my first thought was “ONLY 8 hours?”.  But lets be realistic, this is more than sufficient for your average runner, even possibly shorter ultra marathons.
• Water-Resistant to 30 meters: sweat away, my friends, but don’t swim. This watch isn’t waterPROOF.
• Indiglo night light
• MSRP: $125  Certainly more affordable than the $300+ options out there (includes charging cable)

REVIEW:

USE: Both Geoff and I found this GPS model to be less than intuitive, but after messing around with it for a few minutes, we were able to figure out how to make it function.  This, I suppose, is why they include instruction manuals in the package.  Once we figured it out, however, the Marathon picked up GPS fairly quickly.

 

FIT: The fit of this watch is EXCELLENT.  Far less bulky than other models, such as the Global Trainer, which almost swallows my arm (I do admittedly have incredibly tiny wrists).  The Marathon has a sleek design and rounded edges.  I am able to drop down in pushup or plank position without the top of my hand inadvertently hitting buttons on the side of the watch (a huge issue I’ve had with some other, larger GPS watches). The Marathon weighs in at 54.2g (1.9oz)

OVERALL: Keep in mind that this is an entry level, affordable GPS, and therefore you are not going to find a lot of the options that come with the more expensive models, such as multisport options, interval training, or pace alerts.   That said, this is a very basic, very reliable GPS watch.  If you are looking to keep it simple with pace and distance coupled with basic time and chrono functions, than this is the watch for you.  If you are new to running, want a GPS device, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, or purchase something that is far too overwhelming, than this watch is for you.

BONUS:  Due to it’s sleek design and smaller size, this would be a great GPS to wear as a regular watch, and have on hand *just in case* you decide to go for a lunch time run.

Timex Ironman Sleek 50 Lap Sports Watch

 

Yes, still wearing the LIVESTRONG bracelet.  You should too.

SPECS:

• Water-Resistant to 100 Meters24-Hour Countdown Timer
• Two Interval Timers with Stop and Repeat
• Automatic Interval Repetition Counter
• Three Daily, Weekly, Weekday or Weekend Alarms
• Two Time Zones
• INDIGLO® Night-Light with Night-Mode
• Dated Training Log with Best Lap
• Average Lap and Total Time
• 100-Hour Chronograph with Lap and Split Time
• 50-Lap Memory Recall
• Total Run Timer
• MSRP $70

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  REVIEW:

  USE:  For my 14th birthday in 8th grade (1996?)  my dad gave me my first Timex Ironman watch. I wore that thing everywhere, and blew through multiple wristbands.  Fast forward to my first year as a “runner” (2007), I bought my second Timex Ironman watch, which saw me through numerous Galloway intervals as I grew into a distance runner, and laps in the pool as I attempted to become a triathlete.

 

 

The point of me sharing this history is to tell you that over the last almost two decades (woah), the functions of the Timex Ironman brand watches really haven’t changed too much.   And sometimes, NOT changing is the best thing that can happen (you know what they say, don’t mess with a good thing!).  Therefore, I personally had no issues navigating the many functions of this watch (yes, even without reading the manual) as I was already familiar with style.  If you aren’t, however, I find this watch to be relatively intuitive regardless of familiarity. As you can see in the picture to the right, each button is clearly labeled with its respective function.  The large “Start/Split” button is easy to find and push without looking when you are running or swimming.

FIT: This particular watch is slightly larger than other models I’ve seen, but is still incredibly comfortable, and the larger face allows for easier viewing of the screen.

OVERALL:  As you can see from the very long spec list above, this watch does A LOT.  While not a GPS, it is certainly useful as a training tool, especially if you incorporate any sort of interval work into your training (swimming, speed work, even endurance or run/walk intervals).  This particular watch comes in numerous colors, sizes, and styles, for men and women, so even though I prefer the bright blue, you don’t have to .

 

So there you have it, two more options for keeping track of those miles and laps.  Any questions? I’m happy to try and answer them regarding these two models, just post them in the comments section below.

*disclosure*  I was provided these two watches for review purposes free of charge.  This is not a compensated nor campaign post.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.