Believe it or not, after more than 10 years of writing for Run Oregon and somewhere around 12 or 13 years of actually running, I’ve only had a handful of running-specific watches on my wrist.
That wasn’t necessarily a conscious decision. I just never really felt like I needed to invest in one. I’ve had an Apple Watch for years, and for the most part, it did what I needed it to do: track my runs, give me some basic information and generally keep up with my running without making things too complicated.
Then, for my birthday last year, my wife gave me the original Suunto Run. I’ve been using it ever since, and I’ll admit that I didn’t really know what I was missing.
There’s a lot that comes with a dedicated running watch. More data, more training information, more ways to track what your body and your run are doing. And while some of that information can feel a little overwhelming, I’m starting to appreciate why it can be useful. Maybe that’s partly because I’m getting older.
Benefits of a Running Watch
After more than a decade of running, I’m realizing that understanding my training load, recovery and what my body is telling me is becoming a little more important. I still don’t prefer to analyze every single metric after every run, but having more information can help me make smarter decisions about how much I’m running, how hard I’m pushing and, ultimately, how I can keep running while staying as healthy as possible.
So when Suunto introduced the Race 3S as an upgrade to the original Race, with even more detailed information and metrics, I wasn’t looking at it as a watch that suddenly had too much information for me. Instead, I was interested in seeing whether all of that additional data could actually be useful for a runner like me.
The Details and Upgrades
The Suunto Race 3S comes in at $599, putting it in the premium running-watch category, but it manages to pack a lot into a relatively compact and lightweight design. It’s built for everyday training as well as trail adventures, with plenty of information and navigation tools without feeling like you need a degree in running watches to use it.
It is dropping in three colors: Titanium Orchid (purple), Black, and Feather (white/grey). It also has a 22mm silicone strap with multiple straps and a new upgraded vibe. It’s comfortable and sporty.
The display is one of the more noticeable upgrades. The 2000-nit AMOLED screen is brighter (the Race S was 600) and easier to read outdoors, while the Sapphire Crystal glass should do a better job standing up to the inevitable bumps and scratches that come with running and everyday use. I mean, who hasn’t whapped their wrist accidentally into a tree or bush?
Battery life gets a nice boost, too, with up to 45 hours in performance mode (the Race S was 30). That’s about 50% more than the previous version, which means fewer opportunities to discover that you forgot to charge your watch before heading out for a long run (guilty).
Suunto also doubled the storage space for maps and music (now at 64GB – up from 32GB). I’m not someone who needs a huge library of either on my wrist, but it’s another one of those upgrades that gives you more flexibility when you need it.
Ready for Navigating
The GPS and navigation have been improved as well. In practical terms, the Race 3S is designed to do a better job keeping track of where you are in places where GPS can sometimes struggle, like around tall buildings or underneath a lot of tree cover.
Speaking of navigation, it also has free offline maps on both the watch and app that include street names, countour lines, and points of interest. For someone who travels a lot – this is HUGE to being able to find a good and safe route in unfamiliar locations. Elevation tracking has also been improved.
There’s also a new Track Back feature that can help guide you back along the route you came in on, along with improved turn-by-turn directions. That’s a huge deal in my books and can keep you from having to pull out your phone every few minutes (assuming you have service) to ensure you are on the right path when they start forking off in multiple directions.
Charging
I also found the charging attachment to be much quicker and easier than my Suunto Run. It may be operator error, but it always takes me a bit of time to find the connection (first world problems I know), whereas this cable is super simple and easy.
None of these changes completely reinvent the Race (outside of smart upgrades), but they address some of the things that matter when you’re actually wearing the watch day after day: a screen you can see, a battery that lasts longer, more room for your maps and music, and navigation you can trust when you wander a little farther from home.