Do You Need a Running Watch? My Used Garmin 955 Solar Review

Do you need a running watch to be a “real” runner? In this first episode of Just Keep Running, Evan Blakeney shares his honest experience buying a used Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar on eBay for $250 — what works, what doesn’t, and whether a watch is actually worth it for beginner and intermediate runners.Evan walks through his two running journeys: the first one in college with no watch, no Strava, no goals — just running for the joy of it after reading Born to Run. And the second one now, training for the Jigger Johnson 20-mile ultra in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, where suddenly every pace, heart rate, and Strava notification can become a source of imposter syndrome.In this episode:•         The trap of comparing your numbers to David Goggins, Cam Hanes, David Roche, and Ashley Paulson (who just broke the women’s 100-mile world record at 12:19:34)•         Whether training readiness scores and suggested workouts actually help•         Multi-band GPS accuracy vs. your phone•         Battery life on the 955 Solar (he got almost 14 days)•         Buying used on eBay: what to look for, what to avoid, and the rule he uses (it has to be at least half off new)•         Why he probably didn’t need a flagship watch — and what he’d tell you to buy instead•         Who actually benefits from a running watch, and who should just go run Whether you’re a beginner deciding on your first watch, eyeing a used deal, or talking yourself out of buying one — this episode lays out the real trade-offs from someone going through it right now.Connect with Evan:Instagram: @evan_blakeneyHave a question or topic you want covered? DM or email. If this episode helped you, the best thing you can do is leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it’s the #1 thing that helps new listeners find the show.Until next time, Just Keep Running Until Next Time: Just Keep Running