Budget gadgets for beginner runners: from smartphones to smartwatches

Running is often called one of the most accessible forms of sports. To start training, you only need comfortable sneakers and the desire to go for a run. But today, technology is gradually becoming part of the training process. Smartphones, sports watches, and mobile apps help track pace, distance, heart rate, and recovery, turning an ordinary run into a set of data for analysis.

At the same time, such devices do not necessarily have to be expensive. The market is seeing an increasing number of budget gadgets that provide basic analytics and help structure the training process even at the initial stage.

Pedro Visuete Castro, running coach and skyrunner

Smartphone — the most accessible gadget for running

For beginner runners, the simplest and most accessible tool is often an ordinary smartphone. It is enough to install a mobile running app that will record the route, pace, workout time, and distance.

This option is well suited for the first runs and helps start tracking your own progress. The only significant drawback is that the smartphone does not measure heart rate, making it more difficult to assess the level of load. However, for light training at the start, this functionality is usually sufficient. 

One of the most popular apps among runners remains Strava. The service allows you to record workouts, track progress, and share results with other users.

The app has a paid subscription with extended analytics, but for most beginner runners, the capabilities of the free version are quite sufficient. In addition, the service can be installed on an ordinary smartphone or synchronized with most smartwatches.

Smartwatches instead of fitness trackers

Many beginners consider fitness trackers as a more affordable alternative, but experts recommend paying attention specifically to smartwatches.

Unlike trackers, they provide more data about the workout — recording time, distance, speed, and heart rate. Although the measurement accuracy of budget models may not be ideal, these indicators still help better understand the body's reaction to the load.

Moreover, most smartwatches can track heart rate throughout the day — during activity, rest, and sleep. Some models also analyze heart rate variability. This indicator helps understand how well the body recovers after workouts and how it tolerates the load.

For progress analysis, the regularity of recording workouts is more important than the cost of the device. Even a simple smartphone or a basic smartwatch model can provide enough data for amateur running.

Flagship devices, as a rule, add additional functions and more accurate sensors, but for a beginner athlete, the difference in the volume of basic information will not be so critical.

Minimal set of gadgets for a start

At the initial stages, you should not experiment with a large number of devices, especially if the budget is limited. To start, two gadgets are enough, which many already have: a smartphone and smartwatches.

The smartphone will help record the route and distance, and the watch will track heart rate and basic workout parameters. This set already allows controlling the load and gradually building the training process without significant costs.

But it is important to remember: gadgets are only a tool. To make workouts truly mindful and races safe, it is still advisable to undergo a basic medical checkup first and ensure that the body is ready for the loads.

The community also helps to start

For those just starting their running journey, support from like-minded people is important, not just gadgets. In Almaty, the running community Community Almaty Run by Almaty Marathon, launched in January 2025, operates. Here, open workouts for runners of different fitness levels take place regularly on Sundays. Participants train together and also attend expert lectures with the participation of coaches, doctors, and specialists in the field of healthy lifestyle.

And if you have already started training, figured out the basic gadgets, checked your health, and feel confident in your preparation, the next step could be participating in an official start. Registration is now open for Almaty Marathon, Almaty Half Marathon, and Astana Half Marathon.