Why I Started Running Again After 10 Years
Running used to be a regular part of my life. In high school, a 5K in 25 minutes was normal for me, and during military service I even broke the 3000m mark in the Cooper test. After that, life drifted in other directions: studying, late nights, long sessions at the computer, and later on, full-time desk work.
Now at 29, I wanted to get back into shape. The surprising thing that finally pushed me into action was buying the Suunto Run sports watch. This post is both a personal comeback story and a Suunto Run review from the perspective of someone returning to running after a long break.
Why I Picked the Suunto Run
Before buying anything, I compared different running watches. Most of the competition in this price range seemed outdated, especially on the software side. I wanted something new enough to receive proper updates.
Suunto caught my eye for two reasons:
- It’s a Finnish brand, so I’m familiar with them
- The Suunto Run had only recently been released
Fresh hardware usually means a longer update cycle. At around €250, the price felt reasonable for a beginner-focused running watch.
The main compromise: this model uses a new operating system, meaning no Suunto Plus Store. So apps and integrations like Strava aren’t available. For me, that wasn’t a dealbreaker. I didn’t buy the watch for leaderboards or social features — I bought it to help myself get moving again.
Suunto Run Review: One Month of Real Use
After a month of wearing it every day, here’s what stood out.
Activity Tracking Works Exactly As It Should
Running, walking, and general movement tracking have been reliable. I don’t need advanced metrics — just accurate basics — and the watch handles that with no issues.
Daily Metrics Are Simple but Motivating
Step goals, heart rate, and sleep tracking give a nice daily overview. Seeing progress visualized makes it easier to stay consistent.
Notifications Need Some Work
On iOS, notifications don’t clear automatically when you dismiss them on your phone, so you have to clear them manually on the watch. It’s not a huge issue, but it’s noticeable.
Battery Life Is Great
Even with multiple GPS runs per week, the battery lasts several days.
Design Is Clean and Lightweight
I bought the black model. It looks good with everything and doesn’t feel bulky or overly “sporty.”
As someone whose last wearable was a cheap Honor Band 5 years ago, this felt like a big upgrade.
The Software Situation
The Suunto app is clearly improving. An AI coach was released recently, though it doesn’t fully integrate with the Suunto Run yet — for example, the watch doesn’t guide you through daily workouts during a run.
But Suunto keeps adding widgets and features natively, which partly compensates for the lack of third-party integrations.
The question that remains is whether Suunto will continue evolving this OS in the long term or if the Run ends up being a one-off experiment. Time will tell.
How the Suunto Run Motivated Me to Move More
The biggest surprise is how much the watch influenced my habits.
- I’m running multiple times a week again
- I walk more to hit step goals
- I pay attention to sleep because I want to see a decent score
- My “fitness age” dropped from 38 to 35 in a month
The watch isn’t magic, but it keeps the idea of movement in my mind throughout the day. That alone has been worth the price.
Is the Suunto Run Worth It?
Here’s the bottom line of this Suunto Run review:
If you’re an advanced runner who wants deep integrations, detailed analytics, and Strava syncing, this isn’t the watch for you.
But if you’re a beginner, casual runner, or someone returning to running after a long break, it’s an excellent match.
Pros
- Reliable tracking
- Good battery life
- Comfortable and simple
- Fair price (~€250)
- Motivating for beginners
Cons
- Limited integrations
- Notifications feel unfinished on iOS
For me, these trade-offs were easy to accept. The watch helped me start running again after ten years, and that alone makes it a success.
If you’re thinking about getting one and want to hear more about my experience, feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to talk about it.
Disclaimer: This isn’t a professional review. My only prior wearable was a budget fitness band years ago. But if you’re in the same situation — starting fresh — this perspective might be exactly the one you need.
