As someone who recently got back into long-distance running, completing a marathon was a big milestone for me. Having started with half-marathons and now running one nearly every week, I decided to take on my first full marathon last year. I completed my first race using an Apple Watch SE 2, but the battery barely made it through the event. Fast forward six months, and I ran my second marathon with the Apple Watch Series 10, which completely exceeded my expectations.
Impressive Battery Life: A Game Changer for Marathon Runners
Before the race, I knew that the Apple Watch Series 10 had great battery life—up to 36 hours with mild activity—but experiencing it firsthand was truly eye-opening. During my second marathon, I was able to complete the race with 27% of the battery still remaining, after running for 4 hours and 16 minutes. Even though I wasn’t aiming for a sub-4-hour marathon, I was surprised to see that the watch would have easily lasted a full six hours, assuming I ran at a slower pace.
This was a far cry from my first marathon with the Apple Watch SE 2, which barely lasted the duration of the race. That older model’s battery drained quickly, leaving me with almost nothing an hour after I finished the marathon. In comparison, the Series 10 performed remarkably well. Not only did it last the entire marathon, but I also noticed the charging time was significantly faster than previous models. I topped it up the night before the race, starting with 98% and charging it only for an hour after the event. The battery was back up to 96% after just 60 minutes, making it perfect for any follow-up activity or training session.
Real-World Performance and Efficiency
On the morning of the race, I removed the Series 10 from the charger at 90% battery. By the time I finished the marathon, the watch had used about 63% of its battery—this includes my walk to and from the race venue. After the race, I placed it back on the charger and saw it rise back to 96% in about an hour.
For context, my Apple Watch SE 2 had to be carefully managed during my first marathon, and I had to top it up beforehand, knowing I would need every last bit of juice to make it through. In comparison, I was able to wear the Series 10 the entire night before the race, track my sleep, and still have more than enough battery to track the marathon without issue.
Battery Health and Future Performance
The Apple Watch Series 10 still had 100% battery health after two months of use, including marathon training and daily wear. This was especially impressive given that my Apple Watch SE 2 had only 83% battery health at the time of my first marathon, which likely contributed to its quicker depletion. It’s worth noting that even with some battery wear over time, the Apple Watch Series 10 should still be able to perform excellently for long-duration activities like marathons or multi-hour hikes.
If Apple ever updates the Watch SE to match the Series 10’s chip and battery technology, I would recommend it for anyone looking for a more budget-friendly alternative without sacrificing performance. And while Garmin and other brands have loyal followings for marathon running, I’ve found the Apple Watch Series 10 to be more than capable of tracking health metrics during training and races.
The Bottom Line: The Apple Watch Series 10 Is a Marathoner’s Dream
The Apple Watch Series 10 truly impressed me with its efficient battery life, fast charging, and ability to keep up with my long-distance running. Whether you’re tracking a marathon, a long hike, or just need a reliable fitness companion for everyday use, the Series 10 delivers on all fronts. You don’t need the Apple Watch Ultra for these types of activities—the Series 10 is more than sufficient, even if you’re training for faster race times in the future.
With excellent battery life and efficiency, it’s easy to see why the Series 10 is a solid investment for runners and athletes of all levels.
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