This is the exact Garmin watch that helped me run my first 10k—and it's discounted by $50 for Black Friday

For a long while, I was positively against the idea of wearing a watch to track my running.

Running, for me, was an escape (in the nicest way possible!) from my five-year-old, where I could immerse myself in nature, and listen to the sounds of birds wading in the river or cooing in a tree.

But then I decided to sign up for a 5K race. And then a 10K.

And, as lovely as it was, the therapeutic sound of nature didn't improve my speed or stop me from hyperventilating when I’d completely overshot my pace or distance.

Then my editor suggested I try the Garmin Run Coach on the Garmin Forerunner 165, and it’s fair to say I’m rather taken by it.

I'm now too stats-obsessed to go back to ever being Garmin-free.

Black Friday Garmin Forerunner 165 deal

Save $50

Garmin Forerunner 165: was $249.99 now $199.99 at Amazon

This is almost the cheapest the Forerunner 165 has ever been (it was $198.99 earlier this year) and it’s a great deal for a Garmin with a bright touchscreen and all the most important features for runners.

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To get started, I typed in the distance I wanted to run, my goal time and how often I could run into Garmin Run Coach, and it set out daily workout suggestions, from interval training to hill repeats.

I loved that it took the planning off my plate and just told me what to do!

Wearing the Garmin Forerunner 165 has not only improved my running speed and output, but also affected my awareness of my overall health, too, as it shows trends in my heart rate and cardio fitness.

I’m even sleeping better, thanks to my Garmin. Each morning, my watch helpfully gives me a low-down of my health stats, including my sleep score, and recommends how many hours’ sleep I should aim to get that evening to improve my body battery.

So, rather than resisting going to bed each evening as I typically do in a bid to maximise my kid-free time, I’ve been taking my Garmin’s advice and getting to bed earlier—and feeling all the better for it.

The best thing about this Garmin is that it’s simple to use.

The touchscreen is intuitive, whether flicking through your morning stats report, scrolling through a training plan or saving an activity.

There are only five buttons on the device (some models have even fewer) but it was never difficult to navigate. I found myself scrolling through the different settings without having to glance at a manual.

I really enjoy using the connected Garmin app on my phone too—everything syncs seamlessly from the watch, and means I can get really nerdy and explore my stats in detail.

It comes in a nice selection of colourways (I opted for teal) and the strap is super comfy to wear, although I do have to loosen it at night.

Overall, it’s a great entry-level watch and has converted me from a non-wearable runner to a devout Garmin wearer.