London might be cold, rainy and especially windy right now and my inner self might be telling me to hibernate, however when we were invited to the Suunto 7 UK launch event, we bundled up and braved the elements to try out this awesome Finnish watch. We headed down to Greenwich, the centre of time zones (very appropriate) to test out Suunto’s latest offering, the Suunto 7.
I arrived at the Suunto 7 UK launch event and was given a brand new Suunto 7 watch in sandstone rosegold. I opened the box and took the watch out, examining it and playing with it, like a child on Christmas morning. I loved the colour and the different watch face settings and spent a while exploring the features (pressing all the buttons and swiping right!).
The watch leads you through a step-by-step setup, which is easy to follow. You need to enable bluetooth on your phone and have signal or wifi to download content and connect your watch. In advance of this, it’s useful to have your Google password to hand and to have already downloaded the Suunto app and the Wear OS app to your phone. (Whilst it is a Google app, it does also work with iPhone.) When synced to your watch these apps download and store your fitness data and help personalise your fitness journey. I have been using the Suunto app quite a bit this week and I like that you can add photos and notes to your recorded fitness sessions. Not only is this a good tracker for your progress, it is also a great incentive to get you moving!
It’s our first watch that combines Suunto’s versatile sports experience and free offline outdoor maps with helpful smartwatch features from Wear OS by Google™
Suunto Website
After the set up and having played with the watch for a bit, we were off to test out a few of the features. We headed to Greenwich’s foot tunnel for a warm-up and then went for a run along the river, with Canary Wharf as our backdrop. (Thank you to Alan and Anthony for being great running buddies.) Along the way, we were taught how to start, pause and end a workout session. We were also taught how to use the watch to listen to music, when connected wirelessly to headphones. This means you can control your music choices, using the watch, without the need to pull your phone out and potentially risk it being snatched. We were given a set of the Skullcandy wireless sport earbuds, which are great. Admittedly, a little fiddly at first, as they have rubber hooks on the buds that hook and lock the earbuds in to your ear. Whilst this sounds strange, they felt secure and comfortable. A thin rubber band connects the two buds and the magnetic backs mean the buds can clip together, (like a necklace), when not being worn, so they are secure and won’t fall off.
After our workout session, we were treated to drinks and food at the Greenwich Grind. The food was yummy and the drinks were delicious! Guest speaker, John McAvoy then spoke about his life, passion for sports and the journey that led him there. Once an armed robber, John found his passion in sports whilst in prison, which led to his redemption. His focus and drive to change from what he had once been, to the man he has become today, began when he started breaking world records in rowing, all whilst in prison!
His enlightened words, thoughts and journey from convict to role model is inspirational. What I found refreshing was his total honesty and willingness to accept and own his past. This clarity has lead him to understand and spread the message of just how important it is to have a positive role model when growing up. John described how, as a child, he had been impressed and influenced by a family friend who focused on the material things in life, all circling around money. For John, this led to a path of crime and his incarceration. It wasn’t until a friend of his died whilst he was in prison that made him stop and question his choices, his path in life and the people that he had surrounded himself with; turning his focus from a life of crime, to a life of sport and passion for fitness. This wake-up call was his life-saver and proof that people can change and be rehabilitated.
John’s new path and journey focuses on sporting achievements as well as being a mentor and role model. He regularly attends fitness events to inspire today’s youth, to spread the message that sport can change people’s lives. I’m glad I got the chance to meet and speak with John as he truly is an inspiring man; he has learned from his mistakes and choices, now hoping to make a difference. He may aim his advice and encouragement primarily at young people, but his words and actions speak volumes and clearly spreads across all generations. Thank you John, for being the change and wanting to help others. John is set to ride Paris-Roubaix in April and I can’t wait to see him tackle those cobbles!
So What Is the Watch Like? Suunto 7, A Few of the Features…
The watch is like a small computer, so it took me a while to get to grips with navigating; almost a week later writing this and I am still learning and exploring; the watch itself and the apps! There are so many features, such as sharing your data with friends, so they can follow your fitness journey. There are 70 sport modes that you can use to record your activity, which can then display your stats, based on your already saved height/weight data. The watch has a variety of maps that you can use whilst on the run, plus they can be used offline too, such as the heat map that shows you where popular running routes are.
The heart rate monitor is a useful tool to help track my fitness journey, as well as seeing what my heart rate is doing in different situations! This smart watch has a flight mode setting and a do not disturb setting, which I love, as I like to go to the theatre and this allows me to feel secure that my watch isn’t going to disturb anyone. The alarm setting vibrates without sound, which will only notify you, not anyone else in the room. I like that the battery level is clearly displayed. I am also a fan of the 50 m water resistant feature, meaning running in the rain in London isn’t a problem! I’m looking forward to trying out this feature on my next diving adventure! I’m also looking forward to testing out the barometer and GPS features, which I will track closely when I go skiing!
My watch is still fairly new to me, so I look forward to learning more, playing with it more and using it to help me on my fitness journey. I don’t usually wear a watch, so it will take some getting used to; the watch is fairly large! However, my Suunto 7 watch has already proved to be a source of inspiration and encouragement.
Find Out More:
Suunto’s Website – https://www.suunto.com/en-gb/
Instagram – @suunto
Facebook – Suunto
Twitter – @suunto
Pinterest – Suunto
Youtube – Suunto
John McAvoy’s Website – http://therealmcavoy.com
Instagram – @jonnymac83
Twitter – @johnmcavoy2
*Health Advice: It is advisable to consult with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.
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