Apple Watch Wearers Can Earn Thanksgiving Day Badge on Thursday

[Tazman49]

Looking at my planned activities for Thanksgiving day, which includes 3-hr travel time, I don't envision any time allocated for a 5k workout. That being said, this tiny insignificant token (Apple Watch Badge) has actually motivated me to do an early morning run. Something I had absolutely no plans or desire to do prior to seeing the notification of the challenge. It really is amazing the motivation factor that something like this has. To some, it won't have any affect. To others, including me, it means that I will now make an effort to do something that will hopefully help me in the long run to be a healthier person.

 

[Porco]

To mitigate the disappointment of people who aren't in the US, or don't have an Apple watch, or, you know, are just lazy or don't have the time, here's a 0k badge you can all earn instantly by just reading this page!
Congratulations on moving no distance at all.

 

[lunarworks]

Alright, here's another "unobtainable" badge for not being in America like myself.

Thanksgiving was a month ago here in Canada, so it'd be a bit late for us anyway.

 

[hArrisburger]

Does completing a Nike Run on my Nike Apple Watch count towards this? Just curious as to I have a 5K that AM and always use the Nike+ Running App for those runs.

 

[PieTunes]

Does completing a Nike Run on my Nike Apple Watch count towards this? Just curious as to I have a 5K that AM and always use the Nike+ Running App for those runs.

Yes, third party apps that add workouts to the Health app will count.

 

[Speechless]

I'll definitely do this. Glad they are doing this for us!

 

[bbeagle]

I think the point is that since it's a distance based goal it has to be an outdoor walk or run type of workout so the GPS can track it. For me it would be cool to get the badge for doing an hour on the elliptical which is well over the 5K distance, but my Apple Watch doesn't know that.

If it's distance-based, why can't you just put your watch on 'walk' - then get in the car and drive 3.1 miles and see if it registers? I can get that done in less than 5 minutes - and while I'm going to grandma's house to boot. Multitasking!

 

[skywalkerr69]

Alright, here's another "unobtainable" badge for not being in America like myself.

That would make sense. I mean if they made a bastille badge, I wouldn’t be able to obtain it. It’s a French holiday.

 

[1098474]

Apple today announced that Apple Watch users can earn a special Thanksgiving Day badge and accompanying iMessage sticker by completing a walk, run, or wheelchair workout with a distance of at least 5K (3.1 miles) on November 23.

As with the Veterans Day badge, this achievement is only available on devices that have United States set as the region. The distance can be recorded with the Workout app or any third-party app that adds workouts to the Health app.

Apple Watch users can view a history of achievements via the Achievements tab in the Activity app on a paired iPhone.

Article Link: Apple Watch Wearers Can Earn Thanksgiving Day Badge on Thursday

Innovation at it's finest

 

[NT1440]

I like the idea, it's clearly a "nudge" (technical term) to getting people who have overeaten (read:all of us) to get that metabolism working on dealing with the glut rather than shutting down into a food coma.

 

[Kermit262]

So glad I signed up for my local Turkey Trot 5-miler on Thanksgiving morning. Finishers get a pumpkin pie, technical shirt, medal, and now a Thanksgiving Day Achievement Badge!

 

[toph2toast]

I think the point is that since it's a distance based goal it has to be an outdoor walk or run type of workout so the GPS can track it. For me it would be cool to get the badge for doing an hour on the elliptical which is well over the 5K distance, but my Apple Watch doesn't know that.

Since the watch calibrates itself from outdoor runs/walks to estimate the distance traveled during indoor run/walks, wouldn't a 5k on a treadmill still earn you this badge?

 

[Boatboy24]

Definitely going to take care of this in the morning. No way in hell I would be able to muster the motivation to run 5K after stuffing myself like a... well, a Thanksgiving turkey. I could walk it, but walking feels a bit like cheating!

Run in the morning. Then take a walk after the meal. I wonder if Apple will double up your badges...

 

[Dranix]

Nitpick from the civilised world: 5km - kilo is a small k and the meter (m) is required, too...

 

[dfstock]

Best thanksgiving ever.

 

[midkay]

So glad I signed up for my local Turkey Trot 5-miler on Thanksgiving morning. Finishers get a pumpkin pie, technical shirt, medal, and now a Thanksgiving Day Achievement Badge!

That is one awesome Thanksgiving.

 

[nwcs]

After all that turkey, I’m supposed to do a 5K? Lol, Apple, how about a 5m badge for the rest of us folks who will be full and spending time with family?

 

[TheAnimal]

Why apple "forces" us to walk/run as the exercise form for Thanksgiving? I understand that's a tradition to some people, but could we not just earn the badge for just doing any exercise in general?

Agreed. I'll be rowing 5k on Thanksgiving. I want a badge!

 

[bodonnell202]

Wish Apple would do similar for outside the US. It would have been nice if they did a Canada 150 badge since it was Canada's 150th this year, or something for Canadian Thanksgiving last month...

 

[cjgrif]

Since the watch calibrates itself from outdoor runs/walks to estimate the distance traveled during indoor run/walks, wouldn't a 5k on a treadmill still earn you this badge?

If anyone wants to try it out and post back that would be great! I usually start an elliptical workout on my watch and that doesn't record the distance as part of the workout stats. I have a feeling starting an outdoor run and doing the elliptical would end up only recording a fraction of a mile...just me "teleporting" around the room due to the GPS precision.

 

[bbeagle]

I like the idea, it's clearly a "nudge" (technical term) to getting people who have overeaten (read:all of us) to get that metabolism working on dealing with the glut rather than shutting down into a food coma.

But, for those of us who are active all the time.... I treat holidays as a 'break day' - where I can enjoy the holiday the way it was meant to be. I can then get back to the normal routine the next day.

This holiday is all about getting together with family, pigging out and watching football. I'm in shape and in good health, I'll enjoy what the rest of the Americans do on a normal day.

But this badge means that I'll just take the dog on a long walk in the morning and get this done by 8am, then enjoy the holiday the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Just one less serving of mashed potatoes to run off the next day.

 

[toph2toast]

If anyone wants to try it out and post back that would be great! I usually start an elliptical workout on my watch and that doesn't record the distance as part of the workout stats. I have a feeling starting an outdoor run and doing the elliptical would end up only recording a fraction of a mile...just me "teleporting" around the room due to the GPS precision.

What about starting an indoor run on your watch then use the elliptical

 

[tzm41]

These badges may seem silly but they inspire a lot of people to do more to earn them. Anything you can do to get people to exercise more will benefit them. It'd be awesome to see more of these badges pop up, even when there isn't a holiday to coincide with (a monthly special badge challenge or random weekend badges).

I‘ve been seeing some monthly special badges based on my past performances, like walk 250 miles a month badge.

 

[cjgrif]

What about starting an indoor run on your watch then use the elliptical

That could possibly work...checking the workout settings in the watch app on the phone it looks like it would record the distance for an indoor run workout.

 

[5105973]

I wish it could be earned the day after Thanksgiving. I have lots of guests coming over on the actual day itself. We will wear our watches anyway. Who knows, maybe it will count me or hubby running ourselves ragged serving guests as exercise!