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Agreed, I don’t take the metrics too seriously, there are days I either rest or workout and don’t listen to them.

Yes, for AW backtrack, I’m aware and have used it. But Garmin does it better because it gives you two options: 1) go back the way you came or 2) build a route based on the activity you’re doing. That’s just dope.

For the record, I don’t think Garmin is lights out better, I can give you a laundry list of things I hate, namely:

1. No touchscreen (some have them now but even so it’s not like an Apple device)
2. No text replies. This is mostly Apple’s fault but I still hate it.
3. Not a smartwatch. I do miss my AW many times. This decision wasn’t easy but right now I’m happy.

Cheers
The touchscreen of AW is a hit when not doing sports, but it's a miss when doing sports.

I hate the touchscreen when I'm engaged in running. It's not effective. Luckily with the Action button of the AWU, I mostly don't need to use the touchscreen, although I do if I want to change the screen readout.

I think it would be a great idea if for the Workout screen, Apple developed a system of just using buttons to scroll through all the screens for readout. Right now, there are buttons needed to mark laps, start/pause workout, move to a different part of the workout. But the buttons cannot be used to change the workout screen.
 
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Point blank, Apple needs and should implement their own software recovery metrics and get rid of the 3rd party apps. Apple is very accurate and could come up with this if they wanted to. The 3rd party apps don’t have the $$$ to do this ACCURATELY on their own. Until Apple does this natively, I’ll stick to Garmin. Also, I’m older and been training since 1975. I know my body needs well.
Maybe Apple will include recovery metrics.

On the other hand, I think recovery metrics are kinda inaccurate and not very useful. So, I'm also hoping they just leave that voodoo to some third-party. Recovery metrics isn't really dependent on much more data than what Apple already records and provides access to for third-parties.
 
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When I used to be a serious athlete, I paid ZERO attention to the recovery metrics provided by Garmin and just went by both experience and what my coach was noticing
Excactly. I am running 350 to 450k a month. I have the feeling that low distance runners are more interested in useless stuff than the experienced ones 😂
 
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The touchscreen of AW is a hit when not doing sports, but it's a miss when doing sports.

I hate the touchscreen when I'm engaged in running. It's not effective. Luckily with the Action button of the AWU, I mostly don't need to use the touchscreen, although I do if I want to change the screen readout.

I think it would be a great idea if for the Workout screen, Apple developed a system of just using buttons to scroll through all the screens for readout. Right now, there are buttons needed to mark laps, start/pause workout, move to a different part of the workout. But the buttons cannot be used to change the workout screen.
I used to think that, and I get it if I were training hardcore, in inclement weather, but that's so rare to me as to not matter. It is a valid point, I'm just not sure it for most people.

Also, WorkoutDoors is the answer to a lot, at last some, of these problems.
 
Point blank, Apple needs and should implement their own software recovery metrics and get rid of the 3rd party apps. Apple is very accurate and could come up with this if they wanted to. The 3rd party apps don’t have the $$$ to do this ACCURATELY on their own. Until Apple does this natively, I’ll stick to Garmin. Also, I’m older and been training since 1975. I know my body needs well.
Maybe Apple will include recovery metrics.

On the other hand, I think recovery metrics are kinda inaccurate and not very useful. So, I'm also hoping they just leave that voodoo to some third-party. Recovery metrics isn't really dependent on much more data than what Apple already records and provides access to for third-parties.
I used to think that, and I get it if I were training hardcore, in inclement weather, but that's so rare to me as to not matter. It is a valid point, I'm just not sure it for most people.

Also, WorkoutDoors is the answer to a lot, at last some, of these problems.
The touchscreen is not very usable while doing sports in cold weather. It’s a pain
 
I don’t know it circumstances and context. But consider this if you’re old enough:

It wasn’t that long so when we did not have cellphones and many of us went on long runs without thought that we needed to be tethered to communication better there simply wasn’ta way to do so so the thought didn’t even cross our minds!

So if your actual circumstances allow, think hard to assess if you really need to have communication lines when you’re working out. Maybe you do. Bit maybe also you really don’t and your standard has changed because we now know we can be tethered by communication.

If you don’t really need communication while working out, consider NOT upgrading to them Ultra and only consider it when your Garmin dies. Less e-waste.

A thought.
I get what you're saying and agree to some extend.

People did run without GPS watches as well years back and even without watches at all - technology advances and makes things better and while I don't need to be connected for 99% of my runs - the one run where I trip over something or fall or something, it's just nice to be able to call my wife for a pick-up etc. :)
 
All those issues are solved with the action button. Starting a workout. Pause a workout. Lap. Everything possible without any interaction of the touch screen. Still I am wondering. I am running a lot. In the heat. In the cold. More than 350k a month. The most issues I had is with the garmin watch. The button was not response after 3 months anymore. Replacement. The second one better. The updates. Really a shame. Working with the Stryd pod. Catastrophic even because they were pushing their garmin power. So many issues with that watch.

With the Apple Watch ultra: first press: the workout app is starting. Second press the workout starts. It syncs automatically to all platforms I want. No issues at all.

And I have a real modern watch. Which can live without the phone. Has the functionality like without the phone.

The garmin watch cannot even handle the situations when I am out in the garden and the phone is at home. It’s a shame
 
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And the next topic is: Apps.

On a Garmin all the functionality is also based on apps. There is a workout app and so on provided by Garmin. In the meanwhile Apple is providing much more information out of the box than Garmin. There you have to buy additional stuff to have the same functionality.

Other Apps? If I want to use a stryd out of the box? I have to use an app from the IQ :D store. And then I have trouble because of the crappy Garmin power stuff.

If I don't like the official app I have to buy a different app on a 1980s App Store. I have to pay with PayPal to get a code which I have to Copy and paste into a different IQ :D App. Man that's 1970s. Maybe someone can remember the shareware stuff :D

On the Apple Ecosystem you have GREAT and outstanding apps. Like Athyltic, Workoutdoors, Bergfex and so on. Really really great apps. This is lightyears ahead of the Garmin store.

What's left? Yes Apple did not provided fancy (not science based) stuff like recovery metrics. Maybe they should.

That's all? Man. I feel that Garmin was already in big trouble (look at their market performance in the last two years) and I am sure Garmin will be more an more in big trouble.

Why?
Most of the people are doing a little sports or no sports at all. They will buy a real Watch like the Apple Watch.

Then there are people they want all of the sports stuff and need the smartwatch functionality. They will buy an Apple Watch.

Some people need outstanding battery life. Garmin is not the best out there. They will chose Suunto or Coros watches.

What's left? Some recovery metrics. Oh man. Poor Garmin. This can be implement easily on every watch. Or you can buy an app on a watch.

Poor Garmin honestly. Because the hardware of the Apple Watch Ultra is outstanding and light years ahead of the Garmin watches. A few software updates and that's it.
 
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And the next topic is: Apps.

Would not call the programs on Garmin „Apps“. My programmable pocket calculator back in the 80s was more programmable than that joke called ConnectIQ is offering. That is why there are only a few data fields and thousands of ugly watch faces (which drain the battery or crash the watch or both).
 
I get what you're saying and agree to some extend.

People did run without GPS watches as well years back and even without watches at all - technology advances and makes things better and while I don't need to be connected for 99% of my runs - the one run where I trip over something or fall or something, it's just nice to be able to call my wife for a pick-up etc. :)
I have tripped numerous times AND fallen, almost always because of uneven sidewalk and I don't mean just a little uneven. It's uneven because of jutting roots etc. So, I've scrapped me knees and palms many times. LOL.

My most recent fall was the most surprising or rather one I had never experienced before. I slipped on mud and it activated my Apple Watch Ultra to ask if I have fallen. I've owned Apple Watch since around 2018 (AWU is my second one) and in all of those other falls, never once did it detect me having fallen. The only time it did was on this last mud situation. LOL.

I quickly cancelled it because I didn't want it to call my husband. My husband has, in a nice way, chided me for continuing to fall over and he's always telling me now "don't fall" before I go on my run, and I tell him "you can prevent me from hurting myself if you buy me knee pads". LOL. It's a running joke now. :)
 
Would not call the programs on Garmin „Apps“. My programmable pocket calculator back in the 80s was more programmable than that joke called ConnectIQ is offering. That is why there are only a few data fields and thousands of ugly watch faces (which drain the battery or crash the watch or both).
Speaking of draining the battery the Ultra gets 2 days and any Garmin gets how many? Wrong topic to pick.Also Garmin has about 10 times as many watch faces and data fields as Apple. Did you ever even use a Garmin?
 
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Speaking of draining the battery the Ultra gets 2 days and any Garmin gets how many? Wrong topic to pick.Also Garmin has about 10 times as many watch faces and data fields as Apple. Did you ever even use a Garmin?
Oh. Switching back to the only topic left: Battery life 😂. As I said. Garmin is in big trouble
 
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Oh. Switching back to the only topic left: Battery life 😂. As I said. Garmin is in big trouble
In Germany we have a card game called „Car Quartett“. First you select a category (eg tank size) and then both show their cards. Same here with battery life. 😁
 
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I have tripped numerous times AND fallen, almost always because of uneven sidewalk and I don't mean just a little uneven. It's uneven because of jutting roots etc. So, I've scrapped me knees and palms many times. LOL.

My most recent fall was the most surprising or rather one I had never experienced before. I slipped on mud and it activated my Apple Watch Ultra to ask if I have fallen. I've owned Apple Watch since around 2018 (AWU is my second one) and in all of those other falls, never once did it detect me having fallen. The only time it did was on this last mud situation. LOL.

I quickly cancelled it because I didn't want it to call my husband. My husband has, in a nice way, chided me for continuing to fall over and he's always telling me now "don't fall" before I go on my run, and I tell him "you can prevent me from hurting myself if you buy me knee pads". LOL. It's a running joke now. :)

Wow take care out there :D

This is part of the reason I like road running or pavements the best - the roots can be a serious challenge.

I think below a certain age the fall detection has not always been activated, so maybe that was why you didn't get the warning earlier?
 
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This is part of the reason I like road running or pavements the best - the roots can be a serious challenge.

I had my worst falls on pavements. Always out of the blue as I was busy with all other things but not looking on the way before me. On trails: no issues, full attention.
 
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I had my worst falls on pavements. Always out of the blue as I was busy with all other things but not looking on the way before me. On trails: no issues, full attention.
Yeah nothing is guaranteed - Do like some trails once in a while though, but I'm a road racer :)
 
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I'm a Garmin and an Apple Watch owner. I own the Garmin by choice. My Apple Watch is a series 6 that was cast off by the family as they went through upgrades. My cell provider did hook me in to trying it out on cellular with no sign up fee and $5 a month (plus like $2 in taxes of course).

It's a great set up and I've been running wearing both and really enjoying some good audiobooks.

However I'm also so old that I can remember that I used to run with my iPod Nano, Nike Run Club, audiobooks and I'd just carry my cell phone on me because it was a Motorola Razr. I doubt the iPod Nano and Razr combined weigh what my iPhone 14 Pro Max weighs now.

So some of this is our own doing. You could easily undo it too. They still sell tiny cell phones that you can add a cheap prepaid sim to if you want to not carry a heavy phone and that be used for emergency communication. Likewise you could just run with an iPhone and a bluetooth HRM.

They'll always sell you more subscriptions and more devices. All of them will.
 
However I'm also so old that I can remember that I used to run with my iPod Nano, Nike Run Club, audiobooks and I'd just carry my cell phone on me because it was a Motorola Razr.
I was running with Nike+ Sensor Pods. At that time, some running shoes contained an empty space for these sensors under the insole. The battery was not good (and not replaceable). But it was a great experience to measure my runs.
After Nike+ I purchased my first Garmin — 310XT.
 
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I had my worst falls on pavements. Always out of the blue as I was busy with all other things but not looking on the way before me. On trails: no issues, full attention.
True. I've not fallen on trails. It's the sidewalk where I've tripped. I've resorted to running on the road instead of sidewalk when possible.
 
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I had the predecessor too. A *very* large foot Pod together with a Nike watch to read the data.
Don‘t find any pictures on the web, strange.
My very first “running watch” was the Nano and Nike+ kit as well. Remember the motivational speaks from athletes like Paula Radcliffe for pushing the last 400 meters etc. was quite fun
 
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I was running with Nike+ Sensor Pods. At that time, some running shoes contained an empty space for these sensors under the insole. The battery was not good (and not replaceable). But it was a great experience to measure my runs.

After Nike+ I purchased my first Garmin — 310XT.
I remember those sensors. Their battery were not replaceable? So you had to buy a new pod each time when the battery is exhausted? WOW!
 
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