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Apps Best running app...Strava or Activities or?

mattwolfmatt

mattwolfmatt

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 7, 2008
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Hi I recently switched from a Garmin to Apple Watch, primarily to have less junk with me when I ran (used to be chest strap, fitbit, garmin, iPhone. Now just watch).

I can't find a way to have my runs show up on Strava...can anyone help me out? When I add the Apple Watch on the Strava app on my phone, everything looks like it should work. Do I actually need to use the Strava app on the Apple Watch, or can I use the Activities app?

I tried using the Strava app, but it doesn't seem to be as user friendly, also it took me about 1.2 miles to register 1 mile on the watch. And the lack of a hundredths place annoys me (I want it to show 2.35 instead of 2.3).

Complicating this is that I have 5 years of data in Strava. It'd be great if I could either move that to the activities app, or sync my new activities with strava.

Thanks!
 
If you want to use the built-in Workout app, you can use HealthFit or RunGap to export your data from your iphone to Strava.

If you don't mind using a different app to track your runs, I like iSmoothRun (has lots of export options) and how it works with the AW. iSR works great when using the AW with the iPhone, and it also has an AW - stand alone feature too.
 
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I just use the built in Workouts and then Healthfit to import into Strava and Trainingpeaks. I mostly like being able to start and stop my runs with Siri which is helpful when I'm all sweaty and touch doesn't work very well
 
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WorkOutDoors will absolutely give you the closest thing to Garmin level analytics in its own app and currently exports to Strava via healthfit. The current beta also supports direct Strava export and works very well so far. WorkOutDoors is also the only third party app that exports a full set of data (including map, floors, elevation) to apple health. Enthusiastic recommendation!
 
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I’m a fan of the built in Workouts app - the new rolling pace and pace alerts are nice additions with os5 and historically speaking I’ve always trusted the reliability of the app more than other apps. Have only really played around with RunKeeper and Nike in the past and was less than impressed.
 
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Use the default Activities app. Install the following (including Apple Watch versions where available)

  • Strava
  • HealthFit
Configure HealthFit with your Strava connect details. Do your run using the Activities app and a couple of minutes after it has completed, HealthFit will sync it to Strava where it will appear in full detail, as if you used the Strava app. You must have notifications on for HealthFit for this to work.

That's what I do, works perfectly. You'll get identical data in Activities and Strava.
 
Akrapovic said:
Use the default Activities app. Install the following (including Apple Watch versions where available)

  • Strava
  • HealthFit
Configure HealthFit with your Strava connect details. Do your run using the Activities app and a couple of minutes after it has completed, HealthFit will sync it to Strava where it will appear in full detail, as if you used the Strava app. You must have notifications on for HealthFit for this to work.

That's what I do, works perfectly. You'll get identical data in Activities and Strava.
Click to expand...

To get this to work, did you have to subscribe to strava? (Pay monthly)
 
No, it works on the free Strava account. I am now a summit (premium) user anyway but I used this for months on the free account. :)
 
I had been a long time user of iSmooth Run logging several hundred runs with the app. However, it has become increasingly buggy for me with more frequent dropped miles where other apps seem not to as well as the not to rare occasion where I need to shut down the app or restart my watch for the two to sink.

I am trying the workout app with Healthfit to export to my Strava account which seems fine so far. I did have a question, I do not receive audio alerts or music does not automatically begin (I have a bluetooth headphone connected for running)? Is there a setting that I am missing? I do like the pace and mileage alerts when running so it would be great to have...

Thanks
 
Does anyone have a problem when using an AW app for running (Strava, built in app, iSmoothRun etc) where when you pause at a stoplight for a minute or so, then start running again, you lose a ridiculous amount of time on your pace?? For instance I'll be at mile 2.5 of my run at an 8:30/ min pace, stop at a stop light for about a minute or so (watch app paused), then start running again at the same pace or faster and the pace drops down a significant amount to a 9 min mile? Super annoying, I have never been penalized so much for stopping when I used Garmins! I guess it's motivation to keep running and take no breaks, except sometimes we HAVE to stop at lights.
 
Dizle said:
Does anyone have a problem when using an AW app for running (Strava, built in app, iSmoothRun etc) where when you pause at a stoplight for a minute or so, then start running again, you lose a ridiculous amount of time on your pace?? For instance I'll be at mile 2.5 of my run at an 8:30/ min pace, stop at a stop light for about a minute or so (watch app paused), then start running again at the same pace or faster and the pace drops down a significant amount to a 9 min mile? Super annoying, I have never been penalized so much for stopping when I used Garmins! I guess it's motivation to keep running and take no breaks, except sometimes we HAVE to stop at lights.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t worry it takes a little bit to reset your pace and is back to normal pretty quick.
 
musicpenguy said:
I wouldn’t worry it takes a little bit to reset your pace and is back to normal pretty quick.
Click to expand...

I get what your saying but it seems like for the rest of that mile I’m killing myself just to get back to that 8:30 pace, most times I can’t even recover the lost time while stopped at the light :/
 
BTW I got the HealthFit app mentioned in this thread and it seem to be a tad better than RunGap, excited to try out the Workout app again!
 
Dizle said:
BTW I got the HealthFit app mentioned in this thread and it seem to be a tad better than RunGap, excited to try out the Workout app again!
Click to expand...
Will also try this one.
I'm keen on the native Workout app, but I don't want to 'miss out' on my Strava data and the possibility to share the workouts.
Seems a proper solution, because I'm not really fond of the Strava Watch app.
 
Dizle said:
Does anyone have a problem when using an AW app for running (Strava, built in app, iSmoothRun etc) where when you pause at a stoplight for a minute or so, then start running again, you lose a ridiculous amount of time on your pace?? For instance I'll be at mile 2.5 of my run at an 8:30/ min pace, stop at a stop light for about a minute or so (watch app paused), then start running again at the same pace or faster and the pace drops down a significant amount to a 9 min mile? Super annoying, I have never been penalized so much for stopping when I used Garmins! I guess it's motivation to keep running and take no breaks, except sometimes we HAVE to stop at lights.
Click to expand...
I use iSR and have not noticed any issue with pausing at a stop light. I don't really keep track of pace, other than I usually know what my cumulative time should be at a specific point in my run (I typically run the same routes every time).

In any case, your instant pace should recover quickly after a pause. I don't know how these apps calculate it, but I would suspect (or at least how I would do it) that the app would take the last 10 gps data and average the speed. So after about 10 seconds (assuming the GPS checks once a second) the pace should recover from any stop light.
 
Side note: why doesn’t Apple allow sharing workouts to other platforms?
Would this be planned in future versions?
 
Apple allows workout sharing to other platforms. You just need to use Healthfit or Rungap app to do that.
 
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