How to Divide Your Apple Watch Workouts into Segments

[MacRumors]

Using the Segments feature in the Apple Watch Workout app is a great way to track changes in exercise intensity over the course of a workout. It can also help you find out which activities in a mixed session push your body the most.

If your regular running route includes a hilly section, for example, using segments to indicate where it begins and/or ends lets you review how much time it takes to complete compared to the rest of your workout.

Or maybe you use your Apple Watch to track gym sessions that include various high-intensity strength training or mixed cardio exercises. Marking a new segment every time you move to another piece of equipment or perform a different exercise will give you a better idea of how effective each activity is at burning calories.

How to Mark a Segment During a Workout

1. 
   Launch the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
   Choose a workout type to track from the list, then go ahead and start your workout.
   
   
   
   To divide your workout into two segments, simply raise your wrist and double-tap on the screen. The time elapsed becomes Segment 1 of your workout, while the remaining time becomes Segment 2.
   To create a third segment in your workout, just double-tap on the screen again. Repeat this action as many times as you want.

How to View Segment Metrics on Your iPhone

1. 
   Launch the Activity app on your iPhone.
   Tap the Workouts tab.
   
   
   
   Select the workout in which you recorded segments.
   In the workout summary screen, locate the Segments section just above the heart rate graph, and tap the chevron alongside it to reveal your numbered segments with stats for duration and calories burned.

Article Link: How to Divide Your Apple Watch Workouts into Segments

 

[Telos101]

Thanks for the tip! I'm training for my first multi-stage event (triathlon), so dividing the same workout into segments will be a lot quicker than starting a new workout for each stage of the race. Should save some precious seconds during the transition periods.

 

[kstotlani]

Thanks. This is one tip I really didn’t know.

 

[imagineadam]

I wish there was a way to turn this off. When I’m running in the winter or fall and wearing a long sleeve shirt it messes with the watch and I end up with these segments scattered through my run. To to avoid this, sometimes if I remember, I start the workout then I have to go to the home screen and then flip up the control center and turn on the water mode to lock the screen all while starting to run. Pretty annoying. Just wish they had and option to turn them off in the watch app.

 

[TheBing1980]

Thanks for this!

 

[BeefCake 15]

Thanks for the tip! I'm training for my first multi-stage event (triathlon), so dividing the same workout into segments will be a lot quicker than starting a new workout for each stage of the race. Should save some precious seconds during the transition periods.

I was looking for that too but it seems like these are splits rather than a multi-event training that's needed for a triathlon, am I missing something?

 

[wwooden]

I didn't know this, very handy. I do a lot of hills: ups and downs; and it will be nice to track my pace for each, instead of getting an average.

 

[eagle33199]

I was looking for that too but it seems like these are splits rather than a multi-event training that's needed for a triathlon, am I missing something?

No, these are just splits. To properly track a triathlon, you would swipe over and select New, then select the proper activity for that stage of the event. But that takes time. It's a lot quicker to select a more generic cardio work out and use splits to indicate the boundaries of the activities. You know whats up with that, and can use that info later to track progress from one event to the next.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

I was looking for that too but it seems like these are splits rather than a multi-event training that's needed for a triathlon, am I missing something?

Nope. These are just splits.

I've sent Apple a long tirade of feature requests around this. In the "good ol' days" even the electronic trackers were essentially dumb. With the Watch, IMO, there is zero technical reason it could not be location / speed / altitude / cadence / movement aware... and integrate that into the exercise app. For example, there are exercise tracking programs for both indoor and outdoor walking AND running... as four separate activities. Given that the watch has a built-in accelerometer, plus GPS and altitude info, it could easily detect the difference between walking, jogging and running (based on speed), plus note the difference in performance metrics on flat land, up-hill, down-hill, etc. In theory it should even be able to detect the rapid back-and-forth movements of doing cardio on machines, such as elliptical, treadmills, perhaps even rowing machines.

I've even suggested opening the exercise app to 3rd party add-ons. Imagine integrating "track my X" into the exercise app. Not only would it track body metrics, but actually show your efforts on a map. This could permit extending the watch's capabilities to support many different movement-based exercises.

For the triathlon scenario, the watch should already be able to detect the difference in movement types between running, swimming and cycling.

Sure, we're still early in the Watch development cycle, and I'm very happy with what is does now. With continued evolution the future could be great!

 

[BeefCake 15]

For the triathlon scenario, the watch should already be able to detect the difference in movement types between running, swimming and cycling.

Sure, we're still early in the Watch development cycle, and I'm very happy with what is does now. With continued evolution the future could be great!

Garmin already has the ability to switch events for triathlon scenario and their users make fun of the Apple Watch all the time due to the lack of it; it's even a meme at this point

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Thanks MacRumors for this tip! I learn something new from you every day!

I agree that the Apple Watch could be so much more. If only Apple would focus less on emojis, Animojis, and other ojis, and simply focused on things that really matter instead. The Apple Watch has so much potential as an exercise device, hopefully they will devote more attention to it one day.

 

[roncito]

I wish there was a way to turn this off. When I’m running in the winter or fall and wearing a long sleeve shirt it messes with the watch and I end up with these segments scattered through my run. To to avoid this, sometimes if I remember, I start the workout then I have to go to the home screen and then flip up the control center and turn on the water mode to lock the screen all while starting to run. Pretty annoying. Just wish they had and option to turn them off in the watch app.

Why don't you just swipe once you start the workout and tap lock?

 

[imagineadam]

Why don't you just swipe once you start the workout and tap lock?

Oh man! They must have added this in watch os 4?! I’ve never noticed the lock water droplet there before!! I always just swipe over there to select end or pause! Thank you![/QUOTE]

 

[roncito]

Oh man! They must have added this in watch os 4?! I’ve never noticed the lock water droplet there before!! I always just swipe over there to select end or pause! Thank you!

[/QUOTE]

You’re welcome!

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Garmin already has the ability to switch events for triathlon scenario and their users make fun of the Apple Watch all the time due to the lack of it; it's even a meme at this point

Ha! Well then... it's time for Apple to be courageous and follow the leader!

 

[makr]

I use Apple Watch for cardio, indoors running, it works good.

But I guess no option for weight training, what do you guys do for non cardio exercise?

 

[Cpuiulet]

Ok, here's the deal. If you're serious enough about your training that you need this mode on the Apple Watch, don't bother. The Apple watch is quickly outgrown by a moderately serious athlete. There's a reason Garmin rules the triathlon scene and every other endurance sport. It's built specifically for sports and they've thrown important smartwatch features on top of that. But it is a serious multisport watch first . Go get yourself a Fenix 5 series or the Forerunner 935 and don't look back. Disclaimer . If the Apple watch was the best multisport watch out there. I would own it . I'm not a Garmin fan, and I would be the first one to jump ship, but in all honesty there's nothing out there that competes with it . Suunto 9 and Polar are far better for sports than an Apple Watch, but they keep screwing up on things (lacking ANT+) so I keep having to go with Garmin.

 

[lasniko]

Is there any other option to mark a segment? (e.g. by pressing the side button)

Because double tapping in the middle of the run is a bit inconvenient.

 

[davidgr144]

This is a great sounding feature but how would segments have been created without me double tapping on the the screen. In addition, how would an outdoor walk stop at some point and change to an outdoor run especially when I was still only walking?