My Apple Watch experience at the Chicago Marathon.

[Vader2]

I'll probably do a better write up on this later, but just wanted to drop a quick note about my experience running a marathon with th Apple Watch. I ran with a 42mm sport paired to my 5s on one wrist and my trusty Garmin 305 on the other. The distance measured was exactly the same between the two, coming in at 26.42. Which was pretty good considering I didn't run the apex the whole race. I talked to a guy using a Garmin Fenix who said he was on the line the whole time and his watch measured 27.05.

The watch performed great the whole time and was able to show my pace even when my Garmin couldn't when satellite reception was blocked downtown.

Battery life was better than I expected. I turned it on at 6:30am then ran just over 4 hours with the watch set on open goal outdoor run and the watch didn't die until 3:30pm and that was after I used it for directions home (I didn't put it into reserve power mode).

I would absolutely use it again and would choose it over the 305.

 

[exxxviii]

Did you also have the iPhone with you on the run? It seemed like you said you did, but I wasn't entirely sure.

Great run!

 

[jbachandouris]

The missing piece of your review is which app you used? The Apple running app? Nike+? Strava? Run keeper?

 

[Vader2]

I had my phone with me in an armband. I used the Apple running app. I would have really liked to have used the Runtastic app, but it's too quirky tight now.

 

[BarracksSi]

Good to know. I haven't bothered taking my Garmin 410 out after seeing that it and my AW were basically agreeing on runs and walks. The Garmin has an interval timer, so for now it's got one advantage (and another if you count the bike sensor… but I rarely ride anymore).

 

[r0k]

I had the opposite experience as the OP. I started to reply here but rather than debate in this thread, I posted an alternate opinion in my own thread.

 

[Warbrain]

nce measured was exactly the same between the two, coming in at 26.42. Which was pretty good considering I didn't run the apex the whole race. I talked to a guy using a Garmin Fenix who said he was on the line the whole time and his watch measured 27.05.

The watch performed great the whole time and was able to show my pace even when my Garmin couldn't when satellite reception was blocked downtown.

Battery life was better than I expected. I turned it on at 6:30am then ran just over 4 hours with the watch set on open goal outdoor run and the watch didn't die until 3:30pm and that was after I used it for directions home (I didn't put it into reserve power mode).

Awesome to hear. I've had no concerns with it myself while on runs compared to what Runkeeper tracks. I've been using Runkeeper more for tracking as I'm following a program within it but once I'm back to running full time it's good to know that it's on par with other devices.

 

[tekchic]

Thanks for the info and congrats on your marathon! I've been using Apple Watch indoors and out for all of my "regular" runs, and the accuracy seems to have gotten better since 2.0, at least for me. I always run the "Workout" app, but then I also run iSmoothRun or RunKeeper in addition to Workout, as I like to have maps of my runs, along with more data than what little "Workout" has.

For speedwork and races, I'm still using my Forerunner 910xt. I need access to my splits and an immediate start/stop button, rather than that infernal force tap that lags or doesn't register half the time for me.

My next 50K, I'll probably put the Apple Watch on my other wrist though, just to see how long it can go before konking out.

 

[newtestleper]

Were your phone and watch connected via Bluetooth during the run? Just wondering if the battery life could have been extended since they don't need to communicate during exercise.

 

[exxxviii]

Were your phone and watch connected via Bluetooth during the run? Just wondering if the battery life could have been extended since they don't need to communicate during exercise.

I don't think BT has a material impact on battery life. IIRC, battery drop on the watch in workout mode is on the order of 10% - 15% per hour, and my phone while connected and running Runkeeper from the watch is like 5% per hour. So, you could run an ultra before battery would be a problem.

 

[Vader2]

I was connected via Bluetooth the whole race. The watch fared better on battery than my 5s, although I was also listening to Bluetooth headphones during the second 13.1.

 

[xDKP]

Great read - thanks a lot for sharing. I've run a couple of marathons with my Nike GPS Sportswatch, but would love to try out the Apple Watch as a running mate in the future... So far I've had two short runs with it - 1 with the Nike+Run app (I'm pretty invested in the system with over 6-7 years of data logged in the portal) but the app really sucked, were extremely slow and unresponsive. My second run with the build in system were much much better though...

Really hope Nike pulls together and makes the app as good as the iPhone app with a 2.0 update.

 

[Vader2]

Great read - thanks a lot for sharing. I've run a couple of marathons with my Nike GPS Sportswatch, but would love to try out the Apple Watch as a running mate in the future... So far I've had two short runs with it - 1 with the Nike+Run app (I'm pretty invested in the system with over 6-7 years of data logged in the portal) but the app really sucked, were extremely slow and unresponsive. My second run with the build in system were much much better though...

Really hope Nike pulls together and makes the app as good as the iPhone app with a 2.0 update.

I totally agree. I have been itching for a Nike app update. I would also love it if Runtastic would fix their watch app so you can end the run from the app and retain the HR data. I have 5 years of running history in Runtastic. For now the workout app is working fine though. I run on the same bike path pretty much every time Inrun so it's not like I need to map it.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I totally agree. I have been itching for a Nike app update. I would also love it if Runtastic would fix their watch app so you can end the run from the app and retain the HR data. I have 5 years of running history in Runtastic. For now the workout app is working fine though. I run on the same bike path pretty much every time Inrun so it's not like I need to map it.

Why don't you use your preferred app on the phone and the Apple work out app on the AW?

The AW Workout app is basic, but it does give pace and distance (with improved accuracy since OS2). I think these are the essential pieces of information you need on your wrist during a run. For more detailed data, I use iSmoothRun, which I upload to Nike+, Strava, Runkeeper and others.