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Running London Marathon tomorrow with Apple Watch - which app?

H

hingus2000

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 20, 2015
27
0
Hi guys.

I'm running the London Marathon tomorrow and would like to do so with my Apple Watch (and iPhone of course). I've run a few marathons, so I'm comfortable with the distance and happy to experiment with the watch (going against the standard advice of "nothing new on race day").

I have used Adidas Micoach during training, but they don't have a watch app.

I am trying to decide which app to use on the iPhone and watch. It seems to me that Strava, Runkeeper and Nike+ are the three options. However a quick test seems to suggest that none of them display heart rate data. Am I correct in that understanding?

It's not a complete deal breaker, but a little disappointing.

The fourth option is to run Adidas Micoach on my phone as normal, and run the Workout app on the watch. That way I get my exportable data in Micoach, but also have the full range of data (including heart rate) for instant consumption on my wrist.

Any thoughts as to if the phone/battery could handle this? I'm a sub 3h15 runner, so won't be on the course all day.

Overall, any advice/thoughts would be appreciated, and I'll naturally report back after the race.
 
I'm doing the same - going to give the apple workout app a quick go outside this morning and see how that performs - I think it's the only one with the heart rate view at the moment.

I'm aiming to do it in 5hrs- so will also report back on whether the batter life can handle it!



More concerned about the 5 hours of heavy rain forecast :(
 
Running London Marathon tomorrow with Apple Watch - which app?

Hi Ramit. Just taken a quick look at the Workout app. The frustrating thing with that is that it only shows one metric on screen at once. You have to swipe between them. At a minimum I'd like to see the stopwatch and pace at once.
 
I used the Nike app yesterday with the AW and it's completely broken. I did my usual 5k and it said I only did .6 of a mile. Plus the app didn't stay open on the watch.

It's normally really reliable but the latest update has really screwed it up.
 
I haven't any recommendations but just wanted to wish you well-have a great race. I'm going down in the rain to cheer you all on.

Regards.
 
Ah seems I'm mistaken in my last post. You can tap the clock in the top right to cycle through more metrics, including pace. Plus if you're running a goal workout (eg. Set a goal of 26.2 miles tomorrow) it will display that metric in addition if you turn on the 'display goal metric' in the workout options on your iPhone.

So ideally I'll have it configured like this:

cdaea85fa02502eba63064ca710d3708.jpg


And just fingers crossed the phone battery can take it. Hopefully with mobile data and the screen turned off it should manage.

----------
Crosspjc said:
I used the Nike app yesterday with the AW and it's completely broken. I did my usual 5k and it said I only did .6 of a mile. Plus the app didn't stay open on the watch.



It's normally really reliable but the latest update has really screwed it up.
Click to expand...


Crosspjc, I was having problems with apps not staying open yesterday. Then I realised it's a settings issue. The default setting on the Watch is to revert back to the watch face when the screen lights up. This can be changed in the settings.

For me it's a ridiculous default to set. Completely ruins map based and workout apps.
 
Will it work with mobile data off? You going to have the heart rate on- from what I hear that's the thing that will drain the battery...

I
 
ramit said:
Will it work with mobile data off? You going to have the heart rate on- from what I hear that's the thing that will drain the battery...



I
Click to expand...


Yeah I see no reason why mobile data is needed. Phone communicates to watch using Bluetooth, and wifi assists the GPS with location tracking. Mobile data is superfluous.
 
hingus2000 said:
Ah seems I'm mistaken in my last post. You can tap the clock in the top right to cycle through more metrics, including pace. Plus if you're running a goal workout (eg. Set a goal of 26.2 miles tomorrow) it will display that metric in addition if you turn on the 'display goal metric' in the workout options on your iPhone.

So ideally I'll have it configured like this:

Image

And just fingers crossed the phone battery can take it. Hopefully with mobile data and the screen turned off it should manage.

----------




Crosspjc, I was having problems with apps not staying open yesterday. Then I realised it's a settings issue. The default setting on the Watch is to revert back to the watch face when the screen lights up. This can be changed in the settings.

For me it's a ridiculous default to set. Completely ruins map based and workout apps.
Click to expand...

Is it possible to add more and customise fields such as pace, time, distance and HR?
 
I use Runtastic with a Bluetooth chest strap and it does display HRM. They just launched an APP for the watch so assume it will also display HRM live.
 
nebo1ss said:
I use Runtastic with a Bluetooth chest strap and it does display HRM. They just launched an APP for the watch so assume it will also display HRM live.
Click to expand...


Not HR reading it seems for the native HR monitor though?
 
I used Runkeeper on my phone last year and I see there's an Watch app now.

I still use Runkeeper for all walking/running, I think it's a superb app.

Have you run London before?

Good luck, it's an AMAZING experience and the support you get on the route is fantastic.
 
No advice on what to use on the watch because I haven't tried anything yet. Definitely let us know how it performs though. Curious is the battery will last throughout. I expect it probably could, especially if you are only checking every half mile or a mile.
 
Do you guys think it will last for 5 1/2 hours with mobile data on and the heart rate monitor?
 
Think it could be pushing it with the battery, think I saw a review saying the HR monitor ate up battery. Bear in mind its flashing the lights on to your wrist regularly to get your HR.

So you'll need to run extra fast!!!! The very best of luck.
 
Your 4th option seems like the best bet. It sounds like the 3rd party running apps are either buggy or untested. The native workout app will probably give you the most accurate info at a glance while you run an app you're comfortable with on your phone for later export. I'm sure you don't want to be running and glance down at your wrist to see some weird results from an untested 3rd party app and get distracted.
 
hingus2000 said:
Ah seems I'm mistaken in my last post. You can tap the clock in the top right to cycle through more metrics, including pace. Plus if you're running a goal workout (eg. Set a goal of 26.2 miles tomorrow) it will display that metric in addition if you turn on the 'display goal metric' in the workout options on your iPhone.

So ideally I'll have it configured like this:

Image

And just fingers crossed the phone battery can take it. Hopefully with mobile data and the screen turned off it should manage.

----------




Crosspjc, I was having problems with apps not staying open yesterday. Then I realised it's a settings issue. The default setting on the Watch is to revert back to the watch face when the screen lights up. This can be changed in the settings.

For me it's a ridiculous default to set. Completely ruins map based and workout apps.
Click to expand...

Sorry being thick but where is the setting?
 
Also it supposedly takes a few runs *with* your iPhone for the watch to calibrate distance for running without the phone. So it will be interesting to see how it does tomorrow.

Please update us and let us know how it goes.
 
Crosspjc said:
Sorry being thick but where is the setting?
Click to expand...


General -> Activate on wrist raise -> Resume previous activity

----------
Jetman said:
Also it supposedly takes a few runs *with* your iPhone for the watch to calibrate distance for running without the phone. So it will be interesting to see how it does tomorrow.



Please update us and let us know how it goes.
Click to expand...


Ah but I will be running with the phone so presumably it will give me the accurate gps figure.
 
So had a play around with strava, run keeper and the apple workout app.

All apps show current pace- but I couldn't find a way for any of them to show average pace- do any of you know how to get that?

Think the concern around 3rd party apps is a valid one at this stage - the run keeper and strava apps look identical just showing, time, distance and current pace.

Also is there any way to get the workout app to show miles in decimals rather than feet- just like run keeper and strava does?
 
I'd be really interested in what you decide and how you go. I'm running a marathon in Aus in 3 weeks time so I'd love to see how it goes. Good luck
 
Uppercut05 said:
I'd be really interested in what you decide and how you go. I'm running a marathon in Aus in 3 weeks time so I'd love to see how it goes. Good luck
Click to expand...

Is that the Gold Coast marathon? I'm running the Sydney marathon in Sept and want to run the London next year. Maybe I'll do the Gold cost after it if I still have two legs.
 
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