S3 Watch Stops Recording Running Workout

[newellj]

Wondering if anyone has any suggestions this.

My wife has a Series 3 Watch and an iPhone 6, both running the latest versions of iOS and wOS.

Two or three times this past weekend while she was running with the Workout app running the Watch stopped recording her activity. Very oddly, it stopped in about the same place - you can see where the GPS track stopped. We do not live near Area 51, and there are no signs of extraterrestrial activity nearby.

She wears the band adequately tight (I think), but the only thing I can think of is that perhaps the Watch is getting loose on her wrist and locking up as if it has been taken off. (Thinking about this, I'm pretty sure that this isn't what's happening, because I think she would have commented on having to unlock the Watch when she got home and checked her run.)

I can't think of anything else. She has no tattoos. Her sleeves shouldn't be an issue because the Watch display needs a capacitive touch, which wouldn't happen from her clothes. Any other ideas?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Does it just show the watch face?

I had an incident where something brushed against my watch, and it brought up the main watch face, and it really did look like it stopped recording. I panicked and went back into the activity app, and it was still running and I was able to continue. It really looked like it stopped. There was a green icon at the top of the watch face, but I didn't register it as the activity app running. Other than that, I can't offer much. Biking, I've never had it stop recording until I stop it.

Odd for sure...

 

[ftaok]

Her sleeves shouldn't be an issue because the Watch display needs a capacitive touch, which wouldn't happen from her clothes.

Are you sure it isn't the sleeves? I've read several posts where folks were having their watch faces switched throughout the day because their sleeves were able to swipe the screen. Didn't happen with all of their clothes, but enough to be reproducible. The solution was to roll up their sleeves or limit themselves to a single watchface.

Incidentally, I've found that with the latest update wOS 4.2, it's very difficult to swipe to change the watchface. I have to swipe two or three times to get it to work. anyone else?

 

[newellj]

Does it just show the watch face?

I had an incident where something brushed against my watch, and it brought up the main watch face, and it really did look like it stopped recording. I panicked and went back into the activity app, and it was still running and I was able to continue. It really looked like it stopped. There was a green icon at the top of the watch face, but I didn't register it as the activity app running. Other than that, I can't offer much. Biking, I've never had it stop recording until I stop it.

Odd for sure...

I think it really did quit. When my wife got home, the map track had stopped in the same place each time. If it had been recording in the background, I think the map track would have been complete.

I have had one or two failures while cycling. I wear my Watch fairly tight. I never figured out what happened. But that's extremely rare for me, not two or three days in a row.
[doublepost=1516651267][/doublepost]

Are you sure it isn't the sleeves? I've read several posts where folks were having their watch faces switched throughout the day because their sleeves were able to swipe the screen. Didn't happen with all of their clothes, but enough to be reproducible. The solution was to roll up their sleeves or limit themselves to a single watchface.

Incidentally, I've found that with the latest update wOS 4.2, it's very difficult to swipe to change the watchface. I have to swipe two or three times to get it to work. anyone else?

Not sure on the sleeves, but I thought that couldn't happen with just fabric? Never say never, I guess.

Haven't really noticed any change in the sensitivity of the display myself.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If the watch is losing GPS tracking signal at the same place during her runs, it could be a Satellite issue, or some kind of interference that she is not aware of.

 

[mk313]

Without knowing any more specifics, I’d guess it’s her sleeve stopping the run. I’ve had it happen myself. I think the sleeve gets wet (in my case) and somehow that causes the run to Stop. If it’s happening to n about the same place, it may be that her sleeve is getting wet around that far into her run. The easy way to check if this is the culprit is to put the watch in water lock mode (or whatever it’s called). Just slide right after she starts the run (assuming it’s the stock workouts app) and then she’ll have to push the two side buttons to pause the run at the end, then unlock it by turning the crown until she hears the alert, then she can stop the run use my the watch face. Sounds complex, but it’s pretty easy in practice

 

[newellj]

Without knowing any more specifics, I’d guess it’s her sleeve stopping the run. I’ve had it happen myself. I think the sleeve gets wet (in my case) and somehow that causes the run to Stop. If it’s happening to n about the same place, it may be that her sleeve is getting wet around that far into her run. The easy way to check if this is the culprit is to put the watch in water lock mode (or whatever it’s called). Just slide right after she starts the run (assuming it’s the stock workouts app) and then she’ll have to push the two side buttons to pause the run at the end, then unlock it by turning the crown until she hears the alert, then she can stop the run use my the watch face. Sounds complex, but it’s pretty easy in practice

Interesting idea - worth a try. Thank you (and everyone else) - keep those cards and letters coming.
[doublepost=1516671490][/doublepost]

If the watch is losing GPS tracking signal at the same place during her runs, it could be a Satellite issue, or some kind of interference that she is not aware of.

I'll ask about the terrain. She was wondering whether she was moving her arm differently and possibly shaking the watch out of contact with her wrist.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Interesting idea - worth a try. Thank you (and everyone else) - keep those cards and letters coming.
[doublepost=1516671490][/doublepost]

I'll ask about the terrain. She was wondering whether she was moving her arm differently and possibly shaking the watch out of contact with her wrist.

I have certain areas on my running route that I am inclined to experience a few seconds of outage (due to terrain or some other unknown source) on a regular basis.

If she has the watch snug, I doubt that her moving her wrist at a slightly different angle momentarily would cause that.

I have been covered in sweat numerous times with it dripping profusely off my watch wrist and didn't notice any problems, so I doubt that her sleeve getting wet would be an issue, as. the previous poster suggested.

If she wanted to test, she could put the watch snuggly on her other wrist and see if she experiences the outage at the same point again.

 

[JackieInCo]

I had this happen a few times last summer when I was out walking. It was warm out so I had no jacket or long sleeves yet the app would just quit. I finally started locking the screen using the water drop icon in the control panel. It didn't happen anymore after that.

Since I've been walking again the last few months, I haven't had this happen although the satellite stops tracking me occasionally and you will know when this happens because you will see black dots on the map in after your workout but it's never stopped the workout app because of this.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Are you sure it isn't the sleeves? I've read several posts where folks were having their watch faces switched throughout the day because their sleeves were able to swipe the screen. Didn't happen with all of their clothes, but enough to be reproducible. The solution was to roll up their sleeves or limit themselves to a single watchface.

Doesn't 'underwater mode' lock the screen?

 

[ftaok]

Doesn't 'underwater mode' lock the screen?

Yes it does.

 

[bbednarz]

Is she accidentally summoning Siri? My friend had the same issue using the "Other" workout when playing hockey. When his wrist would bend a certain way it would push in the crown activating Siri and pause the workout.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have owned all three models of the AW and all, with no warning would stop tracking my HR during a run.

Pretty disappointing to look at your watch and there is no HR displays or it is some stupid number like 70bpm when I am running. Others days it works perfectly.

 

[ftaok]

I have owned all three models of the AW and all, with no warning would stop tracking my HR during a run.

Pretty disappointing to look at your watch and there is no HR displays or it is some stupid number like 70bpm when I am running. Others days it works perfectly.

Shave your arms.
j/k

 

[Newtons Apple]

Shave your arms.
j/k

LOL! Very little hair on my arms or the top of my head!

 

[mk313]

I have owned all three models of the AW and all, with no warning would stop tracking my HR during a run.

Pretty disappointing to look at your watch and there is no HR displays or it is some stupid number like 70bpm when I am running. Others days it works perfectly.

Interesting. 8m between hope sizes and I found that I need to wear the watch one hole tighter when I run than when I’m not working out. Otherwise I was getting weird workout data. It hasn’t been a problem for me since. Not saying that’s your problem but if you haven’t tried it, it might be worth a shot.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Interesting. 8m between hope sizes and I found that I need to wear the watch one hole tighter when I run than when I’m not working out. Otherwise I was getting weird workout data. It hasn’t been a problem for me since. Not saying that’s your problem but if you haven’t tried it, it might be worth a shot.

I have tried loose and tight and moved my watch both directions and it still is not dependable. No longer bothers me as it has been happening forever.

 

[newellj]

I have tried loose and tight and moved my watch both directions and it still is not dependable. No longer bothers me as it has been happening forever.

What if the watch is actually working perfectly, but... ? Kidding, totally, and hoping that you're many years away from any issues like that.

[doublepost=1516828416][/doublepost]

Is she accidentally summoning Siri? My friend had the same issue using the "Other" workout when playing hockey. When his wrist would bend a certain way it would push in the crown activating Siri and pause the workout.

*That* is a really interesting possibility. I sort of doubt it because it's happening at the same point in her run, but maybe she's cursing a hill or something?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

*That* is a really interesting possibility. I sort of doubt it because it's happening at the same point in her run, but maybe she's cursing a hill or something?

HAH! Trivia: This reminds me of my first experience with Siri. I was in SFO during the first day Siri was available. I went to the mothership, and they were demoing the dictation and word recognition of Siri. The presenter said that he will not invoke Siri, and you will see how accurate the voice recognition is. He proceeded to say a few sentences, and Siri dutifully misunderstood almost every other word and put up some rather colorful language on the screen. Prior to this, the presenter said that he couldn't see what was on his iPhone screen, and after much laughter, and someone sitting near me laughing and proclaiming 'And she can swear too, COOL', he swivels around to see Siri swearing like a drunken sailor. FUNNY! I laughed my ass off just on his reaction alone. Yes, Siri CAN swear...

And after that tangent, I haven't had the AW3 fail once. Well, except times I've forgotten to start it.

This is all been indoors too since I got the 3. Well, MOSTLY indoors. Hmm, I did an outdoor race in November, and the 3 shows it was only 7.13 miles, yet Strava has it at 30.14. AW3 says 1,235 calories and Strava has me at 1,751. *shrug*

 

[Newtons Apple]

What if the watch is actually working perfectly, but... ? Kidding, totally, and hoping that you're many years away from any issues like that.

[doublepost=1516828416][/doublepost]

*That* is a really interesting possibility. I sort of doubt it because it's happening at the same point in her run, but maybe she's cursing a hill or something?

You know I have thought about that. But still feel so “alive” when I am running but also know I can drop dead at any turn. I wear a check strap or use my Garmin for most of my workouts.

 

[newellj]

You know I have thought about that. But still feel so “alive” when I am running but also know I can drop dead at any turn. I wear a check strap or use my Garmin for most of my workouts.

My wife and I are ~ 60, which is relevant when I tell you that a year or two after she graduated one of her classmates, a very fit runner, dropped dead on the side of the road in the middle of a run. So yeah, unexpected things happen. But it could happen any time, any place, doing anything. Anyway...just wanted to say that I sometimes use a chest strap and just hate them. Also wanted to say that when I've compared my current strap, a Polar H7, I get basically the same results, which either means I've got great wrists or the AW is a pretty accurate tool!

 

[Newtons Apple]

My wife and I are ~ 60, which is relevant when I tell you that a year or two after she graduated one of her classmates, a very fit runner, dropped dead on the side of the road in the middle of a run. So yeah, unexpected things happen. But it could happen any time, any place, doing anything. Anyway...just wanted to say that I sometimes use a chest strap and just hate them. Also wanted to say that when I've compared my current strap, a Polar H7, I get basically the same results, which either means I've got great wrists or the AW is a pretty accurate tool!

For sure this is all just temporary. All of it.