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Watch for runners

I run 50 - 60 km / week and often both use my Garmin Marq Athlete Gen 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Usually I connect a strap to the Garmin but lately I have connection problems (using beta software) and had to use the optical sensor of the Garmin. I have the impression that the Apple Watch sensor is better (HR on the Garmin was often too high). Basically very happy with the AWU, especially given LTE and passive ECG monitoring.
Garmin provides more insight after the run (race predictor, training status etc.) + daily suggested workouts. Race predictor worked very well for me (predicted time on 10 mile run was spot on). All nice, but I do not really need all these functions (they do not make me a better runner).
 
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Does anyone here use a secondary Heart Rate monitor with their AWU or AWU2? for years now I've used a scosche forearm monitor and it has been VERY accurate and much more so than the watch sensor especially for things like weight lifting and running.

The 2nd benefit was always that the light used ON the watch, was not active when a secondary third party Heart rate monitor was in use and therefore it saved power! (I could lift up the watch slightly and see that the green lights were NOT on).. sometimes I had to reconnect the Rhythm+ HR monitor to the watch in bluetooth, just re-connect really but that was it.

But, with the latest ios 18.3 update (could be just ios 18) not only does it not appear to be showing the HR FROM the third party monitor, since the HR indicator seems to go in and out of status - just like when using the WATCH ONLY, but even WHEN or IF it appears to be using the secondary HR monitor it seems to STILL be using the watch based one and thereby just drains power faster.

I've tried forgetting the Rhythm monitor, and re-pairing, and re-installing from a backup everything to the watch, but no go, nothing seems to work.

Thoughts?
 
NME42 said:
Running daily with my AWU2 and a Polar Verity Sense heart rate monitor or a Polar H10. Zero issues.

Suggestion: try another heart rate monitor.
Click to expand...
I’ll give a different one a shot.. odd that now since 18.3 and wOs 11 its borked.
 
tivoboy said:
Does anyone here use a secondary Heart Rate monitor with their AWU or AWU2? for years now I've used a scosche forearm monitor and it has been VERY accurate and much more so than the watch sensor especially for things like weight lifting and running.

The 2nd benefit was always that the light used ON the watch, was not active when a secondary third party Heart rate monitor was in use and therefore it saved power! (I could lift up the watch slightly and see that the green lights were NOT on).. sometimes I had to reconnect the Rhythm+ HR monitor to the watch in bluetooth, just re-connect really but that was it.

But, with the latest ios 18.3 update (could be just ios 18) not only does it not appear to be showing the HR FROM the third party monitor, since the HR indicator seems to go in and out of status - just like when using the WATCH ONLY, but even WHEN or IF it appears to be using the secondary HR monitor it seems to STILL be using the watch based one and thereby just drains power faster.

I've tried forgetting the Rhythm monitor, and re-pairing, and re-installing from a backup everything to the watch, but no go, nothing seems to work.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I use a Garmin strap and haven’t had any issues with any version of iOS or watchOS.
 
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I also run with a Garmin strap without any issues (HRM Pro Plus in my case) but there is one downside for me when running with an external strap - the Health App does not update the VO2 max, it simply repeats the last observation obtained with the Apple Watch’s built-in optical HR sensor. Taking off the strap and using the watch alone results in a new reading. Do you have the same?
 
Ament said:
I also run with a Garmin strap without any issues (HRM Pro Plus in my case) but there is one downside for me when running with an external strap - the Health App does not update the VO2 max, it simply repeats the last observation obtained with the Apple Watch’s built-in optical HR sensor. Taking off the strap and using the watch alone results in a new reading. Do you have the same?
Click to expand...
Are you sure about that? I always wear my HR strap when running and the estimated VO2 max does change over time.
 
hi there,
i use for regular trail running a suunto race s. Before I used a Polar Pacer Pro, all together with an iPhone 15 Pro and AirPods Pro 2. No probs with music, podcasts and messages.
Sorry, but for endurance sport are the AppleWatches just crap.

Yves
 
yschmid said:
hi there,
i use for regular trail running a suunto race s. Before I used a Polar Pacer Pro, all together with an iPhone 15 Pro and AirPods Pro 2. No probs with music, podcasts and messages.
Sorry, but for endurance sport are the AppleWatches just crap.

Yves
Click to expand...
Crap? Why? Sensors are great, provides all relevant data you need. Crap statement.
 
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yschmid said:
for endurance sport are the Apple Watches just crap.
Click to expand...
Hi mate, I wouldn't be so extreme. There are always better options available, and a specialized device is generally better suited for a specific task due to its optimizations. I regularly run with a Garmin Forerunner and love it. The Apple Watch is a great all-rounder, especially within the Apple ecosystem.
 
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Watch OS 11.5 seems to have just totally borked the INTERNAL sensor for me…nothing records and didn’t make third party straps work either.. real bummer.
 
headlessmike said:
Are you sure about that? I always wear my HR strap when running and the estimated VO2 max does change over time.
Click to expand...
Yeah same here. I wear a HR strap when running and my VO2 max updates.

On the other hand, I'm perplexed about how to get the heart rate recovery stat to self update. I always have to manually put that in. Initially it would automatically record my 1 minute drop after my runs.
 
MarkX said:
Not easy at all, nigh on impossible if it's pouring rain or you've just given it your all and are a sweaty knackered mess! That's when touchscreen buttons are useless and you need buttons.
Click to expand...
Then use the buttons? Every single time I run with long sleeves or in the rain/snow I just rain-lock the display. I have an ultra so lock the display and press the action button once (to start the run and lock GPS) and press again when ready to take off... To pause just press action button and side button and then go inside and stop run - really not an issue at all with the action button.
 
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xDKP said:
Then use the buttons? Every single time I run with long sleeves or in the rain/snow I just rain-lock the display.
Click to expand...

How do you rain lock it? One of my big annoyances with my Apple Watch is that I occasionally activate some weird mode where it won't stop switching screens on me while I'm running.
 
smirking said:
How do you rain lock it? One of my big annoyances with my Apple Watch is that I occasionally activate some weird mode where it won't stop switching screens on me while I'm running.
Click to expand...
I use a control centre icon. If you don't have it then scroll to the bottom of control centre and choose EDIT and you can add it.
incoming-3AF77189-F31F-4F97-B98D-43EDDF751B85.png
 
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Howard2k said:
I use a control centre icon. If you don't have it then scroll to the bottom of control centre and choose EDIT and you can add it.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I've never used that feature before, but alas... it doesn't solve my issue. It stops accidental swipes, but won't freeze your watch display from cycling through grouped displays.
 
smirking said:
Thanks! I've never used that feature before, but alas... it doesn't solve my issue. It stops accidental swipes, but won't freeze your watch display from cycling through grouped displays.
Click to expand...
It locks the display and crown still active for scrolling through but that’s a good thing. I have often custom runs with different views I can scroll through and a tight glove might activate it but never rain etc.
 
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I switched from a Series 10 to Garmin Forerunner 265, pretty decent compromise. Big compromise on the smart watch side of things & HR/sleep tracking but pretty good on the running features, workout suggestions/coach. I should have gone with 965 for the mapping during a run, but that size seemed a little big for my small wrist, thinking back I might get used to the size, especially during sleep.
 
I love my Garmin watch, I can even put up with carrying my phone with me for music and podcasts. But then I compare Garmin Connect with Bevel and it’s night and day.
So I stay on my AWU2.
 
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