WatchOS 9 beta... anyone try the new running features?

[NME42]

The two things I wish Apple could match are battery life and recovery metrics. It’s super annoying to me that Apple doesn’t allow the Apple Watch to take more frequent HRV readings and that it constantly changes resting heart rate throughout the day.

Did you not really trust the training data that Garmin provides? I’d like to also see the training effects and such. I’m not sure that Apple will ever provide that, though I also didn’t think they’d add stuff like running power, VO, and GCT.

I know Apple will never match battery life of something like a Fenix, but that would be amazing.

No, I do not trust the Garmin recovery metrics at all. They might work if you are only using one device for all your workouts. I do a lot of indoor cycling with Zwift, outdoor cycling with a bike computer (was a Garmin Edge). They never managed to put these workouts together to provide reliable metrics. Runalyze as a free training platform does a lot better job on this. But anyway, I find all these metrics interesting, but not more. Normally, I train using a training plan and adjust it depending how I feel, not how my watch tells me how I should feel. Sounds a bit sarcastic, but my experience with Garmin was just like that.

Also, in my opinion, the Garmin software platform on their devices is more or less end of life. No real progress except for useless functions (that very often are so buggy that one can not rely upon them e.g. in races). Also, the smartwatch functionality has not been developed any further since several years now and compared to an Apple Watch is too basic for me. I love podcasts and plugging in my watch to load MP3s on my watch is really old school. And if 20% of my podcasts don't play because of software bugs, I am out.

GPS quality is almost on par with Garmin, F7 has some advantage, but nothing I do really care about. it is good for me and combined with a Stryd as excellent.

Battery life is of course something that distinguishes the two brands. But sometimes people compare apples and oranges. Look at the battery life of an Epix 2 with an amoled display (would never go back to a really bad display like F7 or 955 has) and look how long the battery lasts when replaying music. Difference is not much higher. But sure, an AW requires daily charging and can not last any longer GPS recording than 10 hours. If latter is the use case, agreed.

Also, the touch screen of an AW can be a pain in wet conditions. I can live with that, I have seldom situations where water lock is not a solution to it.

With every new Garmin release I rethink my decision - I said I was a true Garmin fanboy for several years - but they are making so slow progress on the smartwatch side that I see no reason to go back.
My comparison is a reliable workhorse diesel car. Sure it can go 1000km with one filled tank. A modern electric car can definitely don't go these distances. I would not swap a Tesla or Polestar for a diesel car.

 

[Duffman19]

… It’s super annoying to me that Apple doesn’t allow the Apple Watch to take more frequent HRV readings and that it constantly changes resting heart rate throughout the day.

Did you not really trust the training data that Garmin provides?

I believe the reason the resting heart rate changes throughout the day is that Apple calculates a waking RHR value. The AW will attempt to read your HR while you are still, relaxed, and awake, using the lowest consistent reading as the RHR. Ideally, this would be taken as soon as you wake up and are still resting in bed, but the lowest reading could come at any point throughout the day, so the number may change.

Other companies, such as Garmin, calculate RHR while you are asleep. So once you wake up, your RHR is set for the day. This will usually result in a lower value as well. I believe waking RHR is usually the preferred method, but there is no consensus.

As for trusting Garmin’s data, it all comes down to the optical heart rate sensor. Almost all of their metrics are formulated using some sort of HR or HRV readings. So if you trust that sensor, then you’ll probably get good data. Otherwise, the numbers are just good guesses.

 

[PaladinGuy]

I’m a little bit surprised that Apple added so much in the way of advanced running metrics instead of focusing on something like recovery or readiness. It seems to me that the general public would benefit and understand something like that much more than running power, vertical oscillation, or ground contact time.

The advanced sleep monitoring was definitely needed if for no other reason then marketing and keeping up with competition.

Most of those competitors are beginning to implement some kind of recovery into their activity platform. That was the main thing I was looking for Apple to implement in watchOS 9.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

I’m a little bit surprised that Apple added so much in the way of advanced running metrics instead of focusing on something like recovery or readiness. It seems to me that the general public would benefit and understand something like that much more than running power, vertical oscillation, or ground contact time.

The advanced sleep monitoring was definitely needed if for no other reason then marketing and keeping up with competition.

Most of those competitors are beginning to implement some kind of recovery into their activity platform. That was the main thing I was looking for Apple to implement in watchOS 9.

Trainingtoday is a pretty good app. It gives a readiness score out of 10.0
When I had Covid it registered 0.0 for several days! 🥴

 

[PaladinGuy]

Trainingtoday is a pretty good app. It gives a readiness score out of 10.0
When I had Covid it registered 0.0 for several days!

I think the big weakness of Training Today is that it tries to use HRV throughout the whole day. The random and sparse HRV readings by the Apple Watch just aren’t capable of handling that, in my opinion.

 

[Totalkharnage]

I updated my watch (series 7, cellular) and went for my first run today. I was completely unable to pair my Airpods Pro with the watch. First time it has ever happened. I was forced to keep my phone in my hand, like in the olden times.

I get this occasionally too and find restarting the Apple Watch always solves the issue. Annoying but only takes a minute a so.

 

[xDKP]

You can have almost all of the new features (plus some others like running tracks maps) already with WorkoutDoors.
I changed from Garmin 2.5 years ago and do not miss anything. Was always running with their high end models (e.g. 945) and run 7 times a week, about 100km, so no "casual runner".

Still, I am happy that the built in app adds these features. Having a choice is always good and this will hopefully attract more runners to go for an Apple Watch.

I have tried a lot of different running apps throughout the years and nothing beats the smoothness and speed of the build in. It’s just better for not crashing, acting weird etc

 

[NME42]

I have tried a lot of different running apps throughout the years and nothing beats the smoothness and speed of the build in. It’s just better for not crashing, acting weird etc

True. That‘s also a reason for me why I appreciate it that Apple loads new features in the next release.

For my plain vanilla easy runs, I also use the built in app now too. Always on display and the best now playing screen.

 

[PaladinGuy]

I really like how it gives you a percentage breakdown of how long you spend in the various heart rate zones. PLUS it’s much nicer to pull that up on your iPhone later after the run.

Also, this may be because it’s new, but I liked swiping thru the new workout data screens on my run today. It was rock solid too. No crashes or glitches whatsoever that I noticed. The 5 little green dots to the right of the elapsed time are the available views. My screenshot below was the 2nd.

Also, for some reason when I opened my outdoor run for the first time in watchOS 9, it was set to 4x400 repeats.

View attachment 2016956

Do you customize your heart rate zones with a maximum heart rate or anything or does WatchOS decide all of that?

 

[Phil Holland]

Do you customize your heart rate zones with a maximum heart rate or anything or does WatchOS decide all of that?

You can do custom or automatic

 

[perezr10]

Do you customize your heart rate zones with a maximum heart rate or anything or does WatchOS decide all of that?

As mentioned, you can setup a custom zone to get alerts on. I’ve never done that though so I can’t speak to it.

I think the default zones are based on your health data. If you link Health, it knows your age, weight etc.

I’m shocked at what a huge step forward watchOS 16 has taken with running workout configurability. I pleasantly surprised shocked.😁

 

[perezr10]

xDKP said:
I have tried a lot of different running apps throughout the years and nothing beats the smoothness and speed of the build in. It’s just better for not crashing, acting weird etc
*******************

I agree 100%. It has been the basic smoothness of sync with my iPhone or other Apple Watches that has kept me with Apple’s Workout app. To me reliability beats fancy features that don’t always work. But luckily, Apple is finally throwing some fancy features into it’s own workout app.

 

[Simon89]

Are heart rate zones available for every activity?

 

[Phil Holland]

Are heart rate zones available for every activity?

No

 

[Simon89]

No

An incredibly useful function then - no doubt it’ll be a headline feature next year

 

[Phil Holland]

An incredibly useful function then - no doubt it’ll be a headline feature next year

I’d be surprised if they do that. If so it certainly wouldn’t be a headline feature. I’m guessing your tongue is in your cheek.

I checked under strength training and a couple others and realized it would be pretty pointless. You can still examine your HR graph post workout but I doubt if anyone but a very small sub set weight trains with HR zones in mind.

I train hard at the gym and running. So far I’ve been thrilled with the HR zone feature for running.

You can totally customize workouts directly on the watch. It’s VERY cool!

 

[Simon89]

I’d be surprised if they do that. If so it certainly wouldn’t be a headline feature. I’m guessing your tongue is in your cheek.

I checked under strength training and a couple others and realized it would be pretty pointless. You can still examine your HR graph post workout but I doubt if anyone but a very small sub set weight trains with HR zones in mind.

I train hard at the gym and running. So far I’ve been thrilled with the HR zone feature for running.

You can totally customize workouts directly on the watch. It’s VERY cool!

It was - sorry about that, I was having a bad day!

For me it would be useful for cycling, as training in different heart rate zones is just as beneficial as it is for running. Being asthmatic the feature being exclusively for running is a little dissappointing.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

Seems strange they would only implement HR zones for running?
Q:- Has anybody used the beta during swimming? I heard you can get a swolf score now?

 

[Jana_CZ]

Sooo… I’ve never done beta for iOS/WatchOS (did for particular apps but not for the operating system…) The new running features are too tempting though..!

Is the public beta usually stable enough for an everyday use? I know there’s still bugs to be squeezed, I’m wondering whether it’s already “pretty much usable.” 😀

Also, if I understand correctly, I’d need to update both the Watch and the paired iPhone, correct?

(I’ve already enrolled the devices and installed the needed profiles, iOS 15.6 / WatchOS 8.7 are offered as expected, so now just waiting for v. 16 / 9 to appear in there 😏)

 

[Phil Holland]

HR zones are available for many workouts. Bicycling is one of them.

They aren’t included for all workouts. From the ones I’ve looked at the ones with and without seem logical.

 

[Phil Holland]

It was - sorry about that, I was having a bad day!

For me it would be useful for cycling, as training in different heart rate zones is just as beneficial as it is for running. Being asthmatic the feature being exclusively for running is a little dissappointing.

HR zones are available for cycling during workout.

 

[PaladinGuy]

Can someone explain what the Cardio Recovery feature in WatchOS 9 is? Is it just a different version of what's already in watchOS 8 and before where it shows how much your heart rate recovers/falls over 2 minutes after the workout? Or is it something that tells you how long to wait before your next hard workout?

 

[redbeard331]

Does everyone here have a paid dev account? Is there a way to get the beta without it?

 

[sarc]

Does everyone here have a paid dev account? Is there a way to get the beta without it?

try betaprofiles.com

 

[thatsthequy]

First run with watchOS 9 tonight. Really liked running with the HR zone screen up. Keeping track of my HR via zones instead of just the raw value is a lot more useful when I am peeking at my watch to check in every km or so. Kept it in zone 4 for the flats and downhill, a bit of zone 5 when I was pushing my pace up, and worked back down to zone 3/2 as I walked the last couple blocks.

Particularly excited to check out the vertical oscillation and ground contact time metrics whenever those are ready.