I can’t speak for the SE, but I use the alerts on my series 7. It vibrates and gives an audio alert (optional) to let me know when I’m over or under the HR zone that I’ve set as my goal.
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WatchOS 9 beta... anyone try the new running features?
- Thread starter canyonblue737
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I can’t speak for the SE, but I use the alerts on my series 7. It vibrates and gives an audio alert (optional) to let me know when I’m over or under the HR zone that I’ve set as my goal.
I have a S7 but might be the same on the SE.
The new software is pretty amazing and lets you set all sorts of targets and custom measurements. For Pulse you can now have a lower and upper target pulse with alarm for it as well. Pretty cool!
Have never really used sleep tracking, because I don’t really know what I’m supposed to use the data for. What do you use it for, other than being a good looking graph?
Not much to use it for other than kinda narrowing down your best sleep conditions. Like I notice when I use my weighted blanket, I actually sleep worse because I get too hot. The night I used it, it said I was in bed for 9hrs and got 5hrs of sleep. I don't remember waking up but I'm sure I did. My best sleep was when I used a powdered magnesium supplement (super super relaxing), melatonin, and my anxiety meds.
Other than that, if you feel like you have issues with sleeping, I'm sure it's useful data you can share with your doc.
I use it for my resting heart rate, can tell if I am about to get sick and if I should train easier that day.
No Garmin, Polar etc. with training load focus takes recovery very serious. Actually the new features on garmins latest top models is all about recovery. That+buttons is why I have switched mainly to garmin to track all workouts. Not all garmins have it though. Only forerunners or better, not watches in the more casual Venu/Vivo lines. Was very impressed with my 245 predictions on recovery time (bought it because of buttons and get daily run suggestion, but recovery time + body battery became my favourite features). I am now dabling with Epix and a FR 955, which still needs to tune in on me, to give me reliable and actionable data.
I am waiting to see what the series 8 offers but am considering a garmin 255 as I have upped my training. As much as I like the oled screen it is pretty much useless for open water swimming in bright conditions. I will miss the smartwatch features but the fact is I don’t want to be dealing with 2 watches.
Have you used the AW in open water (I haven’t, so can’t comment on personal experience)? DC Rainmaker did a big open water swim test with a bunch of watches and the AW came out near the top for accuracy (AW6 at the time). I’ve also seen him comment (but can’t find an exact quote) that the AW screen is just as readable, if not more so, than the MIP displays in open water. Again, I can’t comment from personal experience, just wondering if your experience differs. I go back and forth between Garmin and AW all the time, btw.
Edit: He mentions readability in a recent post about the new triathlon feature. It’s under the “During the triathlon” section when talking about the muddy waters he swam in.
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Yes accuracy is very good, it is the original reason I bought an AW(3), at the time none of the others came close but competition have closed gap. It is fine in the pool but the always on display is hardly readable on a bright day underwater for me, this might also be due to the sapphire being more 'milky'. It is fine when the proper display is engaged but this requires a really awkward movement which really interrupts the swimming stroke, I had this with the 4 and is the reason I bought the 5.
The other thing for me is that Garmin has improved the optical HR considerably and by extention this makes the firstbeat type algos much more respectable, there is now a gap between Apple and Garmin in this realm, as I say I'll see what the 8 brings but if they do bring in metrics exclusively on the rumoured 'pro' then I'm out.
I‘m on the dev beta (Apple Watch S6 and S7) since the first public beta was released, absolutely fine for daily use, both in terms of battery life and stability
I bought the Epix 2 months ago and returned it and went back to AW. The Epix still has accuracy problems for me, having my HR way to high during my workouts. Tried 2 of them.
Good to know! I was considering one of the Forerunner models, a couple are only about $200 to $250 at Costco.com lately, vs. some of their closer to $800 series.
Yeah I wish apple had more of a focus on training load and recovery.
I've been using an app called Training Today. Seems to work ok.
I am also using Training today and measure HRV regulary, but have a hard time trusting it. I can get it to say whatever I want by changing settings. I had found a setting that seemed promising, but then they updated and changed things. Instead of fine tuning the avaraging period in hours it became days.
I am also using Chipr, Stress Monitor and Gentler Streaks. Gave up on Athlytic. I really wanted my AW to be a do all device.
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Yes, Apple have fallen behind here. I realise the AW is more of an everyman device but they have the might to come up with their own version of the recovery and training metrics. As I said previously, this might be a part of the rugged version but I am not really interested in that as I find the fenix epix tactix style watches fugly as sin. Even the 955 is too big for my liking really, so I'm waiting to see if the 8 suits my needs (even longer battery might sway it) or it's the 255 for me.
I have just downloaded the Training Today as well and looks pretty cool - Apple just needs to implement the connection to the rings
Personally, I think Training Today is a bit unreliable because the Apple Watch doesn’t take nearly enough HRV readings to really track trends throughout the day. I think it’s basically trying to be a very very simplified version of Garmin’s body battery. The approach taken by Athlytic and others that use or give the option to only focus on sleep readings is more useful. Even then, I think it’s borderline as to whether the number of samples for HRV taken by the Apple Watch is enough to show good data.
Training today can be quiet good and convincing after a hrv measurement (breath exercise with haptic disabled) with the right setting. But as with body battery there is a tuning period, here is just manual. And hard without body battery to compare.
Athlytics however, just didn't make sense at all. It was all over the place, No matter the settings.
But recovery hours is just as important and I have only found estimates in polar beat (not flow !?!) And Sports Tracker/Suuntu app. But they are not as precise, does accumulate and are not dynamically adjusted by poor/good sleep and activity. Must say garmins estimate is good. I think I know better, but it always come out on top. It doesn't mean I don't train, but I know how long before I fully fresh and can plan accordingly and not get to frustrated, if I am not feeling fresh.
I found Garmin's body battery did not really reflect the way I felt at all. I recently came back to Apple because the HR on my Epix was waaay off when I was doing activities and I don't want to have to use a HRM on a $1000 watch.