Workouts issue...

[AnTaR3s]

Dear all

I have been using various sports watches over the last few years and recently got an Apple Watch as a present. Now I am basically forced to use the Apple Watch and make the best of it.

I have been using the AW for a few days now and must say that I really do like it very much in general. It's a solid and pretty watch...However, I have one serious issue, that could destroy my entire user experience with it: Recording workouts!

1. If I use Apple's built-in Workout app, the recoding of the various metrics works flawlessly, but I really need to be able to sync my workouts over multiple fitness accounts since I have been using multiple brands for sports gear (e.g. Garmin and Suunto). However, I have not found a way to be able to export the Apple Workouts reliably...

2. If I use third-party apps like Runkeeper to record my runs, the workout recording is less than satisfying! Heart-rate, GPS, cadence, all of that data is completely useless for whatever reason. Does Apple not allow access to GPS for third-party apps?

So, if I can't use Apple's own Workout app due to lack of sharing and also can't use third-party apps due to lack of quality, what is the solution? How do you record workouts in a satisfying way?

thanks for any insight!

 

[cjking2007]

I am also a Garmin user and after trying to use the Apple Watch to record my workouts, I ended up going back to Garmin. I usually just take the Apple Watch off and leave it in the charger when I'm working out. The Apple Watch works beautifully for everything else, but not being able to share and transfer data to other platforms is a deal breaker for me. The only time I use it for workouts is when I'm travelling and don't want to take the Garmin with me.

 

[AnTaR3s]

I am also a Garmin user and after trying to use the Apple Watch to record my workouts, I ended up going back to Garmin. I usually just take the Apple Watch off and leave it in the charger when I'm working out. The Apple Watch works beautifully for everything else, but not being able to share and transfer data to other platforms is a deal breaker for me. The only time I use it for workouts is when I'm travelling and don't want to take the Garmin with me.

Thanks for your insight! I feared this would be the case...actually charging the watch while working out with the Garmin is a nice solution...hmm.

One more point: I haven't tried the Nike App...maybe this would work?

 

[cjking2007]

I haven't used the Nike App either. It's worth a try, but I'm not sure if it will transfer workouts to other platforms.

Thanks for your insight! I feared this would be the case...actually charging the watch while working out with the Garmin is a nice solution...hmm.

One more point: I haven't tried the Nike App...maybe this would work?

 

[Resqu2]

I always used Runkeeper on my phone and started a run on my watch using the native app and got all the info I wanted. I also just tried an app I read about here, workouts++ and it done great. I started a workout with workouts++ on my watch and started one on my phone on Runkeeper just for the heck of it. Both write to Apple Activity app.

 

[AnTaR3s]

I just managed to connect my Nike account with Garmin...not sure if they will synch, though. I will try it with my next run some time later this week. Hope this works.
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I always used Runkeeper on my phone and started a run on my watch using the native app and got all the info I wanted. I also just tried an app I read about here, workouts++ and it done great. I started a workout with workouts++ on my watch and started one on my phone on Runkeeper just for the heck of it. Both write to Apple Activity app.

Are you taking the phone with you on the run? Because that's a no-go for me!

 

[soloer]

Look into the app RunGap. Free to download, though there's a $1.99 charge every 3 months to subscribe to their "swag bag", which allows you to do things like autoshare your workouts. It basically allows you to sync workouts between many of the tracking services.

 

[AnTaR3s]

Look into the app RunGap. Free to download, though there's a $1.99 charge every 3 months to subscribe to their "swag bag", which allows you to do things like autoshare your workouts. It basically allows you to sync workouts between many of the tracking services.

Thanks! I will have a look!

 

[PatrickNSF]

I agree with the RunGap recommendation. I believe there’s also an app, HealthFit, with more limited syncing but no recurring subscription costs.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I agree with the RunGap recommendation. I believe there’s also an app, HealthFit, with more limited syncing but no recurring subscription costs.

Yeah, I didn't know about RunGap -- but I did get HealthFit -- I can export to Strava, Dropbox, Selfloops, SportTracks, and TrainingPeaks only. So it does seem kinda limited. But I got it cuz I wanted to export to Strava. Bugs the crack out of me that it doesn't count the last .0x mile. So if I run 2.37 miles, the export only shows 2.3 miles.

 

[soloer]

Bugs the crack out of me that it doesn't count the last .0x mile. So if I run 2.37 miles, the export only shows 2.3 miles.

Isn't that a Strava issue? I know when I use my Garmin, upload to Garmin Connect, which then auto-uploads to Strava, I've always seen that behavior. It bugs the heck out of me too, though I believe it does show up in the final tally for the week.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Isn't that a Strava issue? I know when I use my Garmin, upload to Garmin Connect, which then auto-uploads to Strava, I've always seen that behavior. It bugs the heck out of me too, though I believe it does show up in the final tally for the week.

Didn't know that - and here I was blaming HealthFit for that. Thanks! Good to know for the final tally info. - again Thanks!

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

Long time Garmin user here. Have done a post or two recently comparing the AW3 SBSSLTE to my Fenix 3 (or F5X, which I also have). Very comparable and the AW seems to be getting more precise.

I use RunGap to "share" to Garmin and Strava. RunGap takes from anything and shares full files to anything. You may have to pay $3 or something for the "Swag bag" which opens up some of the platform. Thoroughly pleased with RunGap and have even stopped running with BOTH the AW and F3. Been leaving the F3 at home lately. I use a Scosche Rhythm + for HR with either device during runs.

 

[soloer]

Long time Garmin user here. Have done a post or two recently comparing the AW3 SBSSLTE to my Fenix 3 (or F5X, which I also have). Very comparable and the AW seems to be getting more precise.

I use RunGap to "share" to Garmin and Strava. RunGap takes from anything and shares full files to anything. You may have to pay $3 or something for the "Swag bag" which opens up some of the platform. Thoroughly pleased with RunGap and have even stopped running with BOTH the AW and F3. Been leaving the F3 at home lately. I use a Scosche Rhythm + for HR with either device during runs.

This is good to hear! I have a F5X as well, and it's just massive, so I like the AW much better. I was planning on pairing my Scosche Rhythm tonight since I want to try wearing my AW over my jacket sleeve in the colder weather. Happy to see it looks like I won't have a problem.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

This is good to hear! I have a F5X as well, and it's just massive, so I like the AW much better. I was planning on pairing my Scosche Rhythm tonight since I want to try wearing t my AW over my jacket sleeve in the colder weather. Happy to see it looks like I won't have a problem.

Think you'll have to turn off wrist detection and passcode though. Even with the AW connected to external sensor it will lock on you if not next to you skin. Real PITA that needs its own setting.

 

[soloer]

Think you'll have to turn off wrist detection and passcode though. Even with the AW connected to external sensor it will lock on you if not next to you skin. Real PITA that needs its own setting.

I'll let you know in a couple hours. Planning on just turning off wrist detection and leaving passcode on.

 

[BigMcGuire]

This is good to hear! I have a F5X as well, and it's just massive, so I like the AW much better. I was planning on pairing my Scosche Rhythm tonight since I want to try wearing my AW over my jacket sleeve in the colder weather. Happy to see it looks like I won't have a problem.

I use Scosche Rythm. I find it 100% accurate in cold weather - whereas the Apple Watch seems to have problems finding my heart rate when it drops below 40F outside (could be combination of my arm hair and tendency to sweat like crazy).

The only thing I don't like about the Scosche is that it blasts insane amounts of data every second causing a much greater amount of battery usage. Also, every now and then I get a 64k heart rate beat that I have to delete (although that seems to be going away as time goes on). In warm weather AW has no problem with my heart rate. I usually wear the Scosche on the opposite arm as my Apple Watch - really really like it.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

I'll let you know in a couple hours. Planning on just turning off wrist detection and leaving passcode on.

How'd it go?....... ;-)

 

[soloer]

How'd it go?....... ;-)

It went surprisingly well! Put it on over my shirt sleeve, turned off wrist detection, typed in my passcode once, and that was it. Never had a problem during the run and was able to pause the workout at a light without fumbling with my sleeve. Bonus that since it was over the sleeve it never switched screens from the sleeve running over it. Just had to remember to turn wrist detection back on once I got home since my move ring doesn’t move when it’s off. I didn’t think to pay attention to battery percentage to see if the Scosche sucked up more than usual. Synced the run with RunGap to Garmin and Strava and all is well

 

[PatrickNSF]

Didn't know that - and here I was blaming HealthFit for that. Thanks! Good to know for the final tally info. - again Thanks!

Even with my Garmin I generally run 0.02 over my intended mileage for the day so that Strava doesn’t round it down. I believe it’s because Strava uses its own algorithm for reading GPS data.

Strava also significantly over-calculates calories for runs, more so than the others. So I find that helpful for when I want to eat an extra dessert

 

[Resqu2]

I just managed to connect my Nike account with Garmin...not sure if they will synch, though. I will try it with my next run some time later this week. Hope this works.
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Are you taking the phone with you on the run? Because that's a no-go for me!

Yes, long runs it goes in a slim pouch that goes around my waist. 3 mile runs I just hook it on my paints using my otter box Defender holster.