⇐ Part 3 contents

    Apple Watch Apps

    When writing the book, there were only two Apple Watch apps that offered wrist-based power:

    1. The Apple Workout app
    2. The WorkOutDoors app

    I tested both and recommend the WorkOutDoors app.

    Why?

    The Apple Workout app had a few issues that made it difficult to use for Running with Power:

    • it only offers real-time or workout average power. There is no smoothed power (so you’ll have to put up with ‘spiky’ power numbers when running), and there is no lap power (which makes it just about impossible to run intervals to target).
    • it doesn’t record datapoints every second. Instead it uses ‘smart recording’ which records two datapoints every 5 seconds. This resulted in some very strange averages when analysing completed run data.
    • the Apple Health app stores completed workouts, but calculates averages using (end time – start time) rather than using the number of recorded datapoints. This led to inaccuracies if the run included pauses or stops.

    Nevertheless, these pages cover the Apple Workout app and the WorkOutDoors app so that you can make your own choice.

    The Apple Workout app

    The Apple Workout app gives you tools to manage your individual workout sessions. You can set specific goals, such as time, distance, or calories. Your Apple Watch tracks your progress, nudges you along the way, and summarizes your results. You use Apple Health on your iPhone to review your complete workout history.

    Setting up wrist-based power

    Once installed, the only setup necessary is entering your height and weight.

    Height & weight settings

    As explained in the Settings for all Watches/Power Meters book chapter, it’s important to ‘set and forget’ your height and weight.

    Height and Weight must be entered in the Apple Health app (not in the Workout app), as described in Change settings in Workout on the Apple website

    Auto-lap, Auto-pause, Auto-calibrate, Recording Frequency

    These settings are explained in the Settings for all Watches/Power Meters book chapter. They are configured using the Apple Workout app on your watch.

    Auto-lap

    In the Workout app, Auto-laps are referred to as Splits.

    To disable splits:

    1. Open the Apple Workout app
    2. Scroll to outdoor run then Select the 3 dots
    3. Scroll through the list, then Select Preferences
    4. Scroll through the list of Alerts, then Select Splits
    5. Toggle Splits Alert off to disable Auto-laps, or on to enable Auto-laps.
    6. If enabled, enter the Distance.

    Auto-pause

    Auto-pause is enabled or disabled for all workouts, not for each individual workout.

    Enabling/disabling Auto-pause is described in Change settings in Workout on the Apple website

    Auto-calibrate

    Apple watches auto-calibrate whenever you walk or run outside. It’s not possible to disable auto-calibration in the Workout app.

    Recording Frequency

    Apple watches use ‘smart recording’. It’s not possible to use ‘every second recording’ in the Workout app.

    Adjusting what's displayed on your watch

    To select which data screens are shown during a workout:

    1. Open the Workouts app
    2. Scroll to outdoor run then Select the 3 dots
    3. Scroll through the list, then Select Preferences
    4. Select Workout Views
    5. Scroll through the available views selecting the ones that you want to see while running.
    6. Some views can be customised. If a view has a Pencil icon, click the Pencil to customise the view. For example, the ‘Metrics’ view can be customised to change which metrics are shown.

    Power Averaging

    Power averaging is explained in the Settings for all Watches/Power Meters book chapter.

    The Apple Workout app offers real-time, or workout average power.

    WorkOutDoors app

    The lack of Lap Power makes it very difficult to run intervals (structured workouts). To see Lap Power, you may want to consider using the WorkOutDoors app instead of the Apple Workout app.

    Displaying power, pace and heart rate

    Some of the activities in the book ask you to display power, pace and HR on your watch so that you can keep track of changes in those metrics as you begin to experience running with power.

    To do this, customise the Metrics view (as described above) to include power, pace and heart rate as displayed metrics.

    Moving to the next lap

    To move to the next lap, double-tap the screen.

    Using structured workouts

    You can create structured workouts (with multiple steps, often used for interval workouts) using Create a custom workout in the Workout app, as described on the Apple website.

    You can also create structured workouts using the TrainingPeaks or Final Surge websites and download to the Apple Workout app using the TrainingPeaks app or the Final Surge app.

    Uploading completed workouts

    Completed workouts are added to Apple Health. 

    If you want completed workouts uploaded to other apps (for reviewing), you should use a 3rd-party app like HealthFit to connect Apple Health to the other apps.

    ⇐ Part 3 contents

    I'd like to give feedback ...

    If you have feedback – perhaps something that’s missing/incorrect, or something that would improve the content of Part 3, please let me know in the from1runner2another Facebook group.

    Updated:

    17-Jun-2025