Michael Potuck
A wide range of valuable new running features comes with watchOS 9.
From heart rate zones and stride length, ground contact time to vertical
oscillation, and new features like ghost racing your personal best and
creating custom workouts, here's a hands-on look at the new Apple Watch
running metrics in watchOS 9.
Whether you're already an avid runner, just getting started, or want to make
deliberate progress, watchOS 9 offers the most robust Apple Watch running
metrics to date.
Becoming more efficient with your form or more intentional with heart rate
zones, getting extra motivation with a ghost racing feature, or staying on
track with a new pacer and alerts are all possible with watchOS 9.
Some of these features could also hint at a rugged Apple Watch landing this
fall.
Apple Watch running metrics: What's new in watchOS 9
Here are the 9 new main Apple Watch running metrics and features:
1. Heart Rate Zones
2. Stride Length
3. Ground Contact Time
4. Vertical Oscillation
5. Average Power
6. Race against best or last run
7. Pacer with on-screen metrics and alerts
8. Create custom run workouts with "work" and "recovery" segments
9. Multisport workout type that automatically switches between running,
biking, and swimming for triathletes
Here's a look at the new Apple Watch running metrics in action:
Heart Rate Zones
After starting a running workout in watchOS 9, the first screen by default
will show time elapsed, current heart rate, rolling mile, average pace, and
distance. Apple says you'll be able to customize what metrics show You can
swipe from bottom to top or use the Digital Crown to navigate to the new
running metric screens. The second one is Heart Rate Zones.
Apple Watch running metrics heart rate zones
Apple Watch automatically creates your 5 heart rate zones based on the Heart
Rate Reserve method. And max and resting values are updated automatically on
the first day of each month.
But you can enter heart rate zones manually by heading to Settings > Workout
Heart Rate Zones on your Apple Watch or on iPhone in the Apple Watch app >Workout > Heart Rate Zones.
