In Defense of the Apple Watch Ultra for Runners: Preamble
One orthodoxy pervades running: you must have a GPS watch. I couldn’t agree more; were it not for the gamification and instant feedback of a smart watch, I doubtless never would have taken up running.
Certain hardcore runners taking the “dumb phone” approach and going back to primitive Timex watches. To be sure, they are at peak fitness, run workouts on a pre-measured track, and have coaches.
I have had the luxury of acquiring a bevy of smartwatches and slighly-less-smart fitness watches since taking up running about seven years ago. As I seem to recall my smart watch / running watch / fitness gadget progression was as follows:
- Garmin Edge 510 with HRM used to track my bike rides (circa 2013-2015).
- Apple Watch “Series 0”
- Apple Watch Series 2
- Fitbit Charge 3(?)
- Apple Watch Series 4
- Fitbit Ionic
- Garmin Forerunner 935
- Garmin Fenix 5 Plus
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Garmin Fenix 6
- Garmin Fenix 7
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Garmin Epix Pro
As a hobby jogger with a 3:48 marathon PR, no doubt I have overindulged; I’ve also been extremely fickle. I find myself bouncing endlessly back and forth between the Garmin and Apple ecosystems. Inevitably, after a few days or weeks, I will pick up the other device and miss the other’s features.
I’ll get in a good habit with the Garmin and set a new step streaks record, then remember all the convenient and downright practical features that only an Apple Watch provide.
Then I use the Apple Watch Ultra, but feel out of place in the “Serious Running Community” - where Garmin and Coros are miles ahead of the Apple Watch. In essence, the Apple Watch is for hobby joggers; the Garmin is for folks who truly care about running. They need a lap button, carefully scrutinize stats like vertical oscillation and left-right foot balance, and - by far most important - cannot utilize any tool that doesn’t measure battery life in months instead of hours.
That said, I see no reason why the Apple Watch Ultra 2 isn’t a competent — if not superior — device for running and training for races. This year, I have two races on the calendar: a half marathon in April, and the Twin Cities Marathon in October. I also have some golf trips, work trips, and an anniversary visit to Ireland in the books.
I plan to use this space and give the Apple Watch Ultra 2 an honest (and consistent) chance at proving itself at each of these. Can I get the stat overload and ease of use for interval running workouts? Will the AWU2 survive a 36-hole day with shot tracking and yardage mapping? Is it better to bring a smartwatch-on-the-wrist to a foreign country? I’ll explore these in more detail.