'No other smartwatch has this feature': the Apple Watch's most innovative running feature is one you've probably never used

Date:
Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Description:
Apple uses GPS and Apple Maps data to implement a cool hidden feature.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Most cities and large towns usually anywhere with a college or university presence or an outdoor sports center have an oval 400-meter running track that's open to the public. Large cities like London have quite a few.

I've been using the best Apple Watches and testing them during running workouts for quite a few years now, but I'm not a big track runner. I like long, slow, plodding runs, and I like the change of scenery as I jog. On the track, there's nowhere to hide, and whether you're doing 200-meter speedwork or lap after lap, the asphalt is punishing. It lays all your sins bare: no hiding poor results behind elevation, traffic stops, or the other variables that occur when running in the real world. So I rocked up to the track
wearing my Apple Watch Ultra 3 with more than a little trepidation. Article continues below You may like The best running watch for 2026: Watches for every level of runner I swapped my phone for a running watch for a month
here are 5 key differences for novices 8 fitness features hiding in your smartwatch that youll actually use Thankfully, you don't have to fiddle with the Apple Watch settings to properly log your track run efforts, as Apple Watches have a couple of neat features that make track running a bit easier. Unless you're a habitual track runner, you've probably never used these, but
I encourage you to find your nearest one and give them a try if you're keen
to improve your running performance. (Image credit: Getty Images / Tom
Werner) Over the past few years, Apple Watches have leveraged GPS and Apple Maps data to automatically detect when you're near an oval track. When you start an Outdoor Run workout within the vicinity of a track, the Workout app will discover the oval and prompt you to start a track workout. This is genuinely very impressive, and according to an Apple representative, "no
other smartwatch has this feature". And you'd never know this feature was in there unless your workout took you past a track!

By selecting Track Workout, you'll be prompted to choose a lane by swiping over to the left-hand tile for more accurate measurement. You can adjust
lanes during the course of the workout if you find yourself moving lanes for whatever reason, so you're not locked in. You can then use the segment button to mark laps or sections, such as the 200-meter mark. I was doing interval work, putting a lot of effort behind a 200-meter dash, then using the following 200 meters for recovery.

It took all the guesswork and planning out of using the track, so I could
just rock up and do my thing. Apple is great at making your life easier if
you use all its tech together. While its closed-loop approach to its
ecosystem may be frustrating for users who don't want to invest in everything Apple, it allows all your gadgets to work more or less seamlessly. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

In this case, the Apple Maps app interfaces with the Workout app to do all
the legwork behind the scenes to guess your intentions work out on a running track in a very, dare I say it, agentic way. Having recently switched over
to Apple tech in a more permanent capacity than my usual testing, I'm consistently impressed by little features like this and it's certainly motivated me to add more track work into my training. Why do track training?
A report from the University of Warwick said that track training, be it sprinting or longer-distance training, is a "controlled environment" that "provides an opportunity to enhance your personal performance".

The track offers the ability to precisely measure distance and pace control without variables like traffic or elevation, and the flat, consistent surface provides opportunities to work on your technique, like cadence and stride.

Running loops rather than a changing landscape requires mental resilience, a bit like the best treadmills , and running track offers an opportunity to develop this mindset too. It takes a special kind of person to run in a
circle for hours. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/no-other-smartwatch-has- this-feature-the-apple-watchs-most-innovative-running-feature-is-one-youve-pro bably-never-used


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