Apple Watch and Bluetooth headphones works nicely. Also does distance tracking etc.
And don't get me started on the iWatch, it crashes at the same point on my run about 50% of the time. Now when I say same point, I mean same geographical location. Doesn't matter if I run directly there (it's about 1 mile from home), or if I do a 5 mile loop first. Always roughly the same place (within 200 yards). I should go and look up the coordinates, maybe there's something odd about the numbers.
Anyway, switched back to iPhone, wired earphones and armband holder -- much better (and now I can take pictures of the woods when I see something interesting!).
I was able to return both of them (convincing the retailer that I had not swapped out a counterfeit set of airpods and was trying to return them was tricky), no problems anymore.
If you have your own local songs, you can easily load playlists/albums/etc onto an Apple Watch just like you could with an iPod. I've found it's really useful for listening to music while focusing on a task.
I have all of the above (iPhone 11 Pro, Apple Watch 6, AirPods Pro) and yet I still rely on my colour-coded last-generation iPod Shuffles when I want to just pop in a pair of earphones and have some favourite tunes that suit whatever mood I’m in (or want to put myself into). Why on earth should one have to spend so much money to achieve the same result (and forgo the elegance of simplicity in the process)?
I’m sure there are cheaper headphone options available. You might already own some, even.
I kept my wired Sennheiser running headphones and bought a Bluetooth adapter with inbuilt battery that clips to their headband.
Considering how much these gadgets are helping me with health and fitness I’d say they are a bargain.
I use mine for kitesurfing...gotta order a couple more to have spares now