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Show HN: I make an iOS app for runners using Apple Watch

apps.apple.com

15 pointslaihj10 comments

about run and plan

The app description in the store has two large paragraphs talking about the premium subscription plans (or rather, how to pay for them). And yet there is absolutely no information anywhere to be found about what’s included in those premium subscription plans and why anyone would want to pay for them.

As far as I can tell, the app won't do anything until you sign up for the free trial (which, if you forget, will convert to paid). There's a modal subscription sheet which won't go away until you choose the free trial. Frankly, that's not a good first impression for an app that's advertised as "free". Give me some functionality, or quit listing it as "free".

As for the rest, meh, it's okay. If you're 'merican, you will find a few globalization issues (date format and weight in Kg). I bump the system text size up a notch (old eyes), and I see text overflow issues.

It does allow you to enter workouts that will sync to Apple Watch. That's a nice one. Problem is, like every other 3rd party app that has "build a workout" functionality, it doesn't do power alerts. I don't use heart rate or pace for workouts anymore, it's all power-based. And so far, only the stock Apple workout builder will do power alerts. I don't know if it's just not exposed in the API or what.

And finally, I don't know where those heart rate zones came from, but they are way off (way too high).

This app might be handy for those that have previously only been using the stock Apple Health/Fitness apps. But for $2/month, I just don't see the value add over the Garmin or Training Peaks (a paid app), or even HealthFit (free, and recommended). If the app were even a one-time $10, I'd probably spring for it. But a recurring subscription? Nope, there's nothing about this app that I'd consider continuously pouring money into it. I deleted it, and cancelled the free trial.

I would highly recommend that the dev ditch the subscription model and make it a one-time purchase.

I use (and highly recommend) WorkOutdoors for tracking outside runs. It supports an alert for power thresholds but requires an external sensor (like a stryd) to enable them.

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/ru... is interesting - one thing I get from the discussion on "what is running power?" is if you don't have some external sensor then power is probably derived from VO2max.

I've used WorkOutdoors, but that's not what this app proposes to replace.

...if you don't have some external sensor then power is probably derived from VO2max.

Your information is out of date. Wrist-based power is a thing now.

Have you tried WorkOutDoors? It’s the best workout app on Apple Watch/iOS I’ve ever used by far. It can give you notifications between power zones as well and it’s a paid app with no subscription.

I've tried WorkoutDoors. I used to use it exclusively back when the stock watchOS app kinda sucked (three second countdown before starting, seriously, Apple?) It's a fine app (except that it doesn't handle the Always On Display gracefully because it's written in Obj-C), but doesn't fill the role that this app is trying to fill.

And frankly, since Apple spruced up the built-in app in watchOS 9, I find the stock app to be just fine for my purposes, and I no longer use WoD. (And that includes interval work, tempo, and ultramarathon-distance races.) If I need mapping, I use Footpath, which does a much better job on the mapping front that WoD does.

Sorry about the subscription sheet, It can be closed by just pull it down. And I will add a close button later.

Thank you, It's nice advice, I will think about it.

Does anyone know why in 2024 gps running apps all assume that I can switch from doing a leisurely 8 min pace to a sub 4 min sprint, up on to a rooftop and back in a few seconds?

Seriously, why is running gps so bad? Maybe one out of 5 runs I track have an inexplicable jump in speed through buildings and rivers, or sometimes it just does shortest path through buildings rather than typical Manhattan grid. Why can't it just snap to grid or remove insane record breaking outliers? It's every running app I've tried. Is it just me?

Ive had a similar problem to you, but I have mostly solved it by using the Outrun app (which is free and open source), and going into the settings and turning up the GPS smoothing. The setting is called GPS accuracy, and you can play with the settings a bit. I mostly run in central london, and it seems to work with the tall buildings here.

https://github.com/timfraedrich/OutRun

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