Lately I've been using Mapy.cz. The app offers nice and very legible maps with lots of routing options for hiking, biking, driving etc. They also offer an online version of its maps with even more customization and extras such as 3D view, so you can do all the planning from your computer and then simply export the route as GPX (and get it into WOD). It works great for Europe. Not sure about other regions, but you can give it a try and see for yourself. And best of all: it's free.
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Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features
- Thread starter cfc
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Hi, I am using the WOD app together with a Stryd power sensor: works as a charm! But I was wondering if anyone could advise me on the best way to import running workouts into the Stryd app?
My current workflow is as follows: running workout is recorded using WOD. Afterwards, I am syncing the Stryd app with my Stryd sensor, and the workouts are uploaded from the sensor directly into the Stryd app. No WOD inbetween.
Unfortunately, there are some issues with this workflow:
My current workflow is as follows: running workout is recorded using WOD. Afterwards, I am syncing the Stryd app with my Stryd sensor, and the workouts are uploaded from the sensor directly into the Stryd app. No WOD inbetween.
Unfortunately, there are some issues with this workflow:
- First of all, there is no GPS info uploaded to the Stryd app. Not perfect, but I can live with this: I'm only interested in the running analysis done in the Stryd app (calculation of critical power, running zones, race time estimation, etc).
- A bit more annoying is that when I have 2 consecutive workouts (e.g. warming-up before race, then race), these workouts appear as one single workout in the Stryd app. Same thing happens when the workout is paused in the WOD app (e.g. when stretching between warming-up and intervals): the Stryd timers continues to run. Could be that this is a Stryd issue, but I'm wondering (question for @cfc): could it be possible that the Stryd sensor is expecting a stop or pause signal when a workout recorded by WOD is stopped or paused?
The best approach is to export the workout as a FIT file and then import that into PowerCenter. Stryd are working on a way to allow apps to send workouts directly so when they make that available then I will add it to the app.
Secondly, a feature request 😀
The WOD app on the AW offers a way to graphically display running info such as pace, heart rate, power, etc. Considering the size of the AW display, it is sometimes quite difficult to extract useful info from such a graph, especially when you are running a race and you only have time to quickly glance on the display. During a race, I'm partically interested to see how my pace is evolving over time, and if I'm still close to my target pace: I'm basically doing this by monitoring my lap pace (1km autolap enabled) over time. Same for an intervals workout.
Maybe, all or some of this is already possible with the WOD app: the app offers so much flexibility that I'm sure that I have only explored a minor part of the functionality.
The WOD app on the AW offers a way to graphically display running info such as pace, heart rate, power, etc. Considering the size of the AW display, it is sometimes quite difficult to extract useful info from such a graph, especially when you are running a race and you only have time to quickly glance on the display. During a race, I'm partically interested to see how my pace is evolving over time, and if I'm still close to my target pace: I'm basically doing this by monitoring my lap pace (1km autolap enabled) over time. Same for an intervals workout.
- In both cases, it could be highly interesting if there would be an option to display the lap (or interval) paces in graphical format: this would make it much easier to identify trends over time.
- Also, if the vertical axis would be limited to e.g. min pace -10% up to max pace +10% (limits tbd),
- One could even go 1 step further: show average pace as line on top, to quickly see when you have been running too fast or too slow, or even give laps a different color when they are outside the target pace range (e.g. green when faster than target, red when slower).
Maybe, all or some of this is already possible with the WOD app: the app offers so much flexibility that I'm sure that I have only explored a minor part of the functionality.
I plan to improve the graphs with the sort of features you describe at some time, but probably not until after I have rewritten the app in SwiftUI so that it works with the always on display. This is a very different programming language but does have some nice graph capabilities coming in watchOS 9.
I would also like to have that (distance metric option on soccer screen).
I am using a lot WOD when bike riding. The problem is that when I arrive home I see that the workout is ended earlier than expected. Now the only command which ends it it’s four consecutive taps, but it’s not enough to prevent accidental ending . Therefore I removed also this command, now gow can I end the workout manually? I could not find a command in the phone, any suggestion to improve this? my wish is that WOD registers all and the end is not done before accidentally… Thanks for the great app!
So you are having problems with the screen being accidentally tapped? I recommend configuring the side buttons to end the workout, because that is less likely to be done accidentally.
Also it make be worth enabling the "Confirm End Workout" option, which makes the app ask "Are You Sure?" when you end the workout. This can be found in the Other Settings screen on the Settings tab in the iPhone app or in the More settings in the watch app.
Unfortunately Apple do not allow apps to control what happens when a single button is pressed because they have standard uses in watchOS. Apps can control what happens when both are pressed at the same time, but only when the app is running a workout.
Yes, that will always happen if enabled and apps cannot prevent it as far as I know.
I used to hold the bottom of the watch and use my middle finger on the lower button and my pointer finger on the top button but found that to be awkward. Now I grab the watch from the top and use my thumb across both buttons and find this much less awkward. It would be nice if Apple would add a 3rd button and leave it open for developers to use but I've gotten used to the two button press. What I would really love to have is the ability to start a run with the two button press. This would make starting runs at congested races a lot easier.
Unfortunately the ability to detect the two buttons is only possible during a workout but not before a workout, so can't be used to start one.
I am hoping that the rumoured "rugged/explorer/pro" model will have extra buttons like Garmin watches, which can be used by apps for whatever users want. I am probably being over-optimistic though.
You can start the workout in advance and immediately pause it.
Maybe work around it, by enabling to start the workout as paused, as an alternative to count down.
That has been requested a few times so is on my To Do list, but not particularly high on the list.
I know I've recommended this in the past. The only problem with starting in a paused state is Strava includes the paused time as elapsed time when the run is flagged as a race. I guess I could just not flag races as races. Is it possible to start a workout just so Apple is happy but not actually start the real timer or do any logging to the fit file until the run is unpaused?
My current method for starting at races is to use the big green start button rather. I hold my finger on the button as I get close to the starting line and the release my finger when I cross. It's not all that bad actually, even with lots of congestion. Thanks for making this button cover the whole screen and thanks for setting it up to fire on the up event. Otherwise it would be a pain while moving.
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I have looked into starting dummy workouts in the past (for example to get an HR lock) and it just caused problems. Even cancelling or discarding a workout wouldn't stop that workout being counted in some way or other.
It is a bit "hacky" and is also the sort of thing that Apple probably frown upon. They can be pretty strict in their app reviews and starting a workout when you haven't actually started a workout may get the app rejected.
As I say I may add auto-pausing at the start and may make it so the WOD log of the workout does not start until you resume, but it is not a high priority. The idea is that the big green Start button in Open Workout mode is for use starting races, although I know a lot of people prefer physical buttons.
In terms of Strava including pause time when in race mode, I really don't know why they do that. They should offer a way to switch off their moving time "logic" without using race mode, which shows elapsed time and therefore ignores manual pauses in the files. Most other systems just respect the data in the file sent to them, but for some reason Strava ignore most of it and try to calculate everything from the GPS positions.
@cfc - This may be too soon to ask this question, but do you know if you will be able to to use the native running power metric with WOD? And the other new metrics like vertical oscillation and ground contact time. I don't have a stryd pod so I have not been using power metrics, but I might if WOD can use it native from the watch.
Yes, WOD should be able to access all the new running metrics. I am hoping to release a version with them just after watchOS 9 is released.
Unfortunately this is controlled by watchOS. The app simply asks watchOS to speak a phrase. You can change the accent in the Voice settings though, which may help.