Apps for simulating structured workouts
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So I’ve started looking for ways to try an simulate structured workouts. I don’t do anything especially complicated, so I’m able to remember what to do (I therefore don’t need instructions on the screen), I just don’t want to have to keep track of how many min/seconds are left of each section. Therefore a simple vibration at the start of each change is all I need. Right now I’m following a starting to run program and on Friday I was doing ((1 min run + 2 min walk) x 5, (2 min run + 2 min walk) x 5). So, like I said. Not complicated, but it would be nice not having to keep tabs on elapsed time.
I downloaded Exercise Timer from the app store (android). It looks good and it was easy to set up a structured workout. The workout synced quickly. I went outside, started the Suunto app and aquired a signal. I then left the app and started the workout timer app. I added a 15 second waiting part at the start of the workout. I started the exercise timer and re-opened the Suunto app (I opened it the first time so that the second time would give me a quicker gps-fix). I got a GPS fix, and about 10 seconds later Exercise Timer triggered a vibration, so I clicked start and started running. As I approached 1 min I lifted that watch to watch the time and about 1 second after 1 min the watch vibrated. Great! I thought. It works. So I kept going. However, after that it didn’t work well at all. Vibrations came extremely late. Often 15 or 20 seconds to late. After a while I noticed a pattern. It seemed the vibration from exercise timer was only happening when my wrist was lifted.
To sum it up, Exercise Timer doesn’t seem to work when running in the background with the Suunto app running in the foreground (during an activity). I’m not sure if the problem lies with Exercise Timer or Suunto app. I know the Suunto app does a lot to optimize battery. Could it be that this optimization is causing issues for Exercise Timer? I know I could have the exercise timer open, and instead run the Suunto app in the background, and that seemed to work when I tried. However, that means I no longer have access to my HR Zones, which I’m relying on during the workout.
So now I’ve eliminated Exercise Timer as an option and I’m looking for alternatives. Does anyone else have experience trying to reproduce structured workouts on the S7? Has anyone found one that vibrates reliably while the Suunto app is tracking and activity in the foreground? Alternatively a timer which is also able to display HR?
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@aleksander-h This is something I would be very interested so will follow this closely (and will also look into a few apps myself).
Could the issues you experienced be down to the Suunto App putting the watch into low power and using the SD3100 co-processor?
An app suggestion - my gf used the Couch-2-5K app when she started running and loved it. They also have a10K version as well.
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@olymay said in Apps for simulating structured workouts:
Could the issues you experienced be down to the Suunto App putting the watch into low power and using the SD3100 co-processor?
Yeah, I was wondering if this might be the reason. That might explain why the vibrations make it through when I lift my arm. That “wakes” the watch from low power mode, does it not?
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@olymay said in Apps for simulating structured workouts:
An app suggestion - my gf used the Couch-2-5K app when she started running and loved it. They also have a10K version as well.
Do they have a WearOS app? Can’t see any info about it. If I have to carry a phone I could just use exercise timer on my phone. I prefer not to bring a phone though.
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@aleksander-h Could you potentially convert your structures into distance??
If so - plot a route, and add RoutePoint instructions at the relevant places?
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It’s been almost a year since I used Exercise Timer, so things might have changed, but it worked fine for me. The only issue I remember is that the vibration was hard to notice sometimes. A work around could be to let the timer run in the foreground and Suunto in the background. I.e. if you don’t need to check HR data etc.
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@aleksander-h said in Apps for simulating structured workouts:
@olymay said in Apps for simulating structured workouts:
An app suggestion - my gf used the Couch-2-5K app when she started running and loved it. They also have a10K version as well.
Do they have a WearOS app? Can’t see any info about it. If I have to carry a phone I could just use exercise timer on my phone. I prefer not to bring a phone though.
I haven’t had a chance to look for a WearOS app (or equivalent). My gf used it before she had a fitness tracker so was using her phone. I’m sure there must be something similar out there though?
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@aeroild said in Apps for simulating structured workouts:
It’s been almost a year since I used Exercise Timer, so things might have changed, but it worked fine for me. The only issue I remember is that the vibration was hard to notice sometimes. A work around could be to let the timer run in the foreground and Suunto in the background. I.e. if you don’t need to check HR data etc.
Interesting. I’m having no luck. Only seems to be a problem while doing an activity with Suunto app in the foreground . They introduced the lowe power always on display during activity with the september update. Maybe that’s somehow causing issues for apps running in the background.