Creating apple watch app for runners
Hello guys,
I am a software engineer who started to run recently. While I was doing my research about running I found out that I should track heart zones during workouts.
I searched for heart zones watchOS tracking apps, tried some, but none of them seemed to suit me well. My requirements were mainly:
- Track heart zone with other workout metrics (distance, bpm, pace, time) in same screen without scrolling, just with glance at my watch.
- Device beeps (vibrations) when passing through zones.
- Support of continuous alert when leaving target zone. Stop beeping when entered target zone again.
As a bonus, few times I wanted to know when sunset occurs as I didn't know if I could take extended route and make it home until sunset. Like some sort of sun pictogram with minutes left, showing 45 mins before sunset.
So I decided to create a watchOS app for myself that will satisfy my needs, which I mentioned earlier. Currently I have working prototype, that I am beta testing by myself. I am planning to add new features, companion iOS app with settings etc. See attached picture for current peek at the app.
What is your opinion about the app? Would you use it? What workout app for watchOS do you use now? What features do you miss on those apps?
Also if you are software engineer/designer/product manager and would like to collaborate with me on the app feel free to contact me directly.
I released the first version of app recently: https://apps.apple.com/sk/app/heart-zones-workout/id1578321963
Would love to have the heart rate zone vibration and indicator! Similar to @dbrabera I'm not sure it would be enough to make the switch however. I guess if it implemented with HealthKit the workout would still show up in Strava though so maybe!
Is there a reason you want to have the sunset times in the running app or are there no good weather apps for the watch that could be used separately?
Sounds like an awesome idea! I've tried Strava and Runkeeper for the Apple Watch but found that neither of them were as reliable as the built-in workout app. However I miss a lot of features, it does its job of recording reliably better than the 3rd party ones.
I'm building a workout app for the Apple Watch myself focused on calisthenics (https://watchroutine.com). I would definitely be interested in beta-testing your app if you have a TestFlight version :)
The heart rate zones feature sounds cool. I'm at the moment I'm using Strava and indeed it is a hassle to monitor your own heart rate. I most of the time just forget about it. The vibration when changing zones would come handy.
On the other hand I didn't actually do any sort of research for running apps. I just use Strava because is the one most of my friends use and it works just fine. While I don't particularly love it, it does the job so I don't imagine myself switching to something else just for that.
I think my biggest issues right now with running are actually skipping days and cutting the run short and not sticking with my planned program. Those two are more of a pain-point for me than the recording and measuring of the run itself.