Difficulty Pausing and Resuming Outdoor Run on Apple Watch

Hello - I've been an avid runner for a few decades. I recently moved from just using my iPhone to track my runs to a Garmin watch and I'm now trying the Apple Watch. I really want to love the Apple Watch for all the other non-workout benefits. But there are some basic things that are just simply frustrating starting with Pause and Resume workout.

I want the ability to easily pause my workout, when necessary. I don't care to use the auto-pause as I find it typically deosn't work well and I feel using the multi-button capability (Action Button + Crown Button) is a real pain, especially during inclement weather where my jacket is covering my watch and I have gloves on.

Furthermore, it's even more frustrating to use the watch face to resume. Imagine being in the rain, clumsily moving your jacket out of the way while simultaneously trying to swipe to get to the Resume button and then subsequently touching the right area on the watch face to Resume. If you can't imagine it, you're right because it's not easily done. :) This happens quite regularly since I live in the PNW. I can't imagine what it'd be like in the freezing cold.

Finally, I find it is frustrating that the Action Button is mapped to segments. I don't use segements. In fact, I really don't know a lot of runners who do.

So, is there any way I can remap the Action Button (or other button) to use it for Pause and Resume? This seems so basic to me. EVERY runner will need the ability to pause and then stop and potentially resume. But, not every runner uses the segment. Why would Apple make segments so easy but not pause and resume? I feel they solved for the minor use case and missed the most basic use case.

REPRO

Setup:

• You can do this in any weather but, best to do this during inclement weather such as rain, cold temps, etc. where you may have long sleaves, gloves, etc.
• Do not use the auto-pause.

1. Start your run using the Action Button.
2. Get to a stoplight and pause your run.

RESULT

Trying to navigate to use both the Action and Crown button (or even worse, Crown + Side button) is frustrating. You can't easily do it without moving your sleave and with gloves on. This results in not being able to pause the workout for a few seconds after you've actually stopped running.

With my Garmin, I was able to push the pause button without having to move my sleave out of the way and with my gloves on.

When just using my iPhone, I did need to remove my glove but the face buttons were big so I could easily tap them, even through plastic on my phone holder.

CONTINUE

4. Now, try to resume your workout.

RESULT

You're forced to use the watch face and then get to the Resume button by swiping.

In contrast to pause where you can use Action + Crown, for Resume, you are forced to move your sleeve and remove your glove, then swipe right your watch to get to the workout buttons, and then tap Resume. This is SUPER clumsy, especially when your watch is wet from the rain or sweat and your fingers are cold. Here are just some of my issues:

• I find it hard to swipe so can't get to the End/Resume screen. Or, instead of swiping right, I accidentally swipe down so I land on the various workout screens instead. Once in this mode, it's hard to get out of it.
• After getting to the End/Resume screen, I'll miss the Resume button and accidentally tap End or swipe back left.
• If I don't tap Resume fast enough, it automatically goes back to the workout home screen so then I need to redo this. At a minimum, I wish it would STAY on the End/Resume screen so I don't have to do this over again.

[Edited by Moderator]