Tracking Cross-training workouts

Update: I have found that using the workout app, the watch will record "other" workouts as exercise as long as you have it on your wrist. I tried taking it off for swimming, then hitting "start", doing my swim, planning to turn it off when I finished. Nope. As soon as you take it off it stops registering. So my workaround: hit "other" then "start" after my swim. Then set the timer on my phone for 90 minutes, when I would turn off the workout session, thus recording my 90 minute exercise. That sort of worked but there doesn't seem to be much point when I can just enter the swim directly into the workout app on my phone and have the calorie count estimated.

"Cross training" just means that you do forms of exercise that use different muscles (or the same muscles in a different way) than whatever you're primarily training in. For, as a runner, cycling and swimming are cross training for me. I'd recommend checking the app store for apps that track whatever specific type of exercise you're interested in and seeing if they have an Apple Watch component.

StevieSpin wrote:

It's more about the variety of movements. One will switch from cardio to a strength drill and back. Tracking that as straight cardio doesn't work.

If you are doing a work out that combines strength and cardio, try, as I suggested, looking for an app that tracks that and see if if has an Apple Watch component.

The watch will simply not register exercise for anything but running (it registers almost nothing for walking) and there is no way I have found to add "other." I have read suggestions that the Health app in conjunction with Runkeeper will permit other sports to be added in so I have those and they communicate with each other but not with the watch. Can't tell you how annoying it is to do 1 1/2 hours of brisk swimming and 30 minutes of intense cycling and have your watch register 0 exercise. And I haven't found a way to set a timer on the watch. Chronograph yes, but no timer. My old Casio was better with a timer and a chronograph, plus it was waterproof and cost only $19.95.

Bottom line: just carry your phone and use Runkeeper or some such. The watch is just for looking cool. I am confident that Apple will come up with something better but it's not there yet.

sahlore wrote:

Update: I have found that using the workout app, the watch will record "other" workouts as exercise as long as you have it on your wrist. I tried taking it off for swimming, then hitting "start", doing my swim, planning to turn it off when I finished. Nope. As soon as you take it off it stops registering.

Well, that's logical. It determines your level of effort (and calories expended) from your heart rate. If you're not wearing it, the watch can't measure your heart rate, so it can't provide any meaningful information.

Seems like there is an "other" selection in the list. Maybe try using that. Not sure how it would track for you but its a start.

I've seen a couple of reviews that say it has no provisions for tracking strength training. And, as it shouldn't be submerged, it won't be useful for swimming.

Indeed. My point is that it's pretty much useless for swimming. I thought it might at least keep the time.