Why Custom Workouts Are A Game-Changer For Apple Watch

screenrant.com:

The Apple Watch is slated to receive a bunch of new fitness-centric features in watchOS 9, and one of the most important is the ability to create custom workouts to track high-intensity interval training (HIIT) accurately. It's relatively easy to put an Apple Watch on the wrist and go out for a run or walk each day, perfecting the same route at the same speed daily. However, this might not be the best way to improve performance in cardiovascular activities. It is best to switch it up with a varied training plan to see tangible results in running or walking. A sample training plan might include short and quick runs, long and slow runs, and interval training — but the Apple Watch has struggled with tracking interval training since its release.

With watchOS 9, users can track interval training with custom workouts in the native Workout app. It comes alongside a flurry of new features targeted at runners that were previewed in the upcoming software release, which will be made available to the public in the fall. watchOS 9 was announced and unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June at Apple Park with new metrics for runners, including vertical oscillation and stride length. The way users can track workouts also changed with the introduction of race routes and a virtual pacer. In addition, a new running mode designed explicitly for high-intensity interval training fixes one of the Workout app's biggest flaws, and it's a game-changer for people serious about cardio.

Related: How To Run With An Apple Watch And Get The Best Results

The Workout app in Apple's watchOS 9 makes it possible to create custom workouts best fit for high-intensity interval training, which is characterized by intense exertion and recovery