You Should Segment Your Apple Watch Workouts
There’s a hidden Apple Watch feature that can change the way you record your exercise. It is called Segments and allows you to neatly categorize the different stages of your workout. If you do multiple workout types, you usually register each as a new workout on your Apple Watch, but Segments allow you to quickly record different types of exercise within a single workout.
For example, if you are running on a track, you can record lap times using segments. Likewise, if you are doing HIIT or functional strength training, you can use segments to record different parts of your routine. Some of us like to do a little cardio first and then move on to lifting weights, or vice versa. All of this can be easily logged in a single workout, making it easier to track your progress and reduce the time you spend fiddling with your watch.
The best thing about Segments is that it’s very easy to use – just start any workout on your Apple Watch and double-tap the screen when you’re done with the first part of the exercise. You will see a confirmation screen informing you that the first segment has been recorded, as well as details of your work in that segment.
The information recorded for each segment depends on the type of workout being recorded. During your walking and running workouts, your watch will record time, distance traveled and average pace. Note that using buckets does not override the data for chunks when walking or running. The difference is that the plots are automatically registered once per mile or kilometer that you travel, while the segments must be registered manually.
In other types of workouts, you will see a log of calories burned and the duration of each segment. It’s also worth noting that because your Apple Watch’s touchscreen is locked during swimming workouts, you can’t record segments for them. However, the watch log is set automatically the moment you relax on either side of the pool for 10 seconds or more.
The hardest part about using segments is remembering to double-tap the watch after completing one workout step. But once you get into the habit of doing this, you’ll see useful data in the Fitness app and save you the trouble of starting a new workout every time.