Ever Trend Zone The first Apple Watch was stored 10 years ago on April 24, 2015. When my arrival arrived, I never thought wearing an Apple Watch would be my first step towards becoming a half marathon runner.
At 24 years old, fitness was not part of my identity. Like most habits, it started with a winning streak.
2015: Starting from zero
My only memory of running before the Apple Watch dates back to the 8th grade in 2005, “completing” a mile run in gym class and “completing” a 20-minute walk with a friend.
The next known record attempting something called exercise occurred on May 9, 2015. I needed a screenshot to close the ring.
Then I decided to do it again. I get up, move around for at least 12 different times, get at least 30 minutes of exercise on active walks, burn my self-allocated goal of 500 active calories per day.
That was the beginning of the stripes closing my activity ring on the original Apple Watch. This model is later colloquially called Series 0 when Apple replaces it with two newer models.
2016: Series 2 adds standalone GPS
Apple Watch Series 1 introduces new chips to enhance the overall experience. The Apple Watch Series 2 increased the same speed, including the first built-in GPS.
We started our ring closing streak by taking a walk outdoors every day using our original Apple Watch. Bringing an iPhone required mapping outdoor training to get better accuracy using assisted GPS (i.e. GPS on the phone).
Summer brought heat and humidity so I bought used ovals for my home to keep my workout streak alive without melting outside.
However, reviewing the Apple Watch Series 2 for the 9TO5MAC meant recording outdoor training using your iPhone. This was the only way that Series 2 could map outdoor training without bringing a phone to walk, run, or ride a bike.
Apple frequently sold Series 2 for runners for GPS. Naturally, I decided to run it and test it.
The only problem? I couldn’t run – absolutely so.
Luckily, the aerobic exercise I started with the original clock helped me make it easier to run or run without giving up. I wanted to close the ring as early as possible that day, but that wasn’t cool outside yet.
I ran as many times as I could (several seconds), then started running until I inhale (several minutes). A few weeks later, I was able to run a mile comfortably without stopping. I finally fell in love with using the Apple Watch Series 2 in the way to sell it and running along the way.
2017: LTE is brought to Series 3
Listening to music while running has always been a secret to finding joy on the first mile. After that, the endorphins activate and you don’t want to stop breathing quietly anytime soon.
For most of 2016 and 2017, I had to use my iPhone to play music while running outside, while syncing media to the clock in advance and using Bluetooth headphones.
I started with a cheap pair of so-called wireless earbuds with wires connecting the wires to either side.
The AirPods were then invented! The term “true wireless” was necessary for a while to distinguish wireless from wires. I’m glad that the AirPod was automatically paired with the Apple Watch just by setting it up from your iPhone.
When the Apple Watch Series 3 added a standalone cellular connection, playing music during workouts has become much better. This has removed the ability to run and stream music on only the Apple Watch and AirPods without tying the iPhone to your arm.
With LTE, Apple Music streaming and AirPods, the Apple Watch Series 3 collaborated to improve the running experience overall.
The exercise went to something that brought me great joy from what I did once to make a screenshot for review. It created space for me to enjoy the music, think without interruption, and set goals to reach and surpass.
I recorded my first training on my first Apple Watch. I ran my first mile with the Apple Watch Series 2. He then ran his first 5K, 10K and half marathons on the Apple Watch Series 3.
The Apple Watch Series 4 introduces a larger display, while the Apple Watch Series 5 introduces a display that is always on. While running the race, we especially enjoyed evaluating these versions with testing for accuracy and battery life in various scenarios.
Between 2015 and 2019, I ended up completing a total of seven different half marathon races because I didn’t think about fitness. Now, my identity always includes being a runner.
The Apple Watch can’t make you a runner, but when you go for a run you’ll become a runner, but you can’t imagine another scenario where you’ve had the same fitness journey.
