Latest watchOS 9.2 Beta Includes Race Route Workout Feature for Runners and Cyclists

With the third beta of watchOS 9.2 that was provided to developers on Tuesday, Apple has added the new Race Route feature to the Workout app.

race route watchos
Designed especially for runners and cyclists, Race Route lets you compete against yourself on a route you've already completed and tracked as an outdoor run or cycle on Apple Watch.

You can race against your best or last result on any frequently completed outdoor running routes, and the feature also offers in-session pacing guidance to keep your progress competitive.

Coming later this year, Race Route is compatible with Apple Watch Series 4 and later models. The upcoming release of watchOS 9.2 is also likely to include Track Detection, which automatically detects when you arrive at a running track, and combines Apple Maps data with GPS to provide a more accurate route map and more accurate pace and distance metrics.

watchOS 9.2 also introduces support for a new Home app architecture that has also been added to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura.

Popular Stories

iphone 16 display

iPhone 17's Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display Coating Canceled

Monday April 28, 2025 12:48 pm PDT by
Apple may have canceled the super scratch resistant anti-reflective display coating that it planned to use for the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source with reliable information that spoke to MacRumors. Last spring, Weibo leaker Instant Digital suggested Apple was working on a new anti-reflective display layer that was more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. We haven't heard...
apple watch ultra yellow

What's Next for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3

Friday April 25, 2025 2:44 pm PDT by
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which launched on April 24, 2015. Yesterday, we recapped features rumored for the Apple Watch Series 11, but since 2015, the Apple Watch has also branched out into the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch SE, so we thought we'd take a look at what's next for those product lines, too. 2025 Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple didn't update the...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Reaches Key Milestone Ahead of Mass Production

Monday April 28, 2025 8:44 am PDT by
Apple has completed Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) for at least one iPhone 17 model, according to a paywalled preview of an upcoming DigiTimes report. iPhone 17 Air mockup based on rumored design The EVT stage involves Apple testing iPhone 17 prototypes to ensure the hardware works as expected. There are still DVT (Design Validation Test) and PVT (Production Validation Test) stages to...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue

20th Anniversary iPhone Likely to Be Made in China Due to 'Extraordinarily Complex' Design

Monday April 28, 2025 4:29 am PDT by
Apple will likely manufacture its 20th anniversary iPhone models in China, despite broader efforts to shift production to India, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In 2027, Apple is planning a "major shake-up" for the iPhone lineup to mark two decades since the original model launched. Gurman's previous reporting indicates the company will introduce a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold"...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Launching Later This Year With These 16 New Features

Thursday April 24, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Feature

All iPhone 17 Models Again Rumored to Feature 12GB of RAM

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:36 am PDT by
All upcoming iPhone 17 models will come equipped with 12GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence, according to the Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station. The claim from the Chinese leaker, who has sources within Apple's supply chain, comes a few days after industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with 12GB of RAM. ...

Top Rated Comments

saintmac Avatar
32 months ago

Just out of curiosity, why do I need my watch to detect when I reach a track?
Because a track, by definition is curvy which makes it harder for GPS to track your precise distance (and have a pretty Strava trail)
If you do many laps, the errors will add up resulting in not so accurate distance and pacing information.

Apple's track feature will recognise that you are on a track, and will let you set on which lane you are to be able to provide more accurate data. I believe it's quite similar to the way a car GPS always shows you on the road even if the GPS data it gets actually detects you on the side of the road
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tenkaykev Avatar
32 months ago
The graphic caught my attention as it shows " Penicuik " a small town south of Edinburgh, and home of Penicuik Harriers. I visit the area several times a year, but it seemed strange to see it featured in a mainly USA based web site.??????????
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mitthrawnuruodo Avatar
32 months ago
I would love this for walks.

I'm not much of a runner or cyclist, but I do go for walks, and have a few routes (most of them up hills or even over mountains) where I definitively compete with myself, and track times to gauge my form.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mapsdotapp Avatar
32 months ago

I am still surprised that they don’t have a workout for the most common home exercise program. Treadmill. Yes I know that you can use indoor walk. Trust me, it’s not the same.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207934

Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
glindon Avatar
32 months ago

Correct me if I am wrong, but can't you just start a run-workout even though you are just walking?
I mean after all the only difference is the speed ;) Et voilà, now you can compete with yourself.
Unfortunately if you do runs occasionally it will mess up your metrics that the run workouts track. Also you will get a really low VO2 max reading.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tdar Avatar
32 months ago
I am still surprised that they don’t have a workout for the most common home exercise program. Treadmill. Yes I know that you can use indoor walk. Trust me, it’s not the same.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)