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.

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Top Rated Comments

saintmac Avatar
35 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
35 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
35 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
35 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
35 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
35 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)