Apple’s watchOS 10 introduces seamless TrainingPeaks integration

There’s a major new update to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra with watchOS 10. Apple has partnered with TrainingPeaks software, which is now seamlessly integrated into watchOS 10, allowing you to plan, track and analyze your running data all in one place.

If you’re unfamiliar with TrainingPeaks, it’s an app that has been helping runners and cyclists find and create training plans for their upcoming races for more than 20 years. It has a completely optional coaching service that matches you up with an accredited coach to customize your plan based on your current schedule, fitness and performance.

When Apple launched structured run workouts to the workout app in fall 2022, it was an instant hit, but Apple knew its audience was looking for more. They wanted to give users the ability to design and import workouts directly from a third-party app into the Workout app.

Getting connected

The integration itself is seamless. As long as you have an Apple Watch that supports the new watchOS 10 API, you’re able to indulge in the new TrainingPeaks feature. All you have to do is enable the feature in the TrainingPeaks app settings and allow Apple Health permissions, then bam, you’re all set to design custom workouts.

From TrainingPeaks, you can design, create and move around workouts, and it will automatically sync with your Apple Watch for that training day. For example, if you have a workout of four reps of one kilometre scheduled for an upcoming 5K, that workout will seamlessly sync to the Apple Watch so it’s ready to go for you when you begin your workout. You can also plan your warmup and cooldown durations to usher in and close out an easy-to-follow workout.

After only completing a few workouts, Training Peaks estimates your heart rate (HR) training zones and pace ranges automatically, so that all your future workouts will have the correct ranges.

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The review

I’ve had the opportunity to play around with the new TrainingPeaks app on the Apple Watch for a few weeks. The integration is truly seamless: training can be complicated sometimes, but it shouldn’t be, and Apple and TrainingPeaks have done a good job of making it easy to understand and follow, no matter your running level or familiarity with the TrainingPeaks software.

This integration also makes workouts stress-free and easy. There’s no need to think about or remember if you’re on rep eight or nine of your 10x400m workout. Apple and TrainingPeaks have the workout immediately ready to go, and it even accounts for your warmup and cooldown. Another thing I liked was that it shows your live pace for each rep and how much (measured) distance you have left after your workout starts. Let’s say you don’t have access to a track, and you need to run 300-metre reps on a country road—the integration accurately measures the distance and will buzz your wrist when the rep is done. Again, super seamless.

In the past, I’ve had issues with the Apple Watch and the way it processes HR data. Although you are still able to read that data in the Health app, I feel TrainingPeaks gives that HR data a purpose and uses it to get the most out of your running performance and workouts, which makes your training plan more accurate.

The only bone I have to pick with the watch is that you get a lot of live notifications on your run if you are in or out of a pace or HR zone (though this feature can also be turned off). Some may find this useful, and I am not saying it isn’t. I found it helpful for easy recovery runs when I am trying to keep my HR in, let’s say, Zone 2. The watch will politely buzz your wrist if you’ve exceeded that zone.

The verdict

In the past, the Apple Watch has primarily catered to the middle-of-the-pack runner. However, the new TrainingPeaks integration in watchOS 10 can prove beneficial for athletes of all levels. The software’s seamless connection to the watch makes training easy and stress-free. Training Peaks’ ability to analyze data from each run or workout and suggest ways to train smarter makes the Apple Watch, especially the Ultra or Ultra 2, a viable option for anyone, from the front of the pack to the back.