Apple Watch App of the Year 2024

The Watch to 5K app was one of three finalists for Watch category in Apple’s App Store Awards (2024). Here are all 3 with links to the app store for each

Sadly, a paid-for app was the winner. While Lumy does look good, providing interesting light insights for photographers and customisable weather information, it requires a £6.99 fee for any installation with no trial.

That said, Watch to 5K also requires a £3.79 fee—perhaps a small price to pay to be guided towards 5K fitness, but a fee nevertheless.

Apple ‘featured apps’ and award winners tend to be those that closely follow Apple App Style Guidelines. Meaning they are easier to learn and should also adapt well to non-default Font sizes and Zoom levels on your Watch

More…

Watch to 5K is an Apple Watch app designed to help beginners achieve their first 5K in nine weeks. With a simple plan of three runs a week, spaced with rest days, the program gradually builds endurance. By the end, the app targets you to be running 5km in under 30 minutes (quite ambitious for some people)

The app works independently on your Apple Watch, meaning no iPhone is needed during your runs. It integrates seamlessly with Apple Health, tracking your route, distance, speed, calories burned, and heart rate to provide a complete overview of your progress. Meanwhile, the companion iPhone app lets you review detailed data and monitor milestones and achievements along the way.

With the ability to listen to music or podcasts while receiving audio cues and no subscription fees, Watch to 5K is an Apple-friendly way to kick-start your running journey.

Thoughts

I’ve not looked at the plan, but a beginner 5K plan is straightforward to develop, and the developers sensibly note that they have included recovery/rest days. If you want a more advanced 5K plan from me…try here.

A trusted couch to 5K plan is from the UK’s NHS, and it’s free – download the phone-based versions: the Apple version here or the Android version here.