How to track a workout without an Apple Watch in Puffin'
You can track a workout without an Apple Watch by recording it on your iPhone in Puffin'. Since version 1.1 (release notes), Puffin' maps your route with GPS and saves the workout to Apple Health.
I added this because not everyone in my family wears a watch. A challenge where half the group can't log anything isn't much of a challenge, so your phone in your pocket is enough.
What you need
You need an iPhone with Puffin' on it and location access turned on. Puffin' asks for location the first time you record, with a card that says what it's for.
If you say no, Puffin' can still time your workout. It just can't draw the route or measure the distance from GPS.
How to record a workout on your iPhone
Open the Activity tab and tap the + button to start.
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Activity tab and tap + |
| 2 | Tap Record a workout |
| 3 | Pick your activity, like a run or a ride |
| 4 | If you see Outdoor and Indoor, pick Outdoor so the route gets mapped |
| 5 | Tap Start, and put your phone away |
You can pause and resume as often as you need, for a traffic light or a long chat with a neighbour. When you end the workout, it saves to Apple Health and counts toward any challenge you're in.
Can I check it without unlocking my phone?
Yes, a recording shows on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island while it runs. You can glance at it mid-run without opening the app.
I'd offer to come running with you, but the puffin is the only one of us in decent shape.
Where does my route go?
Your route stays in Apple Health on your iPhone. Puffin' never uploads it.
Friends in your challenges see a summary of the workout, never the route. A map of where you run every morning is nobody's business.
What it doesn't do yet
It doesn't measure heart rate, because an iPhone can't.
Try it
Open the Activity tab, tap +, then Record a workout. Puffin' is free on the App Store for iPhone. More at startpuffin.com.