🍃 Tracking My Walks with Apple Watch A Casual Walker’s Journey with the Workout App

 

🍃 Tracking My Walks with Apple Watch

A Casual Walker’s Journey with the Workout App

By Jeong-Yoon Lee

Last year, I received an Apple Watch as a birthday gift, and it’s been almost a year since I started using it. One of the main reasons I wanted it in the first place was simple: to walk 10,000 steps a day.

After quitting my job, I naturally spent less time outside, and as a result, the watch ended up spending more time on the table than on my wrist. But when cherry blossom season kicked off at the end of March, I found myself heading out again—and walking became part of my routine.

At first, even reaching 10,000 steps felt like a challenge. But now? I’ve built up enough stamina to hit 20,000 steps a day without even thinking twice. Not bad, right?

The Fun of Tracking Outdoor Walks

These days, as soon as I step outside, I open the Workout app on my Apple Watch and select Outdoor Walk. In the beginning, I just wanted to meet the daily step count and didn’t pay much attention to the app’s features. But then I discovered the route tracking map, which syncs beautifully with the iPhone—and suddenly, everything changed.

There’s something oddly satisfying about it.

Like collecting something valuable.

After a long walk, I check the map the next day and feel a little spark of joy: “So that’s the path I took yesterday!” It even makes me excited about where I might walk tomorrow. As more of these walking maps pile up, they become my own personal archive, each route telling a tiny part of my everyday story.

Walking around my neighborhood led to a growing curiosity—I wanted to explore the farthest points in every direction. That curiosity eventually took me from Yangjaecheon stream to Tancheon, from Gwacheon to Gangnam. I don’t set unreasonable goals since I know my own limits, but so far, nothing has felt too extreme.

🪫 A Slight Frustration: The Battery Life

If there’s one thing I wish were better, it’s the Apple Watch battery.

Maybe I just got unlucky? Or is this just how it is for everyone?

I’ve turned off most apps and notifications to conserve power, but still, if I go on a 2-hour outdoor walk starting at 100%, I come home with only 60% battery left. Is that normal?

If it held around 80%, I’d feel more confident spending the whole day out and about. But since I worry about the battery running out, I often end up using the watch as just… a watch. For now, I’ve reset it to the absolute minimum settings.

Mapping My Movement

When I take longer walks or explore new paths, checking the map the next day has become a small pleasure.

Since I only did indoor walks at first, I had no idea this tracking feature even existed. But once I began walking more and revisited the app step by step, I stumbled across the route map—and I was hooked.

Even on days when laziness creeps in, the thought of collecting another map gets me out the door.

Just like collecting stamps or postcards, walking maps have become my new kind of collection.

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So, I walk again today.

For the map I’ll collect tomorrow.

And for a healthier tomorrow, too.

Anyone else out there using Apple Watch to track your walks?

I’d love to hear your tips and settings if you’ve found a better way to save battery or get more out of the app. 🙏