Can Apple Watch track distance running without an iPhone?

Yes it can. What you have to do first is "calibrate" it. 

The first time (at least 20 minutes on flat ground according to Apple's instructions) you have to run/walk/jog while wearing the Watch and carrying it's paired iPhone. 

What the Watch does is learn your pacing and stride in comparison to the GPS readings off the iPhone. After the calibration, you can walk/run/jog/ride a bike without the iPhone and the Watch will do a pretty good job of calibrating the distance covered. Obviously it won't show a map of your route, but it will work.



Some people have mentioned/complained that it takes several runs to get the calibration decent. Did not do an actual test of this as I generally walk/jog with my iPhone, but it did work as when I run on a treadmill either at home or in the gym (and I don't have the iPhone) it show approximate distance.

credit:6ryph3n

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