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       Apple Plugs Apple Watch Ultra 2 Usage in Long-Distance Relay Race

   Adam Engst

   I've been critical of Apple's sports-related actions of late, focused
   as they are on a handful of high-profile spectator sports. So it's only
   right to acknowledge that the company has recently given a little
   attention to running, albeit in a highly promotional way.

   Annually, an unofficial, unsanctioned relay race called [1]The Speed
   Project tasks teams of runners with traversing the roughly 340 miles
   between Santa Monica and Las Vegas. There's no fixed course, and
   supposedly, the only rule is that runners may not run on freeways.
   Long-distance relays are enormous fun'I've had a great time running
   with friends in the [2]Seneca 7 relay, which sends seven runners on a
   77.7-mile loop around the nearby Seneca Lake.

   Although Apple never divulges the details, I suspect the company
   [3]sponsored a team in The Speed Project by providing them with Apple
   Watch Ultra 2 watches (and possibly iPhone 15 Pro Max phones to
   document the event). The result is an Apple Newsroom post that looks
   and reads much like other accounts of the event, apart from the stilted
   PR language plugging the watch:

     As the team delves deeper into the Mojave Desert, they rely on the
     precision dual-frequency GPS of Apple Watch Ultra 2, which provides
     precise distance, pace, and route data.

   I'd love to hear from the runners themselves how much setup, training,
   and in-race tech support Apple provided, and how well the Apple Watch
   Ultras actually performed on the course. It's not that I doubt the
   basic capabilities of the Apple Watch Ultra, but my experience from
   working with numerous runners and Apple Watch users is that most barely
   scratch the surface of what their watches can do and have trouble
   navigating beyond the basic options, especially while running. I would
   also be surprised if there's sufficient cellular coverage in the Mojave
   Desert to provide reliable communications throughout.

   If you're interested in more compelling stories from The Speed Project,
   I recommend [4]Tracksmith's highly graphical account (which manages to
   plug the company's clothing less blatantly than Apple) and a pair of
   stories from the Women's Running site about the [5]Oiselle and [6]On
   Running teams.

References

   1. https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/news/a43449080/the-speed-project/
   2. http://www.seneca7.com/
   3. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/04/pushing-the-limit-with-apple-watch-ultra-and-the-speed-project/
   4. https://relay.tracksmith.com/
   5. https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/oiselle-bird-strike-speed-project/
   6. https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/news/an-inside-look-at-the-speed-project/?scope=anon

.