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I found another Apple Watch health feature that's letting me down

Apple Watch Training Load doesn’t track all workouts Click to Skip Ad Closing in… Published Apr 15th, 2025 8:34PM EDT Image: Christian de Looper for BGR I’ve been telling you for a while how I’m using technology to improve my well-being. Specifically, I’ve relied on ChatGPT to restart running and completed several half-marathon races before […]

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I found another Apple Watch health feature that's letting me down





Apple Watch Training Load doesn’t track all workouts
































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Published Apr 15th, 2025 8:34PM EDT

Apple Watch Series 10 On Wrist

Image: Christian de Looper for BGR

I’ve been telling you for a while how I’m using technology to improve my well-being. Specifically, I’ve relied on ChatGPT to restart running and completed several half-marathon races before moving on to run actual marathon races. I use the Apple Watch to monitor my health parameters during exercise, races, and at rest and sleep.

I upgraded to the Apple Watch Series 10 from the Apple Watch SE 2 in September, as I needed better battery life and more health data points. The battery life bump was phenomenal and certainly an unexpected Apple Watch Series 10 surprise.

However, I did find a troubling ongoing issue. The Apple Watch Series 10 will routinely fail to record my heart rate during exercise, and I’m not the only one experiencing the problem.

More annoyingly, I discovered recently that the customizable running routines on the Apple Watch Series 10 can fail. I blamed it all on the wearable’s inability to register and record my pulse, though I cannot tell if that’s true.

I didn’t expect to find more issues with the Apple Watch’s ability to track my health and fitness, but I did. It turns out that Training Load, a new health feature that Apple introduced with watchOS 11 and iOS 18, is not registering actual training loads correctly.

That’s a problem if you use the new tools to adjust your training load. Also, if it happened to me, it’ll surely happen to you.

Here’s what my Training Load looks like for the past few weeks, and we’ll focus on the last few days:

The Training Load graph showing my activity in the past few weeks.
The Training Load graph showing my activity in the past few weeks. Image source: Chris Smith, BGR

Notice that huge drop? You might think I didn’t engage in any training sessions for at least a week. Workouts are down significantly, and so are walking and running activities. Let’s tap on that “>” arrow next to the “Well Below” rating:

A closer look tells the same story: I was lazy for about a week in April.
A closer look tells the same story: I was lazy for about a week in April. Image source: Chris Smith, BGR

Yup, it’s really bad. “All Workouts” are “Well Below” for almost the entire month of April. Admittedly, I’m starting to pick it up.

What if we change the “All Workouts” menu item to All Day? Let’s see the new graph:

Unless I wasn't lazy, and the Training Load graph was lying all along.
Unless I wasn’t lazy, and the Training Load graph was lying all along. Image source: Chris Smith, BGR

O.M.G! What is that massive spike that’s practically contradicting the “All Workouts” graph that I get to see in the Fitness app on the iPhone or the Activity app on the Apple Watch?

I can absolutely explain it. My walking and running were lower than usual in the second week of April because I went skiing. Well, make that snowboarding.

I registered all my snowboarding sessions with the Apple Watch Series 10, and I did it without fail. That’s how I know I’ve snowboarded some 150km (100 miles) over seven days at altitudes ranging from 2,300m (7,546 feet) to over 2900m (9514 feet).

That sort of exercise, combined with the higher altitudes, puts a lot of pressure on the body. I won’t complain, because it was all great for said body. The snowboarding sessions will certainly complement my running routines, as they forced me to use my muscles, joints, and brain in different ways.

What I will complain about is the Apple Watch’s inability to accurately portray my Training Load. It’s mind-boggling that the “All Workouts” section doesn’t take into account, well, all the workouts, including snowboarding. That means Training Load is unreliable unless you go to the “All Day” menu, as I did.

Here’s how Apple described Training Load last summer when it unveiled the feature:

Apple Watch will establish a 28-day training load, a weighted average taking into account both the effort ratings and duration of users’ workouts over this period. In the Activity app, users can see how their training load for the most recent seven days compares to their 28-day training load, classified as well below, below, steady, above, or well above. This helps indicate if the current strain on their body is ramping up, staying the same, or easing off so they can adjust their training for the best results.

Training Load is supposed to be a great algorithm for helping with fitness goals. A look at the graph could be enough to determine whether you need to go hard on your next run or strength training session or take a break to recover.

Judging by the main graph I see in the Fitness app, the first screenshot above, I should be pushing hard because I am well rested. The truth is that I am rested. But I’ve been pushing hard, according to the third screenshot. The truth is that I have been pushing hard while snowboarding.

This discrepancy shows that Apple’s algorithms aren’t working correctly. If Training Load fails to take into account my week of snowboarding when determining the “All Workouts” graph, it will probably do the same thing with other activities that aren’t running or walking. It might mislead some people into thinking they’ve rested enough when they haven’t. This could lead to accidents and injuries.

Then again, you shouldn’t rely just on software like the Training Load to determine your well-being. Listen to your body, and take rest days after intensive activity even if the Apple Watch thinks you’re fine.

As with my other Apple Watch Series 10 complaints, I’m still on the watchOS 11 beta rather than the stable version. But that can’t be the reason why Training Load is clearly displaying incorrect data. Hopefully Apple will fix the issue by the time I hit the slopes again, which won’t be for another year or so.

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2007. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he closely follows the events in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming new movies and TV shows, or training to run his next marathon.

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Naperville North girls water polo captures ninth sectional title after beating Naperville Central

What seems to be a yearly occurrence, Naperville North competes in the IHSA Girls Water Polo Sectional Final, as they take on Naperville Central. North is in search of the program’s ninth sectional plaque, and seventh in a row. Today marks the final home game for Hall of Fame Head Coach Andy McWhirter, who looks […]

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What seems to be a yearly occurrence, Naperville North competes in the IHSA Girls Water Polo Sectional Final, as they take on Naperville Central. North is in search of the program’s ninth sectional plaque, and seventh in a row. Today marks the final home game for Hall of Fame Head Coach Andy McWhirter, who looks to go out with a bang against a Naperville Central squad that’s looking for its first sectional title since 2017. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.

Huskies get right to work and open with a commanding lead

Huskies waste no time! Ria Vaid lobs a pass over to Ava Podkasik and fires in the first goal of the game.

One goal is nice, but two are even better. Natalie Brown chases the loose ball, dribbles, and wins the one-on-one battle.

Later on, Brown dry passes to Payton Schrier, and she skips it in. North leads 5-0.

The Redhawks need an answer, but Rugi Stackevicius jumps out of the net for a save and swims the rock out of harm’s way.

The Huskies get back to the scoring. Podkasik sidearms a shot into the right corner as North continues to open the floodgates.

Into the second quarter, and Cate Czochara finds Ria Vaid as she throws a laser right into your living room.

Naperville North adds another IHSA girls water polo sectional title to the trophy case

It’s all blue and orange since the first whistle, with Molly Depies tallying up the goals. Caire Plackett scores the lone goal for the Redhawks, but it’s Naperville North that emerges victorious, 12-1, culminating in the program’s ninth sectional title.

New Naperville North AD Jon Periero jumps in the water to celebrate with the team as the Huskies move on to the state series! They’ll face Fremd in the IHSA Girls Water Polo State Quarterfinals at 5:45 p.m. at Stevenson High School on Thursday, May 22.

For more prep sports highlights, visit the Naperville Sports Weekly page.





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Josh Heupel Ties Deion Sanders, Lane Kiffin in ESPN's Top College Coaches Poll

Tennessee HC Josh Heupel. Photo via Tennessee Athletics. It’s the middle of the college football dead season right now, but that isn’t stopping people from figuring out ways to talk about the sport. Whether it’s conference power rankings, depth chart projections, or recruiting lines, there’s still plenty of opinions to give and react to for […]

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Josh Heupel Ties Deion Sanders, Lane Kiffin in ESPN's Top College Coaches Poll
Josh Heupel
Tennessee HC Josh Heupel. Photo via Tennessee Athletics.

It’s the middle of the college football dead season right now, but that isn’t stopping people from figuring out ways to talk about the sport.

Whether it’s conference power rankings, depth chart projections, or recruiting lines, there’s still plenty of opinions to give and react to for college football fans and analysts.

On Friday, ESPN released its list of the Top 10 coaches across the college football landscape. These rankings were compiled from several ESPN reporters making individual lists, with the coaches receiving points for where they are ranked in each list. For example, the No. 1 coach would get 10 points while the No. 10 coach would receive one point.

Entering his fifth season on Rocky Top, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel did not make the list from voters. Georgia’s Kirby Smart led the way with 119 points, followed by Ohio State’s Ryan Day with 97 and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney with 87.

The points go way down as you go down the list. Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is ranked at No. 10 and only has 15 points.

Josh Heupel was one of the 13 coaches who received at least one point, though. Heupel received three points, which is the same as Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin, Colorado’s Deion Sanders, and SMU’s Rhett Lashlee. Only Kansas State’s Chris Klieman and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz have lower spots with one point each.

More From RTI: Projecting Tennessee Football’s Depth Chart Following Spring Portal Movement

Heupel does have wins over four of the coaches on the list while at Tennessee, including Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, LSU’s Brian Kelly, and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz.

In four years in Knoxville, Heupel has achieved a 37-15 record in 52 games with wins in the Orange Bowl and Citrus Bowl, a loss in the Music City Bowl in his debut year, and a loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs this past season. He enters his fifth season with a solid roster but major quarterback questions after the Vols’ dramatic divorce with Nico Iamaleava in the spring.

Heupel, a former National Championship-winning quarterback at Oklahoma, will oversee a quarterback battle between incoming transfer Joey Aguilar, rising redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, and true freshman George MacIntyre. Aguilar feels like the early favorite because of his prior experience, but we’ll have to wait and see how things unfold during training camp this spring.

Check out ESPN’s full list of the Top 10 college football coaches rankings here.

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NY Mets minor league pitching pipeline chock

The winds of change are clearly blowing through the New York Mets organization, particularly when it comes to pitching development. Since the arrival of David Stearns, the Mets have seemingly unlocked a new level of pitching transformation at the major league level. This newfound prowess isn’t confined to Queens, however. Across the various minor league […]

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NY Mets minor league pitching pipeline chock

The winds of change are clearly blowing through the New York Mets organization, particularly when it comes to pitching development. Since the arrival of David Stearns, the Mets have seemingly unlocked a new level of pitching transformation at the major league level. This newfound prowess isn’t confined to Queens, however. Across the various minor league circuits and Mets affiliates, a palpable improvement in pitching staffs, especially their ability to generate swings and misses, has become increasingly evident this season.

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets currently rank second in Major League Baseball in the sheer number of minor league pitchers boasting a strikeout rate of 30% or higher. This impressive statistic underscores that the Mets’ pitching infrastructure is evolving into a significant advantage not only at the MLB level but is also beginning to bear fruit within the farm system – a crucial area where the Mets have yearned for consistent success for quite some time.

Strikeout surge throughout Mets system

The Mets are now showcasing a wealth of promising pitching talent across all levels of their minor league affiliates. While the organization might not possess the same echelon of top-tier prospect pedigree it did in the previous decade, the potential within their bullpen ranks is undeniable. Many of the pitchers highlighted by Sammon in his recent post on X are demonstrating an exceptional ability to rack up strikeouts.

A compelling case in point is Raimon Gomez, whose electric velocity has garnered attention. He currently sports an impressive 36.4% strikeout rate while simultaneously inducing near-elite levels of weak contact, allowing a mere 12% hard-hit ball rate. Similarly, Jack Wenninger, a Double-A Mets pitcher, appears to be on a trajectory to contribute at the major league level sooner rather than later. His stellar strikeout-to-walk ratio highlights not only his ability to miss bats but also his commendable command.

Perhaps the most captivating pitching prospect within the Mets’ system since last season is Jonah Tong. This young left-hander, currently dominating hitters at the Double-A level, has put up staggering numbers.

According to Fangraphs, Tong boasts an absurd 44.7% strikeout rate, holding opposing hitters to a paltry .162 batting average, all while maintaining an ERA around 2.50 supported by an equally impressive Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). Tong is joined on this list of high-strikeout arms by Blade Tidwell, who has already experienced his MLB debut, albeit in a less-than-efficient outing. However, Tidwell has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to limit damage during his time in the minor leagues.

The data clearly indicates a system-wide boost in pitching prowess. Among all eligible pitchers within their organization, the Mets boast at least 43 hurlers who are striking out batters at a rate of at least one per inning. This figure surpasses even the Boston Red Sox, the team cited by Sammon as leading the league in the percentage of minor league pitchers with a 30% or higher strikeout rate.

The burgeoning strikeout numbers throughout the Mets’ minor league system offer a compelling glimpse into a brighter future for the organization’s pitching depth. This wave of arms, capable of consistently missing bats, signals a significant step forward in the Mets’ long-term strategy and provides a much-needed foundation of talent that could pay dividends in the years to come.

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Sammi Thiele Joining Emory For 5th Year After Undergraduate Career With Austin College

Sammi Thiele will join Emory for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year to use her COVID-19 fifth year of eligibility. Thiele spent her undergraduate career at Austin College and spent the last year finishing her masters degree at Austin College while teaching at the local high school as the head swim coach. In addition to swimming […]

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May 18, 2025

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Sammi Thiele will join Emory for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year to use her COVID-19 fifth year of eligibility. Thiele spent her undergraduate career at Austin College and spent the last year finishing her masters degree at Austin College while teaching at the local high school as the head swim coach. In addition to swimming at Austin College, she also played water polo for four years.

 “So incredibly excited to announce my commitment to swim at 5th year at Emory University while pursuing a master’s in business management”

As a junior, Thiele qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships finishing 23rd in the 100 backstroke in a 56.73. That was just off her lifetime best at the time of a 56.23 that she swam at the 2023 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships.

She made huge strides as a senior, dropping about a second and a half in the 100 backstroke to finish 3rd at 2024 NCAAs touching in a 54.73. She also was 7th in the 200 back in a 2:02.55 but swam a 1:59.67 in prelims. She finished 4th in the 200 IM in a lifetime best of a 2:01.86.

Thiele’s SCY best times are:

  • 100 back: 54.73
  • 200 back: 1:59.67
  • 200 IM: 2:01.86

The Emory women finished 6th at the 2024 NCAA Championships, the last meet Thiele swam at, and moved up to 5th this past season with 337 points. Denison was 4th with 370.5 points.

Thiele’s time from 2024 NCAAs in the 100 back would have finished 4th this year. Emory notably did not have any ‘A’ finalists in the event but had two ‘B’ finalists. Her 200 back best time would have been 7th at 2025 NCAAs, adding points to another event the team had no ‘A’ finalists in. Emory also had zero ‘A’ finalists in the 200 IM, an event she would have been 5th in.





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Bissoondial, Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay Nab Spots in NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Story Links Indianapolis, IN — WPI graduate student Avinash Bissoondial (Millbury, MA) and the Engineers 4x100m relay squad of Sam Manteria (Wilbraham, MA), Ethan Schnyer (Nashua, NH), Alex Cole (Weymouth, MA), and Tristan Andrew (Newtown, CT) have earned spots in next weekend’s NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  The three-day […]

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May 18, 2025

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Indianapolis, IN — WPI graduate student Avinash Bissoondial (Millbury, MA) and the Engineers 4x100m relay squad of Sam Manteria (Wilbraham, MA), Ethan Schnyer (Nashua, NH), Alex Cole (Weymouth, MA), and Tristan Andrew (Newtown, CT) have earned spots in next weekend’s NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  The three-day event will begin on Thursday, May 22 at the SPIRE Institute’s Outdoor Track and Field and hosted by the North Coast Athletic Conference.

The 4×100 meter relay will make its debut Thursday at 5:15pm in the preliminaries.  The foursome secured a spot in field on the final day of competition on Thursday, May 15th by smashing their own school record in a time of 40.66 at the UMass Amherst Final Qualifier.  The Crimson and Gray shared the 12th best time nationwide with Roanoke and WPI was the only New England in either of the two men’s relay event’s 16-team fields.  If the Engineers are qualify for the finals, they would race again on Saturday, May 24th at 1:05pm.

 

Bissoondial will be making his first appearance at an NCAA Track and Field Championships but is no stranger to NCAA competition as the graduate student appeared in three Cross Country championships, including this past fall, and was an alternate for a fourth championship.  Bissoondial will race in the 5,000 meters and secured his spot in Ohio by winning last weekend’s Farley Inter Regional Extravaganza (FIRE) Meet at Williams.  The graduate student shattered his own school record by 25 seconds by registering a time of 14:09.22, the 13th quickest in the 22-person field.   The 5,000 meter is the penultimate track event on Saturday and slated for a 5pm start.

 

NCAA Selections

 



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Iowa Cubs baseball

About 45 minutes prior to the start of the May 17 game between the Iowa Cubs and St. Paul Saints, pitcher Kenta Maeda walked to the outfield, shuffling past some fans who had been on the field for a pre-game catch.The moment offered a quick reminder that Maeda, who was getting ready to warm up […]

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Iowa Cubs baseball


About 45 minutes prior to the start of the May 17 game between the Iowa Cubs and St. Paul Saints, pitcher Kenta Maeda walked to the outfield, shuffling past some fans who had been on the field for a pre-game catch.The moment offered a quick reminder that Maeda, who was getting ready to warm up for his start with Iowa, was once again back in the minor leagues and once again trying to prove he could pitch in the majors.The former star showed there’s still some convincing to do after he was roughed up in his organizational debut, surrendering four runs in just two innings of work for the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park.Kenta Maeda throws a pitch for the Iowa Cubs on May 17.“We haven’t really done much since it’s only been a couple of days since joining the team,” Maeda said through a translator following the game. “So today’s outing wasn’t the best, obviously. But starting tomorrow is when we’ll dig deep into what the problem is and how I can fix myself and establish myself as a pitcher.”Maeda, who was released by the Detroit Tigers on May 7, stayed in shape ever since by throwing daily and getting in bullpen sessions at a university in town. While he was going through the wavier process, Maeda said his agent heard from several teams that were interested in him.

One of them was the Chicago Cubs. Maeda was intrigued by the club and figured they could help him following some recent struggles that included him tallying a 7.88 ERA in seven games out of the bullpen with the Tigers this season. So Maeda signed a minor league deal with the Cubs on May 16.

“I think this is a great organization for them to fix my problems and get me back on track. And I really want to be at the big-league level again,” Maeda said. “So I feel like this is a good spot and a good organization to be.”Maeda didn’t waste any time. One day after signing with the club, Maeda was tossed into Iowa’s starting rotation and made his debut with the Triple-A club. It didn’t last long, though.

Maeda lasted just two innings, giving up four runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks and one hit by pitch. St. Paul, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, sent nine hitters to the plate in the first off Maeda.

Maeda gave up an RBI double to Jose Miranda and then a sacrifice fly to Jeferson Morales to put the Saints ahead 2-0. St. Paul’s Jair Camargo then ripped a two-run double off Maeda to give the Saints a 4-0 lead.

The second inning went much better for Maeda who worked around a two-out double without allowing a run. Maeda threw 56 total pitches including 31 for strikes. He topped out at 89.9 mph.

There was likely some rust to shake off for Maeda who hadn’t pitched in an official game since April 29 with the Tigers. Still, there are hopes that the right-hander, once one of the best pitchers in baseball, could help the Cubs.

“I think it shows that the Cubs have belief in me to get myself back on track and that goes with coaching and just looking over analysis and all of that,” he said. “So I’ll do my best on my part to respond to their expectations.”

The 37-year-old has pitched parts of nine seasons in the big leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins and most recently, the Tigers.

He’s won 68 games over the course of his career, even finishing second in the Cy Young Award voting in 2020. Now, he’s back in the minors trying to show he’s still got plenty left to offer.

“I think it’s a very fun environment,” Maeda said. “It keeps everything fun with the fan engagement as well as at the same time, this is a highly competitive environment and it’ll get me going with talking with the coaches and talking with the data analysts. I’ll just do everything I can to get back on track.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468

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