Outdoor runs keeps pausing in phone

[nevynevster]

Hi

I have an ionic and a coach subscription. It's not possible for some unknown reason to get the outdoor runs to show up on my Ionic coach app on the watch. So today I tried to do an outdoor run with my phone. It's unusable. Has anyone actually tried doing it?

Basically if you touch your phone at all for any reason it pauses the workout. As the workout is guided but not continuously this means you may not notice for a while. It also seemed to pause when I switched my phone to lock screen mode after a few minutes. The only way I could solve this was to literally run holding the phone carefully in my hand taking care never to touch the screen (hard with a Samsung edge screen lol). The coach app seems to make no distinction between an indoor workout where you want the screen on and displaying what to do and an outdoor workout where you absolutely do not want or need to be looking at the phone constantly and just want voice guiding.

Very poor ux

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[ciela_chan]

you should try getting a phone pouch

[nevynevster]

Hi

I had my phone in a pocket but I guess something to do with the pocket texture may have triggered the screen. I don't actually want my phone visible when I run. But I am not sure if the problem would be fixed because it seemed that when the phone when into standby mode the coach app paused again so unless I had the screen on with the Fitbit coach running it would pause. This means for a long run it drains the battery life a lot because the screen is on displaying the app. 

Thanks 

[AlejandraFitbit]

It's great to see you around @nevynevster and @ciela_chan thanks for the input.

I am sorry for the delay in respond and I appreciate the feedback provided about this. Just to be clear, you want to go to an outdoor run while having the Fitbit Coach exercise open in your phone?

Now regarding the workout on your Ionic, I recommend taking a look at the help article: How do I get new personalized or recommended workouts on my watch? and follow the instructions provided there.

I hope to hear from you soon.

[nevynevster]

Hi. If you read the original post. I was doing an outdoor run with Fitbit coach on my phone ( I am unable to get outdoor runs to sync to my ionic watch so can only do on  my phone). 

My point is the UX in the Fitbit coach app for Android is very poor and keeps pausing. It is not designed well for use outdoors and is virtually unusable. Thanks 

[AlejandraFitbit]

Thanks for the update and information @nevynevster.

I apologize for the late reply. There isn't an option to sync the outdoor workouts with your Ionic. Your exercises will automatically be updated during syncs.

Now about the Fitbit Coach app, make sure to have a strong internet connection at the moment of doing an outdoor workout. Keep in mind that you can always download the exercises to avoid pausing.

I will catch you later. 

[nevynevster]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. I had downloaded the workout before starting it. 

My comment is regarding the UX on the phone app. 

Basically if you touch your phone at all for any reason it pauses the workout. As the workout is guided but not continuously this means you may not notice for a while. It also seemed to pause when I switched my phone to lock screen mode after a few minutes. The only way I could solve this was to literally run holding the phone carefully in my hand taking care never to touch the screen (hard with a Samsung edge screen lol). The coach app seems to make no distinction between an indoor workout where you want the screen on and displaying what to do and an outdoor workout where you absolutely do not want or need to be looking at the phone constantly and just want voice guiding.

[AlejandraFitbit]

Yes @nevynevster, your workout will stop if you lock your phone or will pause if you touch the screen. I am guessing here that you want an option to avoid this and there isn't any. Feel free to visit our feature suggestions board and share your ideas.

I will see you around.

[nevynevster]

Hi. I can raise a feature suggestion but I think my wider point is please incorporate user centred design in your features. Having an outdoor run workout where you can't lock the phone for like 40 mins seems a bit crazy imho! 

[AlejandraFitbit]

I appreciate your participation in the Community @nevynevster.

As mentioned previously, feel free to let us know your ideas by sharing them in our feature suggestions board. You can learn more about how Fitbit decides what suggestions get released in our FAQs.

In the meantime, let me know if you need anything else. 

[Anilem]

So basically it doesn't work. I had the same issue. Downloaded workout, so no need for internet. Poorly designed and useless. Will cancel coach subscription.