GPS Running & Cycling Tracker
GPS data transforms outdoor training from guesswork into quantified work. Knowing your exact pace, distance, and elevation gain in real time — and having that data feed into your training load calculations afterward — is the difference between training by feel and training with precision. Fitiv Pulse uses built-in Apple Watch GPS to track every outdoor run, ride, hike, and walk with no phone required.
What is GPS Workout Tracking?
GPS tracking for workouts uses satellite positioning to record your movement path, calculate pace and distance from position changes over time, and derive elevation data from altitude sensors combined with GPS signals. Modern sport GPS systems update position data at 1-second intervals and can calculate pace accurate to within a few seconds per mile under good signal conditions.
For runners and cyclists, GPS tracking serves two primary functions:
Real-time feedback: Current pace, average pace, distance covered, and time elapsed are available during the workout. This allows effort calibration in real time — you can target a specific pace for a tempo run, or check distance remaining in a long ride without carrying a separate device.
Post-workout analysis: The full GPS track is recorded and available for review after the workout — route map, mile/kilometer splits, pace distribution over the effort, and elevation profile. This data goes beyond simply knowing "I ran 10 miles" to understanding how consistently you executed the effort.
How Fitiv Tracks GPS Data
Apple Watch GPS Integration
Fitiv uses the GPS receiver built into Apple Watch Series 2 and later, as well as the Ultra series GPS which uses multiple satellite constellations (L1/L2 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS) for improved accuracy. The watch can operate independently of your iPhone — no phone required for outdoor workouts.
During a GPS workout, Fitiv streams position data at 1-second intervals and calculates:
- Current pace (updated in real time, displayed in min/km or min/mile)
- Average pace (smoothed over the full workout)
- Distance (cumulative from GPS position changes)
- Elevation (from barometric altimeter, cross-referenced with GPS altitude)
- Elevation gain/loss (accumulated throughout the workout)
- Route map (GPS track stored as GPX-compatible data)
Heart rate data from the Apple Watch optical sensor runs in parallel with GPS during outdoor workouts, giving you simultaneous location and physiological data without any additional hardware.
Pace and Distance Accuracy
Apple Watch GPS accuracy for distance is typically within 1-2% of actual distance under open sky conditions. Accuracy degrades in urban canyons with tall buildings on both sides, under dense tree canopy, and at the start of a workout before satellite lock is fully established (usually 15-30 seconds).
For runners, Fitiv also uses the accelerometer-based stride sensor in Apple Watch as a secondary distance input, particularly useful when GPS signal is weak (tunnels, indoor tracks). The stride-based distance estimate is calibrated from outdoor GPS data and remains accurate when GPS drops out temporarily.
Cyclists using dedicated Garmin GPS units can sync ride data to Fitiv via Garmin Connect integration. Garmin devices with multi-band GPS (found in Garmin Fenix 7 Pro, Epix 2 Pro, and Edge cycling computers) provide superior GPS accuracy compared to watch-based GPS, particularly in technically demanding terrain.
Elevation and Climbing Data
Fitiv uses the barometric altimeter in Apple Watch (available in Series 3 and later) for elevation tracking. Barometric altimeters are more accurate for elevation change measurement than GPS altitude, which can have errors of ±10-20 meters depending on satellite geometry. The barometric altimeter detects pressure changes corresponding to altitude gain with resolution of approximately 1-2 meters.
Elevation data feeds into:
- Effort-adjusted pace: Running pace on significant gradients (greater than 3-4%) is automatically grade-adjusted to produce a "flat equivalent" pace (also called Grade Adjusted Pace), allowing fair comparison between hilly routes and flat routes
- Training load calculation: Climbing adds to the physiological cost of an outdoor session. Fitiv's TRIMP calculation incorporates elevation gain from bike rides to avoid systematically underestimating load on hilly courses
- Workout summaries: Total elevation gain is displayed per workout and aggregated weekly
Route Mapping and Replay
All GPS tracks are stored as geographic coordinates and can be viewed as route maps in the Fitiv app. The route display shows:
- Color-coded pace overlay (faster segments in one color, slower in another)
- Elevation profile aligned with the route map
- Split markers at each kilometer or mile
- Heart rate overlay (if available)
Saved routes can be compared across multiple efforts on the same course — useful for tracking improvement on a benchmark route or comparing seasonal performance on a regular training loop.
GPS Data and Training Load
The most important integration between GPS data and Fitiv's broader system is the contribution to accurate training load calculation.
For running, GPS-derived pace combined with heart rate produces a more accurate TRIMP-based load estimate than heart rate alone. A 60-minute easy run at 5:30/km at 70% max HR represents meaningfully different physiological stress than a 60-minute run at 4:30/km at the same heart rate — the latter involves a much higher energy output. Distance and pace contextualize the heart rate data.
For cycling with power meters, GPS data provides the grade information necessary to calculate more accurate normalized power values on variable terrain.
For route-matched training load comparisons — comparing the physiological cost of the same route across multiple performances — GPS matching identifies that two workouts covered the same course, making performance comparisons more valid.
Why GPS Tracking Matters for Runners and Cyclists
The most basic value of GPS tracking is accountability to planned effort. Tempo runs drift fast; long runs drift slow. Real-time pace feedback prevents these common errors. Athletes who run with real-time pace display on their watch run their intended paces significantly more accurately than those who run by feel.
Beyond individual workouts, the route archive provides a benchmark database. Returning to a standard route and comparing your split times over 3, 6, and 12 months gives a direct performance measure that is more meaningful than estimated VO2 max trends — you simply ran the same course faster.
For cyclists, GPS-based distance and elevation data combined with power meter data provides the complete picture necessary for accurate TSS-based training load calculation — the most precise training load method available for cycling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use Fitiv for GPS tracking without an Apple Watch? A: Fitiv's GPS tracking uses Apple Watch's built-in GPS hardware. If you use a Garmin device, ride data including GPS tracks from Garmin Connect can be synced to Fitiv. iPhone GPS can also be used for outdoor activities when the phone is carried, though battery consumption is higher.
Q: How does Apple Watch GPS compare to a dedicated Garmin GPS unit for running? A: Under open sky conditions, both perform similarly — within 1-2% distance accuracy and sub-second update rates. Garmin devices with multi-band GPS (available in premium models) outperform Apple Watch in signal-challenging environments: urban canyons, dense forest, technical trail switchbacks. For most runners on roads and established trails, Apple Watch GPS is entirely adequate. Elite runners targeting precise split data on technical trails may prefer a dedicated Garmin device.
Q: Does GPS tracking drain the Apple Watch battery significantly? A: GPS is one of the highest power-draw features on Apple Watch. Expected battery life with GPS + heart rate active is approximately 6-8 hours on Apple Watch Series 9, and up to 60 hours in low-power GPS mode on Apple Watch Ultra 2. For workouts under 6 hours, GPS battery is not a constraint. For ultramarathons and long bike rides, Apple Watch Ultra or a dedicated GPS device paired via Bluetooth HR monitor is recommended.
Q: Can I see my running routes on a map after the workout? A: Yes. Every GPS-tracked workout generates a full route map viewable in Fitiv. Routes are overlaid with pace color coding and elevation profile. You can also share GPS tracks and compare multiple efforts on the same route to track improvement over time.