At 6:30 a.m. on May 17, the air was still cool at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Normally, this would be before opening hours, yet over 1,000 people wearing sky-blue T-shirts filled the plaza. Each participant sported a Galaxy Watch 8, which served not just as an accessory but as a pace maker and personal health monitor for the 4.82km 'Safari Run.'
The 'Galaxy Watch Run @ Safari,' organized by Samsung Electronics in collaboration with Samsung Health, is in its second year. Only those who passed a competitive selection process with a ratio of 95 to 1 could participate. The slogan, 'Running begins with Galaxy Watch, completed with Samsung Health,' caught attention. The thrill of running through the Lost Valley and Safari World, areas usually accessible only by vehicle, was palpable.
Before the race began, a familiar face appeared on stage: Sean, a marathoner and Samsung Health ambassador. Standing alongside Lim Sung-taek, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Korea, he shared the significance of the event. Lim had previously taken the stage alone to announce the opening, stating, "Many people have talked about the Galaxy Watch. The biggest change I feel is how it turns my entire life into numbers."
Following this, participants engaged in a brief warm-up led by Kwon Eun-joo. As I glanced at my wrist, the 'Start Running' button appeared on the Galaxy Watch 8 screen. I tapped it, and the Samsung Health app connected to GPS. Ready to go.
With a starting shout, runners from Group A began to take off. Vice President Lim high-fived participants as they started, and the energy surged.
The first kilometer was a straightforward run, or rather, I was led by the watch. It vibrated on my wrist, displaying my current pace. The watch was tracking my speed in real-time.
During the run, I checked the watch screen multiple times. The lap time display filled with my segment records, while the pace screen updated my steps per minute and calories burned in real-time. Another screen showed my heart rate at 133 bpm, with a maximum of 205 bpm indicated in red and yellow gauges. The graph pointed to the red zone. "I’m really pushing myself," I thought, as the data provided an objective view of my performance.
Whenever my heart rate spiked, the watch vibrated silently, signaling me to ease my pace. I took a moment to breathe and adjust my speed. As my body recovered, the running coach feature of Samsung Health analyzed my usual running habits and provided insights into my current level. Participants who had recorded practice runs as a pre-race mission were already aware of their optimal pace by the time they reached the starting line. From preparation to completion, Samsung Health designed the entire event as a comprehensive health routine.
As we reached the midway point, we entered the Safari World section, a path usually seen only from a car window. I ran past the lion enclosure, catching a whiff of animal scents. A zookeeper shouted, "Our lions are hungry, so run fast!" which brought laughter from the crowd.
As the finish line came into view, a fellow participant raised their arms in victory. Without realizing it, I picked up my pace. The moment I crossed the arch, the watch vibrated, signaling the end of my workout. The screen displayed my total time, average pace, and calories burned. Though I was out of breath and couldn’t read it all, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
All finishers received a commemorative medal shaped like the Galaxy Watch 8, which filled me with pride.
After the race, I headed to the experience zone, where people gathered around displays featuring the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The smartphone screen displayed the antioxidant index results from Samsung Health. The measurement taken at 8:06 a.m. on May 17 showed a 'low' result on the graph.
The antioxidant index is one of the specialized features of the Galaxy Watch 8 series and Samsung Health, measuring skin carotenoid levels to indicate the body's oxidative stress status. By measuring before and after exercise, participants could directly compare changes in their physical condition. For those who had monitored their sleep coaching the night before, the entire day became a comprehensive health data set.
From the moment I pressed the start button to crossing the finish line, the Galaxy Watch 8 remained on my wrist, tracking my heart rate, pace, and segment records. After the run, opening the Samsung Health app revealed all that data neatly organized. It was a moment when 'records' became 'memories.'
As I caught my breath after completing the race, I recalled Vice President Lim's words before we started. Just as he said, seeing my life quantified made me eager to pursue my own tailored exercise routine again.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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