At 6:30 a.m. on May 17, the air was still cool at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Normally, this would be a time before the park opened, but over 1,000 people wearing sky-blue T-shirts filled the plaza, each sporting a Galaxy Watch 8. Today, this wristwatch was more than just an accessory; it served as a pace maker and personal medical assistant for the 4.82 km '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, 'Start running with Galaxy Watch, complete with Samsung Health,' caught the eye. The thrill of running on foot 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. He joined Lim Sung-taek, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Korea, to share the significance of the event. Lim took the stage alone before Sean's arrival to announce the opening, stating, "Many people have shared their experiences with the Galaxy Watch. The biggest change for me is how it turns my entire life into numbers."
Following Lim's remarks, participants engaged in a brief warm-up led by former national marathon coach Kwon Eun-joo, which included ankle rotations and thigh slaps. I glanced at my wrist, where the 'Start Running' button appeared on the Galaxy Watch 8 screen. I tapped it, and the Samsung Health app activated the GPS. Ready to go.
With a shout of encouragement, runners from Group A began to take off sequentially. Lim high-fived participants as they started, and the energy surged as palms met.
The first kilometer was a straightforward run. More accurately, I was pulled along by the watch. I felt a vibration on my wrist, indicating my current pace. The watch was tracking my speed down to the second.
During the run, I checked the watch screen several times. The lap time display accumulated 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 by red and yellow gauges. The graph pointed into the red zone. "I’m really pushing myself right now," 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 catch my breath and adjust my speed. My body recovered. The running coach feature of Samsung Health analyzes running habits to assess current levels. Participants who recorded practice runs as a pre-race mission already understood their optimal pace by the time they reached the starting line. From preparation to completion, Samsung Health designed the entire event as a cohesive health routine.
As we reached the midpoint of the course, we entered the Safari World section, a path usually seen only through car windows. I ran past the lion enclosure, where the scent of animals lingered. A zookeeper shouted, "Our lions are hungry, so hurry up!" eliciting laughter from the crowd.
As the finish line came into view, a fellow participant raised both arms in triumph. Without realizing it, I quickened 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, filling 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. On the smartphone screens, results from the Samsung Health 'antioxidant index' measurement were displayed. The measurement taken at 8:06 a.m. on May 17 indicated 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 carotenoid levels in the skin to indicate the body's oxidative stress status. Measuring before and after exercise allows participants to directly compare changes in their physical condition. For those who had monitored their condition through sleep coaching the night before the run, 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, Lim's earlier words echoed in my mind. Just as he said, seeing my life quantified made me eager to pursue my own personalized fitness journey again.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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