How to Connect Apple Health
Let Just5K use your heart rate and age so your plan fits you better.
Why Connect?
Just5K works without Apple Health — you can follow the plan with just your iPhone. But when you connect Health, the app can personalize your intensity zones (Easy, Moderate, Hard) and make your Training Status more accurate. Your heart rate and age help the app know when you're working too hard or when you're ready for a bit more.
What Just5K Uses
With your permission, Just5K reads:
- Heart rate — during workouts (from Apple Watch or another source) and for resting heart rate when you're not moving
- Date of birth — to estimate your max heart rate and set your zones
The app does not write data to Health. It only reads what it needs to tailor your plan.
How to Connect
- Open Just5K and go to Settings (or the screen where you set up your plan).
- Tap Connect Apple Health (or Health).
- When iOS asks, turn on Read for Heart Rate and Date of Birth.
- You're done. The next time you run, Just5K will use your data.
If you use an Apple Watch, wear it during workouts so the app gets live heart rate. If you don't have a Watch, the app can still use heart rate from your iPhone when you carry it, or work without heart rate and guide you by feel.
If You Don't Connect
You can skip Health and still use the plan. Your zones will be based on defaults instead of your own heart rate and age. Training Status will still update from whether you complete workouts; it just won't factor in heart rate or recovery as closely. When you're ready, you can connect later and the app will start using your data from then on.
Tip: If you have an Apple Watch, connecting Health is worth it — you'll get better zone guidance and more accurate status messages like "Rest Up" when your body actually needs a break.