Nina Raemont/ZDNET Within less than 24 hours of wearing Samsung's newest Galaxy Watch 8, I knew a trial run (pun intended) of Samsung's new Running Coach feature was in order. Running Coach is one of my most anticipated features in the Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, and does exactly what it sounds like: employs AI to calculate metrics like strain, pace, and recovery to improve your abilities and keep you on track for your next race. Also: Your Samsung Galaxy Watch is getting a big upgrade. Four features I'm most excited to try For example, if you're training for a 5K or a marathon and don't know where to start, Running Coach will create a tailored training plan to get you on the right path. To start, it will initiate a 12-minute run, then rank your performance based on health metrics. Afterwards, it will provide a plan focused on improvements. I'm no pro-marathoner, but I've run my fair share of 5Ks, 10Ks, and even a half marathon. But I haven't been on a consistent running routine in over a year, as I traded pounding pavement in the park for weightlifting. So I was curious to see where Running Coach would place me on its one-to-ten point scale when I recently tried the feature for the first time. Before the run, Samsung Health asked me questions about my height, weight, and experience, including the longest distance I've run and my respective time to completion. It told me to find a flat course that won't slow me down, get enough rest the day before my test, fuel up with a light meal and plenty of fluids, and get a light jog in before I initiate the test. Nina Raemont/ZDNET I started the test and tried my darndest to run as fast as I could. I'll be honest: by the four-minute mark, I was huffing and puffing -- and reminded why I stopped going on long runs and started lifting weights instead. Nevertheless, my eyes were on a high score. Every few minutes, Running Coach would notify me of my pace, which hovered around the 10:30 to 11 minutes per mile mark. Once the 12 minutes concluded, Running Coach initiated a Cool Down, where it instructed me to walk until my heart rate lowered to 124 bpm. Then, Running Coach prompted me to rate my exertion out of ten. I gave it a five, in hopes of a higher score (if I'm being real, I was probably at a seven out of ten). Also: This OTC continuous glucose monitor helped me track my meals (without counting calories) So what level did I receive? I got a three out of ten. I'm a little offended that my three months of half marathon training last year landed me a 30% on this running test, but I don't blame Samsung for its far-too-real read on my running abilities. If anything, now I'm even more determined to prove Running Coach wrong and level up. So what does that entail? Running Coach wants me to complete a 5K in less than 35 minutes. Once that's accomplished, the next milestone is a 10K under an hour and ten minutes. After that, a half marathon in under 2 hours and thirty minutes. It will provide coaching and pace guidance along the way to get me moving up the ten-point scale. Kerry Wan/ZDNET Samsung isn't the only one with this kind of AI-powered coaching, however. Apple announced its own version called Workout Buddy through WatchOS 26, which encourages a runner to get after their fitness goals pre-run, provides stats and PR announcements mid-run, and delivers all the notable stats post-run. By contrast, Samsung's Running Coach is simple, subtle, and straightforward. Running Coach won't be in your ear as you train with motivational comments, but it does provide the information you need, making it a particularly good option for new runners. Who should use Running Coach? I'd recommend Running Coach on the Galaxy Watch 8 to people looking to run their first race and who don't want to sift through training apps to do so. When I was learning how to run longer distances for the first time, I used (and loved) the app Couch 2 5K (iOS/Android), and would recommend it for anyone looking to spend as little money as possible on this new hobby. Also: The best smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and found the perfect one for your wrist However, if you want a much more personalized experience, Running Coach takes into account your sleep scores, resting heart rate, and overall strain, as well as your average pace per mile. This sort of training style could help avoid over- or under-exertion and keep runners on a balanced path toward their fitness goals. The Galaxy Watch 8 is available for preorder now and ships on July 25.