I am not a runner, nor do I pretend to be one. However, in order to maintain a well-rounded workout routine, I jog on the track or treadmill at least once every other week. While I feel great after jogging, I have always considered the actual act of jogging to be absolutely miserable.

Apple Fitness Plus' Time to Run is not a new program. In fact, it has been released about a year ago. But when I replaced my iPhone with an Apple Watch Ultra, I no longer could watch reality TV on my smartphone while jogging on the gym treadmill as I usually do, giving me an excuse to try it. Anything to pass the time.

To be honest, I was apprehensive about Time to Run; the expertise of the Apple Fitness Plus coaches comes from the platform's other modalities. However, after a 30-minute run (and successfully completing it) in Savannah, Georgia, I am no longer intimidated by Time to Run. In fact, it may have changed how I feel about the best running apps and running in general.

I chose my first Time to Run workout based on my destination. I visited Savannah earlier this year and took a walking tour while there. Wanting to follow what I consider to be one of the most interesting places I've ever been from a historical perspective, I strapped on my AirPods Pro 2 and began Time to Run episode 40 with Corey in the charming city of Georgia.

Each Time To Run workout challenges you with popular running routes in well-known locations, turning your workout into an audio tour of cities and parks around the world. In addition, visuals are presented step-by-step, revealing the landmarks of the running destination. On the large 49mm screen of my Apple Watch Ultra, I was able to follow Cory's "stops" and learn about new places as well as recognize several locations in Savannah.

As a lover of travel and history, I definitely appreciate the edutainment element of Time to Run, which I can use to explore new places for free (aside from the $9.99 monthly Apple Fitness Plus membership fee), but the Time to Run for the actual places I visit I would like to try the workout. Follow the route, run at your own pace, and do your best to see for yourself what the coach describes.

Time to Run coaches are not just tour guides, they are also DJs. Like all Apple Fitness Plus workouts, the Time to Run workouts have a soundtrack that follows a story or theme. For example, on the Savannah route, we jogged to a hip-hop beat, starting with 90s and early 2000s classics like "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Gravel Pit" and moving to modern hits like "Tap In" and "Body

This play is a great way to get a feel for the music.

This playlist demonstrated Savannah's mix of old and new. This playlist demonstrated Savannah's mix of old and new. In other words, the beats not only gave me a pace to run at, but also acted as a narration. The harmonies made me listen to the lyrics of each song more carefully than I normally would. Pushing also made time pass more quickly.

One of the perks of Apple Fitness Plus is that I can open and save all my workout playlists in Apple Music. There were a few songs in my workout that I had never listened to before but enjoyed, and I could easily find them in the Apple Music app after my run.

To my surprise, the Time to Run workout was not as scary as I thought it would be. My coach explained the goals and progression of the session at the beginning and gave me a clear picture of what was going to take place. This helped me know that I wouldn't be unprepared and challenged in an erratic manner.

Also, the coach did not quantify distance or pace, which allowed me, as a novice runner, to run at a comfortable rhythm without feeling behind. Sure, the workout suggested pushing hard, but it was related to the speed I could maintain. The one-on-one atmosphere of Apple Fitness Plus' Time to Run is more fun.

If you have an Apple Watch and an Apple Fitness Plus subscription, I recommend giving Time to Run a try even if you hate running or jogging. Time to Run has a balance of motivation and entertainment that I have not experienced in any other running program. It may not be half-marathon training, but it is a great foundation for a beginner's running plan.

And at the very least, it's an efficient way to close the Apple Watch ring.