My wife got tired of not knowing where I was on runs. She’d get a start ping, then nothing until I was home. I built Lap Map Alert for that: a Connect IQ data field plus an Android companion that texts people I choose at start, lap, and finish, with optional pace and a Google Maps pin.
Nothing is sent to my servers. Texts go from your own phone number over your carrier. Recipient numbers stay on the device.
Needs both
- Garmin watch with Connect IQ
- Android phone (no iPhone companion yet)
How it works The data field sits on a Run (or GPS) activity screen. When the activity starts, you lap, or you finish, the watch sends a small update to the phone app, which sends the SMS.
Install
- Watch data field: https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/b823dd39-f087-4a77-9469-abba4ca2149d
Add Lap Map Alert as a data field on a Run/GPS screen. - Android (open testing — join, then install): https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.lapmapalert.app
Add recipients, turn texts ON, allow SMS. - Garmin Connect: More → Safety & Tracking → Live Event Sharing → Off (avoids duplicate texts).
- For automatic mile/km texts: activity settings → Laps → Auto Lap. You can still press Lap anytime.
I’ve used this on real outdoor runs with an Epix. I’m looking for a few more Garmin + Android runs and notes on: watch link status, whether SMS arrived, and anything confusing in setup.
Privacy: https://mindshaft.com/lap-map-alert/privacy/
Feedback: [email protected]
You don’t need to message me to try it — use the two links above.