Lost first run

If you want support, you should deliver more details. Did you read the manual? This solves most issues. I have recorded 565 activities so far with my F5+ and didn't loose a single one, all without the watch connected to a phone.

After a mile or so, run screen switched back to clock and was unable to see run stats nor restore run screen

Seems like you didn't press Start.

Wow! Now I understand why the Galaxy and Apple watches start automatically after a countdown - they are made for DAUs!

busted my ass for nothing

Exactly, if it's not on the internet it didn't happen!

Exactly, no training effect without Instagram post!

All my best years in the 80s and 90s are lost, because there was no internet!

It could have been "worse"...  The year was 2006, there was a weekly running challenge at work using Nike Sportbands. I returned from a lunch-break run, and was quite sure I had won that week. But I would have to wait until I got home to upload, because my work PC did not have the right software. "Use my laptop to upload, it has the Nike software", a colleague kindly offered. I fell for it - and a week's worth of runs went into someone else's Nike+ account.

But yeah, it s*cks if you 'lose' a whole half marathon.. esp. if it was a race. It's really important to gain lots of experience with a new device before you use it on race day. Nerves, adrenaline, total focus on the race.. basically you have to be able to do everything automatically.

Great example, I hope your colleague was thankful and payed you a beer!

I also do not want to lose an activity, especially when I bought an expensive device. Luckily in 10 years with Garmin watches and almost 3000 activities I only lost one run completely by pressing a wrong button afterwards. I never did experiments in competitions and especially at hikes in holidays, so I tried everything before and I read the manuals!

Apparently it somehow lost the GPS (despite clear view of the sky) during the run which started recording with all run stats updating normally. Afterwards I noticed a message in Connect referring to "Move IQ" trying to identify the activity (as if wasn't started properly). Going from my trusty 310XT after eight years, indeed there's a lot more to learn. My 310 or 305 never lost the GPS signal.

I read and YouTubed enough to get started. I have no need for many of the features. I hope this beast doesn't turn me (more) into a slave of technology.

Even if the watch loses GPS, it does not stop recording the activity. It is remotely possible that the watch crashed and rebooted, but even then, you should have a partially recorded activity. In 6 years of using various Garmins I've never lost an entire activity.

It is much more likely that you forgot to press Start the second time. I forgot that myself lots of times after switching from Suunto to Garmin.

That's what I meant by gaining experience with a device - reading manuals and viewing others does not get you the "muscle memory"-habits to operate the device without consciously thinking about it.

But this was only your first run with it, sh*t happens, just keep going! The F5Plus is an awesome piece of gear, enjoy it!