pedometer?

How did you measure your stride? I would guess that the car is more accurate. The pedometer is a great device, but isn't 100% accurate. It may have missed some strides, or you took bigger steps then you thought. I use my car or bike to measure my running courses.

I followed the directions... It said take a small section (about 5 feet) mark it off, run or walk it, count your steps, convert to inches and you have your stride in inches. I even started running before I hit the measured off section because I thought it would give me a more accurate representation of my stride. I double checked the math and put it in to the little monster, I think I'll just rely on my truck!

I have a better way to measure your stride that is more acurate. Does your pedometer have a step counter? If it does, go to a track or find a corse that you know the distance and run for at least a .25miles. Longer if you can. divide the distance by the number of steps you took and turn it into inches. When people do it with a tape measure, they tend to take larger steps when they hit the measureing area. Your stride will also change as you are running. The longer you run the closer to your true average step size you will be.

I sell pedometers at work, as well as other items, and this is how I recomend for people to do it. The other option is to buy a timex speed and distance watch that uses GPS to track your distance. It is only about 250 compared to the 25 for a pedometer.

Charles

Thanks!

>I have a better way to measure your stride that is more acurate. Does your pedometer have a step counter? If it does, go to a track or find a corse that you know the distance and run for at least a .25miles. Longer if you can.

Instead of using a Pedometer that you have to assume a stride length, has anyone used one of the new types that uses an accelerometer to measure distance as used on the Fitsense device (http://www.fitsense.com/tour2-2.asp#tourtop)?

I know in the auto world that there is a device that uses accelerometers (Gtech) that provides very reliable and repeatable data on acceleration, 1/4 mile time, etc.

Don

Or you can use the Garmin Forerunner that I use, it's a wrist mounted GPS unit that is available at several online places. I got mine through Amazon for around $115.

Max

Well, as GIS geologist, I have access to some things - so I downloaded a high resolution orthophoto of my neighborhood, loaded into ArcGIS and then digitized over my routes to find the distances I cover..... sometimes it is good to be a geek.

I 2nd

It take a little time to firure out, but if you take your steps and divide it into the distance, you get it pretty close. Then run it again and compare. over time, you can get it almost dead on. Measuring with a car is great, but you cant drive on the trails so the pedometer is great for trail of park running.

Eric

Pedometers are the least expensive solution. GPS and Accelorometers are accurate, but cost a pretty penny(and some quarters). Or you can just take a basic stop watch and go for time. Almost all of my runs are done on time. I run where I know distances once and a while to see how I am doing, but time is the simple easy solution for me.

Charles

heyyyyy....can you do MY neighborhood?  LOL

>Instead of using a Pedometer that you have to assume a stride length, has anyone used one of the new types that uses an accelerometer to measure distance as used on the Fitsense device (http://www.fitsense.com/tour2-2.asp#tourtop)?


I have been using the fitsense watch for over a year now and love it ...its very accurate ....among other things, it gives speed, distance, heart rate, avg. pace, current pace, and calories burned ....and you can download all of your runs online ....and then analyze your performance with graphs/charts etc ....you calibrate it on a track or treadmill with a known distance ....it was only off by 0.08 miles in the last marathon I ran...its worth the investment

The garmin forerunner and the timex watches are good as well ...only problem though is that is utilizes GPS and if you live in a big city, like I do or are out on cloudy days, you can lose the signal