02-21-2014
19:15
- last edited on
03-28-2016
11:22
by
HelenaFitbit
02-21-2014
19:15
- last edited on
03-28-2016
11:22
by
HelenaFitbit
I don't mean to call anybody out or question somebody's integrity but there are fitbit users who average better than 75K steps a day over the course of a week. Assuming they get eight hours of sleep, that means they're walking almost 40 minutes each hour every hour of the day unless they're asleep. Every day for a week.
It is possible that they're running or training for a marathon or walking really fast or are really really into this walking thing but it seems like it is too much. Any way you do the math, it is an incredible amount of walking and it is sustained over the entire week.
What's the most anyone has ever walked in a day? How about in a week?
I wonder what it would be like if I got up at five am and walked all day until midnight? Doing the math, it would theoretically be possible to break 100k but I don't think I could get anywhere near that. And 80k a day for a week seems too much too.
What do you think?
Moderator edit: Clarified subject.
Answered! Go to the Best Answer.
10-25-2017 11:08
10-25-2017 11:08
@ggoode66 wrote:What about a mail carrier with a walking route or other jobs where the person is walking all day.
Here's the thing, 80,000 steps works out to about 40 miles of walking for the average person; I'm laying dollars to donuts odds there isn't a letter carrier route anywhere in the U.S. which is even a quarter of that.
10-25-2017 12:51 - edited 10-25-2017 12:55
10-25-2017 12:51 - edited 10-25-2017 12:55
I read somewhere that the maximum mail carrier route is 10 miles, so yes, only good for 20K or less. I think anyone that does an honest 80K a day average, if only for a week, is devoted to endurance ambulation as a sport, even if they don't compete, per se. The maximum mileage for extended flat running/walking is about 75 miles per day (search 'Trancendancy 3100', 50-55 miles/day on mountainous trails - search 'Pacific Crest Trail speed records'). I don't see what the problem is with believing that a large number of people can do a bit over half of this. It's like saying "I don't think running a 7:30 mile is really possible, even though I know people have been running sub 4 minute miles for 50 years". I also think that it is possible to prepare for an honest 560k week with well designed training that only requires averaging about 25k/day (say 15k a day devoted to speed, cadence, hill, and interval training, with one full day a week devoted to endurance (maybe start at 50k and build to 80). In 6 months to a year you'll be ready, if it is something you want to do and you have the focus to stick with it.
10-25-2017 13:01
10-25-2017 13:01
@BruceBu, thanks; I'll amend my "bet" to say, "I'm laying dollars to donuts odds there isn't a letter carrier route anywhere in the U.S. which is more than a quarter of that distance."
10-25-2017 13:11
10-25-2017 13:11
My goal each week is to get over 100K. However, lately since it has gotten colder I haven't reached this goal in a few weeks. The most I have personally ever walked in one day is 35K. However, I am in a few Workweek Hustle Challenges and there is one guy he walked 65, 000 in one day. It's unbelievable but he is in very good shape! Have a good day!
10-25-2017 13:27
10-25-2017 13:27
@Rachann47 wrote:My goal each week is to get over 100K. However, lately since it has gotten colder I haven't reached this goal in a few weeks. The most I have personally ever walked in one day is 35K. However, I am in a few Workweek Hustle Challenges and there is one guy he walked 65, 000 in one day. It's unbelievable but he is in very good shape! Have a good day!
Hmmm, does the guy who walks 65,000 steps per day have a full-time job? A family? A life?
10-26-2017 01:27
10-26-2017 01:27
At first I thought what the heck, but then I read that the challenge lasted two months, not one. So this brings the average of the winner to around 50000 steps / day, which may be possible (but you can assess better whether is the case for that person).
How many competitors there were? Your step count was definitely a great result!
I participated in a team monthly challenge that just completed and you would have been top 20 out of 1700 persons.
10-26-2017 05:15
10-26-2017 05:15
@MihaiMVP wrote:At first I thought what the heck, but then I read that the challenge lasted two months, not one. So this brings the average of the winner to around 50000 steps / day, which may be possible (but you can assess better whether is the case for that person).
How many competitors there were? Your step count was definitely a great result!
I participated in a team monthly challenge that just completed and you would have been top 20 out of 1700 persons.
To whom are you responding?
10-26-2017 09:32
10-26-2017 09:32
10-26-2017 12:31
10-26-2017 12:31
Guys, please don't stone me, but what does it matter how many steps any other person gets per day? I mean, if you join a challenge, and you get first place, does Fitbit send you a check for winning?
What matters to me is that I keep active, and while it's fun to "challenge" others to a weekly or daily competition, the only person it really matters to, at least health wise, is myself. I'm not here for ego, I'm here for health, so if I walk 15-20k steps a day, and I'm healthy, that's all that matters. If someone walks 25-30k a day, then awesome for them! If someone walks even more than that, that's cool too, because whatever they do, won't affect my health at all.
If a person cheats at steps with a Fitbit, who is being harmed? Someone's ego?
Just my 2 cents...
10-26-2017 12:55 - edited 10-26-2017 12:55
10-26-2017 12:55 - edited 10-26-2017 12:55
@Belobog, in the case of the challenge I joined last fall, there were some very nice gift cards awarded to the top finishers; I believe the "winner" (NOT) got a $250 Amazon card. So, yes, cheating does appear to pay off.
10-26-2017 14:50
10-26-2017 14:50
@shipo Didn't know about that!
BUT, still, I'm not here to win an Amazon gift card, I'm here for friendly competition, chit-chat and most importantly, motivation to be fit.
I'm not going to be bitter about someone having more steps, winning a daily challenge or a $250 Amazon gift card.
10-26-2017 14:57
10-26-2017 14:57
@Belobog, no, I'm not at all bitter, I simply will not join such competitions in the future; I mean, I'm going to get my miles in and run my races regardless, so why bother mucking around with the competition.
10-26-2017 15:02
10-26-2017 15:02
I believe our goals are our own. I am very competitive, mostly with myself. If challenged I will do everything possible to meet the challenge but am not looking for any monetary or physical reward, knowing that I did it is enough for me. @walkwithme1000
10-27-2017 06:48
10-27-2017 06:48
That is a huge difference, he is talking about people averaging 80k steps a day, not 24k. I am also wondering how people get that high of a number as I have seen it as well. I can't even imagine getting 60k steps a day for a whole week straight.
10-27-2017 06:56 - edited 10-27-2017 06:57
10-27-2017 06:56 - edited 10-27-2017 06:57
@debojenkins, last fall when I did my two consecutive 300+ mile running months, which works out to an average of 11+ miles of running per day, my biggest days were only in the low 40,000 step range, and I only did that twice. Doing 60,000 or more steps per day, day in and day out for a month, is a HUGE undertaking.
10-27-2017 08:08
10-27-2017 08:08
10-27-2017 08:13 - edited 10-27-2017 09:37
10-27-2017 08:13 - edited 10-27-2017 09:37
@shipo In terms of energy expenditure, it is much easier to do by walking, although it takes a bit more time. As an example: running a 10 minute mile (6 mph) takes twice the energy of walking a 20 minute mile (3 mph) (it's simple physics - you are trying to maintain a your body's kinetic energy, E = 1/2mv^2, so you are exerting 4 times as hard for 1/2 as long. Then, the typical runner will take 1400 (?) steps in that mile while the walker ~2100. So overall, the 6 mph runner will burn 3 times as much energy per step as the 3 mph walker (it's actually somewhat worse because of increasing effective frictional resistance, both internally and in stronger interaction with the ground). Granted the walker takes twice as long as the runner (actual stepping time), but I expect the walker needs fewer rests, fewer recovery days, fewer injury days, and can simply go for a lot longer in a given day with no ill effects. Lots of people can walk nearly continuously for 12 hours (even 12/day for extended periods), but I think it is only a very elite class of endurance racers that can run for 6 hours/day, day after day. Another way to look at it is via stride length - the typical 6 mph runner is going to have to cover roughly 1.5X the distance of a 3 mph walker to get the same number of steps, which leads to:
Personal opinion is that way to much attention is given to step count, a useful parameter when considered in conjunction with distance, speed and cadence, but way too variable to be used for comparing performance or exertion levels. Much better to pay primary attention to distance (preferably GPS or mapping, not step derived) and elevation gain, and time it takes to do it - a *real life* ambulation competition/challenge is almost always done by distance, not by number of steps.
10-27-2017 08:27
10-27-2017 08:27
I can only comment for Beloit Wisconsin. My mail is delivered my a person in a truck. Riding around Beloit I see mail carriers ride in a truck, stop at every block, deliver the mail in that block, get in their truck, drive another block, stop and deliver the mail in that block. I believe this is a cost saving measure, now they can use less mail carriers and still deliver the mail efficiently.
10-27-2017
09:47
- last edited on
09-06-2021
07:10
by
JuanJoFitbit
10-27-2017
09:47
- last edited on
09-06-2021
07:10
by
JuanJoFitbit
@BruceBu love the mathematical explanation, so very logical and clear. My goal next month is 1,000 miles and my plan to get there is through walking and some jogging. I find myself late at night with the energy to jog the last mile or so when it's getting close to quitting time. I have done 2 consecutive 42+ mile days for 3 weekends straight, it is exhausting. I am concerned about maintaining a 33+ mile daily average for 30 days. Any advise?
@shipo definitely HUGE and scary, any advice?
@debojenkins there's only one way to find out...........
Left.........
Left.........
Left.........Right.........Left.......
Moderator edit: merged reply
10-27-2017 11:09 - edited 10-27-2017 12:22
10-27-2017 11:09 - edited 10-27-2017 12:22
@Walkwithme1000, given distance is your goal and not steps, my only thought might be to jog say a quarter to a half of the miles; yes, that will burn more energy, but it will also allow for more sleep. Eating more will cover the energy burn aspect, but sleep is sleep, and I'm thinking you're going to need at least six to seven hours per night to safely achieve your goal.