Extreme variance of steps/distance in the same run

[bsthomas]

I run the same 5.2 mile route 2 to 3 times a week.  My One records it appropriately about 90% of the time.  But every so often it seems to go into a black hole and not record about a half mile to a mile of the route both in steps and distance.  Why?

[TandemWalker]

Hi @bsthomas. 

I assume that when you do this 5.2 mile route, you always use the timer functionality on your One to capture these runs separately on your activity log, correct? I further assume that the metrics that you're looking at are taken directly from syncing your Fitbit One, with no other apps or GPS/phone functions in between, correct?

If both affirmative and your One's metrics are bang on 90% of the time; and off by as much as 20% on both Steps and Distances, I'm wondering if this may have to do with the manner you wear your One. Do you always have it clipped the same way? That's one area I would look at. 

I must admit, this is a weird One and I'm trying to wrap my mind around this to see if there may be other explanations for this. If your One was malfunctioning, it would not be doing 100% most of the time and be off some days - it would be off ALL the time. So this has to tie in with something else; and the only way I can think of is how you wear it.

On those days that the metrics are off, did you have a chance to click on the small Clock icon showing next to the Activity name on your activity log to determine where the steps are being dropped? I'm not concerned about distance for now, because that number is derived straight from your step count. But it would useful to know if the steps are being dropped at the beginning of your run or at the end; or if the drop is spread throughout the entire run. Clicking that small clock icon opens up a detailed window where you can see what your One recorded minute-by-minute.

If the results you've observed are derived from GPS tracking, then perhaps you temporarily lost GPS signal on those days when the step count was off.

             TW             

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(If this tip solved the problem for you, please mark this post solved, as it will be helpful to other users experiencing similar issues.) 

[bsthomas]

I only use the One and was coming to the same conclusion.  I think It does depend on where I wear it.  The way the lost distance appears on the One is a zeroing of pace and a reduction in steps.  So something doesn't record.  I usually wear the One (during the winter) in a pocket over my hip.  Sometimes I take off a layer (the one with the One) and tie it around my waiste and perhaps that movement causes my steps not to be recorded.  Perhaps the pocket is just not moving with my body. I will see if that is it.  I did do that yesterday and did lose a half mile, but I also did it on Tuesday and everything was fine.  So I will play around with it.  I love my One and will work on this mystery.

[TandemWalker]

Thank you for the feedback @bsthomas. Yeah, we love our Fitbit One too. My wife and I have had ours for two and a half years now and we're both very happy with them. Never had any issues with either one of them. I think I restarted mine a few times, not because I was having issues, but to give it a clean sweep!

Please let us know how it goes. Layers of clothing shouldn't affect the step count. But where you clip it on your torso might. If you can remember how you had it clipped when you noticed the step shortfall, it would be an easy test to repeat, wearing it that same way on two consecutive days; and then wearing the other way and then compare notes.

You didn't say in your response whether or not you were using the timer to segment your runs out of your daily steps. Also, you keep referring to 'lost distance', but distance is only the result of steps times your stride lengths. Can you tell me if the drop in the step count, expressed as a percentage of the higher step count, is the same as the drop in distance?

TW

[bsthomas]

I think I have isolated the problem.  This happens infrequently.  This morning I did my normal 3.5 mile run.  I put my fitbit in the pocket of my jersey.  About 2 miles in, I took off the jersey and tied it around my waist.  I just looked at my stats.  The run only registered as 2.72.  My pace went from 9/10 to over 20, reaching as high as 25 during the end period of the run when my jersey was tied around my waist.  Clearly the fitbit inside the jersey pocket was no longer registering all of my steps.  I will just have to keep the fitbit One clipped near my collar or in a pocket of my first layer of clothes.  (FYI...this does not happen all the time....I have successfully recorded a lot of runs with a jersey tied around my waist and the fitbit in the pocket.  So there has to be a specific position that the fitbit gets into inside the pocket.)

[TandemWalker]

Hi @bsthomas. The winters in my neck of the woods can get pretty rough and bitterly cold, which means that my One is always under layers of clothing. I more or less do the same two or three routes and never noticed a change in step counts in the winter months. Even floors register the same as usual. But I never wear my One in a pocket - it's always clipped (side pocket, T-shirt collar ... but always clipped, never loose inside a pocket.) So I'm not quite sure what's going on with yours, especially given the delta from a 9/10 min mile to up to 20-25. 

I did a timed walk/jog workout yesterday and the Pace graph show just one bar at 1,986/m - so I think there might be something wrong with the web site. Did you check the step count graph to see if the pattern shown on the pace graph supported by a commensurate drop in step count during the end period of your run?

As for the distance being reported to your dashboard, that's the product of your step count times your documented stride lengths. So distance is only a best estimate; and if your documented stride lengths are reasonably accurate, the reported distance should be within 5% or so.

TW