Track runs with charge 2?!

[Jo1209]

I recently got my charge 2 as a gift. I work out and run 3+ miles a day.  first of all must I run with my phone and fitbit for it to track my distance & min mile? can I run with just the fitbit for it to do that?

Secondly, I have been running with my phone app map my fitness and my fitbit because presently they are both giving me different min miles and distance.  since it's gotten colder I have been running on a small indoor track, map my fitness tells me my min mile is a little under 8min for 2 miles where as the fitbit tells me I'm a little over a 9 min mile and a 1.7 mile distance?!?! 

I know for certain the distance is off but I'm trying to work on my pace and this thing has me going crazy, someone help?!?!

[EmsFitbit]

Good to see you here in the Community @Jo1209!

I had similar questions about distance tracking when I started using my Fitbit. Your Charge 2 can track your stats including distance even without your phone! Just wear the tracker and you're good to go. The distance will be recorded based on how many steps you take and how big your step is.

If you'd like the distance to be based on GPS, that's when you should bring your phone during your run. Just make sure to turn on your phone's bluetooth, GPS, location services, mobile data and open the app. Check this out for more info.

Glad to explain this more if needed. Happy stepping!

[Jo1209]

Thank you! I think I have to fix my Stride length before I can start using just my fitbit then because my distance is off which I was told was due to my stride lenght the fitbit has calculated.  I dont really care if I have the GPS part as long as it will tell me my min per mile without it. I appreciate the help!

[shipo]

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@Jo1209 wrote:

Thank you! I think I have to fix my Stride length before I can start using just my fitbit then because my distance is off which I was told was due to my stride lenght the fitbit has calculated.  I dont really care if I have the GPS part as long as it will tell me my min per mile without it. I appreciate the help!

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A couple of comments regarding the Connected GPS feature of your Charge 2:

1. It does not work indoors.
2. If you are running outside on a short track then it will be very inaccurate due to the standard margin of error of GPS coupled with the narrow loop of the track.

[Rich_Laue]

If your running indoors on a known length track. simply run around it one , two times.  Use the track distance and the step count to figure the stride.

[Jo1209]

Ok, so does this mean that I cant rely on my fitbit at all when running an indoor track as far as min per mile and distance ran? im sorry im just a little confused as to what the difference is between using my phone with my fitbit and just using my fitbit.

[shipo]

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@Jo1209 wrote:

Ok, so does this mean that I cant rely on my fitbit at all when running an indoor track as far as min per mile and distance ran? im sorry im just a little confused as to what the difference is between using my phone with my fitbit and just using my fitbit.

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If you're indoors, then there should be no difference; both will be subject to the standard stride length deviation between your profile settings and what you happened to run that particular day.

[Rich_Laue]

In the spirit of the Ig Nobel Awards,

I'll summarize in 7 words.

Set your stride and it is accurate!

[Jo1209]

how do I set my Stride Length? I ran with my fit bit on and it counted 2,901 steps for two miles?

[shipo]

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@Jo1209 wrote:

how do I set my Stride Length? I ran with my fit bit on and it counted 2,901 steps for two miles?

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A few comments/questions:

• Do you know the distance is two miles or is that what Fitbit reported?
• If the measured distance is two miles, then I take it you're either fairly tall or fairly fast (as in sub-9:00 per mile pace), or both.
• Your stride length is set in your User Profile which can be accessed via the Fitbit.com dashboard and/or the dashboard on your smart phone.

[Jo1209]

I ran a track so I am certain it was two miles. I am not tall by any means, I am 5'2'', my average min per mile is 7 min and 45 sec... give or take a few seconds.

I know where the setting is located I just dont understand how they are getting the number that is displayed... the fomula that i thought was correct was 10560ft (which is 2miles) divided by 2901 (which is my steps running said 2 miles)   which equals= 3.64 ? That cannot be right since the number that is in there is in the 30's? If I could just figure out the formula I have the stats to plug in.

[Rich_Laue]

I'm not understanding, what number are you saying is incorrect? Also you haven't said, where you using the connected GPS, of do then Fitbit doesn't use the stride but looks at the GPS to see the distance.

[shipo]

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@Jo1209 wrote:

I ran a track so I am certain it was two miles. I am not tall by any means, I am 5'2'', my average min per mile is 7 min and 45 sec... give or take a few seconds.

I know where the setting is located I just dont understand how they are getting the number that is displayed... the fomula that i thought was correct was 10560ft (which is 2miles) divided by 2901 (which is my steps running said 2 miles)   which equals= 3.64 ? That cannot be right since the number that is in there is in the 30's? If I could just figure out the formula I have the stats to plug in.

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You need to convert to inches, 3.64' = 43.68".

The above said, that's a pretty long stride for someone of your height, but if you're truely running at a 7:45 pace then it is certainly in the ballpark.  I will also add, running along at a 7:45 pace is pretty darn quick; were you or are you a high school or college runner?

[Jo1209]

No, I was a gymnast from 4 to about 18 years old and now I am training to go to bootcamp for the Marine Corps... my goal is to get down to a 6.5 min mile running 3 miles... Ive been training for 3 months so far and started at about a 10 min mile so im making progress just not there yet. Thank you for all of the help I will try converting it into inches!!

[shipo]

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@Jo1209 wrote:

No, I was a gymnast from 4 to about 18 years old and now I am training to go to bootcamp for the Marine Corps... my goal is to get down to a 6.5 min mile running 3 miles... Ive been training for 3 months so far and started at about a 10 min mile so im making progress just not there yet. Thank you for all of the help I will try converting it into inches!!

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Ahhh, Semper-Fi!

I joined the Marines back in 1977 and remember the 3-Mile PFT well.  A 6:30 pace will put you right up there with some of the faster folks.  🙂

True story: I got booted out of Boot Camp (MCRD San Diego) and into OCS, and somehow managed to contract bronchitis my third week in Quantico.  During one of the PFTs I was running along at about a 5:50 pace, hacking and spitting the whole way due to all of the crap coming up from my lungs.  During the entire run a hot-shot Major, who had placed very well in the Marine-Corps Marathon, was dogging my steps and kept trying to pass me; I never let him and boy was he pissed at me when we finished.  🙂

[Jo1209]

Yeah, running is definitly a "who's chest is bigger" kinda thing in the corps. My husband is a Sgt and a great runner, he does that all the time to the higher ups lol and gets the same response, so i find your story very funny lol! We were stationed at Quantico for his second re-enlistment, I really liked it there but the traffic is horrid lol! Were on Recruiting Duty now and counting the days haha. I leave for MCRD Paris Island the beginning of next month, nervous but totally excited 🙂

*Side note, converting it to Inches worked, thank you so much... I have been so frustrated since I couldnt use my normal ap, Map my Run, inside!

[shipo · Accepted solution]

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@Jo1209 wrote:

Yeah, running is definitly a "who's chest is bigger" kinda thing in the corps. My husband is a Sgt and a great runner, he does that all the time to the higher ups lol and gets the same response, so i find your story very funny lol! We were stationed at Quantico for his second re-enlistment, I really liked it there but the traffic is horrid lol! Were on Recruiting Duty now and counting the days haha. I leave for MCRD Paris Island the beginning of next month, nervous but totally excited 🙂

*Side note, converting it to Inches worked, thank you so much... I have been so frustrated since I couldnt use my normal ap, Map my Run, inside!

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Good luck at Paris Island, keep us posted when you can.  🙂

[Rich_Laue]

@Jo1209 my feeling is that it doesn't matter what number Fitbit has there, change it to manual and put your true calculated stride in. 

Your numbers above made me think that all steps where not being counted

[ew01]

Not much of an answer if someoneactually needs assistance using the device resources.

[Rich_Laue]

@ew01 the problem with Fitbit using a calculation based on a person having an average stride for their gender, height, and age is that no one is actually average and Fitbit calculated stride at best will be wroung but hopefully close.