Versa Not Tracking Mileage On Treadmill Correctly

[Vince0521]

My Versa used to track my mileage on treadmill runs fairly accurately. One morning I tried doing a GPS run on an indoor track and it did a terrible job of tracking my position (I'm blaming it on the building I was in) and the distance it recorded for that run was way off. It seemed like it was struggling to re-establish a GPS connection throughout most of the run. Ever since then, it has been recording incorrect distances for all of my treadmill runs. I'll do between 6 and 6.2 miles but it'll document the runs at around 4.6 to 4.8. Did I screw something up with the settings somehow? Or is there something else wrong?

Thanks

[JohnnyRow · Accepted solution]

Treadmill distance is just number of steps times stride length.

It could be that the GPS run automatically recalculated your stride length based on an inaccurate distance.  I would suggest either re-measure your stride length, or just try increasing it by 6 divided by 4.6, then continue making minor adjustments until it gets it right.

That is assuming you are not holding a hand rail with fitbit hand, which will cause steps not to be detected.

How do I measure and adjust stride length for my Fitbit device?

[Vince0521]

Yes, all of these workouts have been using the "treadmill" setting (except for that one bad indoor GPS run). And no, I don't hold the hand rail of the treadmill during my runs. It seems like it's tracking my steps accurately. My daily step count with my workouts included has stayed the same, and it'll still alert me in the middle of my workout when I've reached my daily step goal. I think the issue is just with the distance. Sounds like it might be something with my recorded stride length. I will try one of the options you suggested.

Thank you

[Rich_Laue]

I have a thought @Vince0521.

First please realize that GPS will not work indoors, to much interference for our initial.

I agree with @JohnnyRow

My guess is that by using GPS inside and it's inaccuracy has auto calculated the wrong running stride setting.

This would have the affect of giving the wrong distance when not using GPS.

The math to correct is not that hard

TrueStride = FitbitstrideSettin X ( Fitbit recorded distance / True/Distance)

Let's say your

Current stride is set for 22 inches

The treadmill says that you went 3 miles

Fitbit says 2.5 miles

3 / 2.5 = 1.2

Current Fitbit stride is 22 inches

1.2 X 22 = 26.4

Your correct stride is 26.4 

Note

We did not have to count steps 

If the treadmill speed changes, your stride will also change.

Your free run stride may be different then on a treadmill because of the last point.

You might want to take an average if you change the speed frequently ly.

[Vince0521]

Adjusting my stride length manually on my FitBit app did the trick.

Thank you all for your help!

[Julesth78]

It would be useful to have a setting in the app to set stride length for the treadmill exercise and continue with automatic stride length on outdoor runs using GPS. Currently you can only have automatic stride length on or off. Because I’m mostly running on the treadmill at the moment I’ve set my own stride length so I’ll have to try and remember to turn this back on if I go for an outdoor run. It would be really helpful if the developers could offer the option to have a different stride length for treadmill exercise whilst allowing the automatic stride length for runs using GPS to remain on? 

[Rich_Laue]

One problem with a stride setting is that when a user changes their speed of running, their stride also changes.

[Buboy58]

Don't hold the rail while on treadmill...if really need be hold the rail with your non-fitbit hand