More Adventures races/solo (in USA and Internationally)

[CowgirlKat]

Can you add more adventures to list of available choices? Right now there's stuff in New York and California but nothing that represents the middle of the country. I'd like to see Grandma's Marathon from Duluth, MN added to the list of available adventures and maybe some other well known places like Mount Rushmore or the Washington Mall in D.C. or Glacier National Park. Just please add more places. 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Gizsmom]

Thanks. I’ll check it out.

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[SunsetRunner]

@SunsetRunner:  Supposedly Walking World only has walks from Great Britain.  Perhaps you meant World Walking (the description fits what people are asking about and suggesting here).  Unfortunately that app seems to be having problems.  But I will try it and see.

[SunsetRunner]

Yeah. World Walking, that’s right. 👍. I really do hope Fitbit will listen to the community and give us some new challenges.

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[Jayelo]

I'll look that up too. Hopefully Fitbit will listen. Of course I would rather do all this on the Fitbit instead of another app I have to download.


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[Gizsmom]

It may be too late. I think many people are going to other things.

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[SunsetRunner]

I may walk all the US National Scenic Trails before Fitbit improves or removes this "feature". 

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@CowgirlKatwrote:

Can you add more adventures to list of available choices?

[SunsetRunner]

I’ve done them all “several times” 😡👣

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[SunsetRunner]

I know a few of my group have started using “World Walking” which syncs with Fitbit

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[SunsetRunner]

I feel the same. But if they can’t give us the product🤬.
I know a few of the group I’m in are using World Walking which syncs with Fitbit.

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[Celer_et_Audax]

Thanks for that, I’ll look it up.

[SunsetRunner]

I've just started using World Walking.  It is fairly easy to use and I was able to sync it with Apple Health, but if you are expecting it to be like the fitbit adventures, there are some essential differences:

1. First of all, it picks waypoints (called milestones) and the "walks" are straight lines in between those points (that is, if there is a mapped trail, the "walk" does not necessarily follow the trail).  For instance, I am doing the Arran Isle "walk" and there are several mapped trails shown in Google, as well as a mentioned side trip mentioned in the walk notes.  It would be nice if the walk could somehow be mapped to take advantage of these things.

2.  It uses google's street pictures to give you an idea of what is there.  Thus, don't expect any pictures from off the beaten path (so to speak).  Also, if you are at a point where there are no Google pics, you don't get anything.  Again, as an example, I am doing the Arran Island "walk".  There are places where one is between points (exacerbated by the straight line approach mentioned above) and there is nothing there.  I mean literally nothing, because it is not on a street and Google has not gotten there yet.  In addition, often there really is something "there" (for instance, early in the Arran Isle walk one "walks" near to Broderick Castle), but even though it might be easy to insert a picture of the site, that has not been done.

3.  Most of the "walks" are longer walks that cannot be done in 1 day.  Sometimes one just wants to do a walk that takes a day or two.  This is not an option with this app (yet).

4.  It doesn't add steps directly to a chosen "walk".  So you essentially "bank" the steps and then add them yourself to a chosen walk.

5.  It gives the show away -- That is, in the fitbit adventures, you can't look at a milestone before you get there (very much like a real walk).  But in World Walking, you can look at any or all of the milestones on a walk at any time/point during the walk.  I think that this takes away some of the sense of discovery that you get in the fitbit adventures, as well as the sense of reward for having done something that day. A system of rewards is nice in that it helps in encouraging you to get out and walk or run.

6.  Because the app is so dependent on Google Maps, I don't see how it can be used to map real trails (such as the Arizona Trail, the Ice Age Trail, The Continental Divide Trail or any number of other trails that do not use streets or lanes mapped by Google).

Some (all?) of the above are fairly easy to fix, I think.  Most of them exist because the app is new and the easy way to do things is to use existing structure (Google, for instance).  But it would at least be nice to have some external pictures added (maybe users could supply these) and also (if possible) follow an existing walking/running trail (on the map) if one exists.  If side trips (such as the one mentioned in the Arran Isle walk going up Goat Mountain) are mentioned, perhaps they could be offered as an extra award for making it that far or as a side trip with a panoramic view.  It would also be extremely nice to have some walks or runs that could be done in a day or two, but that still give a sense of the place being explored.

I do think that somehow the milestones (as they are called in World Walking) should not be open if one has not walked to that point.  It really decreases the sense of reward and discovery of the walk and changes it into something that does not necessarily reward effort.

I know that what I am mentioning is not very easy with respect to some of the more exotic destinations, but I was thinking of doing the Route 66 walk (US), and now I don't know if I will do that.  I definitely would want to see more than what Google is likely to show about that route, and for a longer walk such as that one would prefer not to have milestones open before "walking" the route.  I think that for North America and Western Europe in particular, users might be able to contribute to the app and also that mapping the walks along existing foot trails rather than straight lines or streets would be very nice.

With all that said, I guess I am bemoaning that these are not fitbit adventures but the real issue is that fitbit is offering less than World Walking -- That is, fitbit is offering zero new walks/adventures of this sort right now.  So this is way beyond what fitbit is offering (and doesn't even require fitbit to participate, as I can use Apple Health).

[Celer_et_Audax]

Thanks for that very comprehensive review. I agree with your point regarding short walks. And Fitbit’s own “Adventures” had their shortcomings- starting at midnight, what on Earth was that about?

[JoeyCampanella]

Hello Fitbit! Can we please get some more adventure races to participate with our friends? We are getting bored with the same old four races. Perhaps one in San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge? Or a tropical destination like the Florida Keys? A cross-country adventure would be amazing and epic! Thank you!

[SunsetRunner]

That’s ok for folks from the US. But you have to remember that Fitbit have customers all around the world. I agree with you about being bored with what’s on offer at the minute. But the challenges have to reflect the world wide customers. A big challenge over here in the UK is the Lands End to John O’ Groats walk which is around 960 miles. Sounds like a great challenge to me. I’m Walking it at the moment on the World Walking app.

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[jaclin]

We need more solo adventures.  How about the Oregon Trail or Appalachian Trail?  Would also like trails in other countries.  Great Wall of China.  King Ludwig Way in Bavaria.  I've heard of other magnificent trails in Spain.  More adventures or even some solo challenges would help motivate me.

[SunsetRunner]

👍👍👍

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[SunsetRunner]

I agree more solo adventures.  It is a great way to motivate.  Across states, countries, more parks, city to city, Route 66, Blue Ridge Parkway, Pacific Coast Highway, across Europe,  Appalachian Trail, Finger Lakes Trail.  So many that would be so much fun

[JLFreeman]

This is a great idea. There are so many picturesque trails and cities that the possibilities are endless. I am in the same boat Ive done the solo adventures, and my friends are not exactly the competing type. New Adventures would be a great idea to keep people moving and engaged!

[JLFreeman]

I see lots of great suggestions about what adventure there should be. Dont forget Canada, we have a beautiful country that is well worth exploring!

[Kristinadyt]

Hey I absolutely love my fit bit and doing the adventures and solo adventure, but can you do more of them and not just in New York what about all over the world in different countries I love learning new treasures and info about all different places , plus if they were all different levels of fitness and length that would also be totally cool , like I’d love to walk along the Great Wall of China and learn all about it as we go or maybe walk around and virtually over Uluru ( Ayres rock in Australia ) please please please send this through to your ideas team Thank you

[SunsetRunner]

100% agree with you. I’ve been banging on about this for months. There is already a app out there called “ Walking World”. Which proves that loads of different routes are possible. So c’mon Fitbit get with what your community wants.

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[E-Dee]

Please also consider Western Australia - Perth etc...

[Cwtch49]

I appreciate you are an American company, but trails all over the world are so well documented on the internet these days.  Why can't you do some for each country, not just the Marathons.

The UK has so many documented trails and views and photographs are available.   Come on Fitbit, what about walks over Brecon Beacons; Haydrian's Wall, Snowdon; list is endless.

I've really enjoyed doing the Yosemite Loops, it feels good to see how far I've walked, because if I was asked to do it in reality my first thought would be 'I'll never do that'.

[SunsetRunner]

Love your post. I would love to walk a virtual Lands End to John O Groats. 👣👍.
There are loads of virtual walks on the “World Walking” app. So I can’t see any reason for Fitbit not to follow.

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[Jayelo]

Hey Fitbit....are we working on this? It’s been YEARS since we got anything new. Let’s not forget about this feature that we all enjoy on our Fitbit. Hope to see new trails, challenges, features SOON!!!