Can you pull a running activity from the Surge to Runkepper?

[nycjoker]

There is currently a one way sync available from Fitbit to Runkeeper. Meaning Runkeeper has ability to pull in data from Fitbit.

Does anyone know if Runkeeper is able to pull in running activity performed with the Surge? Following various training programs in Runkeeper and having all runs in one place would be great.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[SilviaFitbit]

@nycjoker It will be my pleasure to help you! That's a great question, actually since you'll have Fitbit Surge, this tracker will calculate your distance based on a GPS because when you go for a run or a walk you can choose in your Surge to track your walk using the GPS feature, so this will avoid you to log the activities using Runkeeper app. 

To answer your question, no Runkeeper data doesn't sync to Fitbit and it doesn't matter which tracker you have. 

[nycjoker]

Are there future plans to provide Fitbit running data including HR to 3rd party applications? Fitbit has a great ecosystem but some activities would be great to share to other applications.

[SilviaFitbit]

@nycjoker Currently, this are the apps that are supported. If you want to give us a suggestion about any app that you want link with Fitbit please visit our Ideas Board because this ideas are viewed directly by our engineers and developers and people can vote for them. 

Hope to see your ideas on the board soon 

[IvanG3]

Silvia, I want to make sure I understand correctly.  There isn't a way to transfer my Fitbit Surge GPS-tracked Running activity over to RunKeeper?  This is a mayor minus for my Fitbit Surge 😞 

[SilviaFitbit]

 @IvanG3 No, it's not possible. Fitbit will sync just calories and sleep data to Runkeeper. 

P.S. Welcome to the Community

[TheJacksonian]

I too am disapointed with this low level intergration to runkeeper, I fully expected my gps tracked runs to go into runkeeper as runs with maps etc. (I don't care about HR to be honest).

There is a manual workaround to ship your fitbit runs into Runkeeper. It's worked for me, excluding that it sets the times incorrectly (not accounting for me GMT +10) but it's not a killer for me.

Try the info in this thread, 

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Surge/Gps-to-run-keeper-or-others/m-p/607519/highlight/true#M2263

I'm off to the ideas board to raise this issue......

[Topflite]

I'm 95% sure that I'll be making use of the 14 day return for my chargeHR. If it's of interest to you to report to Fitbit powers that be, the reason is that when someone logs hundreds and thousands of miles with a program, RunKeeper in my case, and has specific running cues (for tempo runs, speed work, target pace, etc) when using that app, it's just not worth losing those features, as well as $150 and the hassle of carrying another device just for calorie/sleep info. I'll just have to find an HR wearable device that syncs directly with RunKeeper. Thank You! Your responses I read were always very professional. If it's worth anything, I really liked seeing live HR info during run on the ChargeHR, and the HR graph in Fitbit app after run.

[tastybrew]

---

@Topflite wrote:
I'll just have to find an HR wearable device that syncs directly withRunKeeper.

---

My Polar H7 works wonderfully with Runkeeper. Sadly, instead of working together to improve the capability, Fitbit and Runkeeper point fingers at each other about sharing/syncing data. Like you, I'll continue using Runkeeper (which I do have set to sync with Fitbit through MFP even though Fitbit still won't let me edit those activities) to track runs. I have hope that someday Fitbit will broaden its ecosystem to share more information bidirectionally, as well as support third party hardware. Until then, I'll continue enjoying my Force, Polar H7, and Runkeeper on my Android device.

[VivisFitbit]

@tastybrew   Thank you for your participation on the Community!

I'm happy to know you're enjoying your Force and your applications as well! I appreciate your feedback about the about the way that the third party integrations share info with Fitbit. In this case the third party integrations are solely responsible about the information shared with Fitbit. 

Keep enjoying your Force and good luck!

[tastybrew]

Thanks for your response @VivisFitbit . I also thank you for helping to make my point regarding finger pointing. I don't know which view is accurate or where the truth lies in the middle, but your comment and this statement from Runkeeper makes my point. Consumers don't care who's not playing nice in the sandbox, we just want stuff to work.

"Data only flows from Fitbit to RunKeeper, and not vice versa. We'd love a bi-directional flow, too. Contact Fitbit support to make this happen!"

My situation of using MFP as an intermediary would work modestly well if Fitbit started allowing us to once again edit activities. Any word on when that functionality will return?

[SilviaFitbit]

@tastybrew Thank you for the link that you attached! Currently, the edit option in the Dashboard is under consideration you may want to vote for it so our engineers will work faster on this, vote for the idea here.  

Thanks for your understanding 

[tastybrew]

@SilviaFitbit , this thread is about Runkeeper and Fitbit bidirectionally sharing data so did my link provide any clarity on the issue or is it still a "3rd party's responsibility"?

As for voting for the ability to once again edit activities, it was already stated that functionality will be restored (still not sure why it was removed without being notified). I shouldn't have to vote to get functionality restored that was previously present for at least  a year, probably longer.

[EmilyEL]

Hi there @tastybrew . Thanks for your feedback about this. As you mentioned, this thread is regarding the Runkeeper integration with Fitbit, so I'd encourage you to visit this thread for updates concerning the Activity Editing feature. 

As you know, Fitbit has an open API. If third party applications choose to devlop Fitbit integrations for the benefit of their users, those integrations remain the responsibility of the third party developer unless Fitbit chooses to develop otherwise. The idea that @SilviaFitbit  referenced concerning our end of the integration already exists, so please do add any additional commentary there. I hope this clarifies any confusion!  

[tastybrew]

Thanks @EmilyEL , but I'm not confused. I'm simply pointing out concerns and limitations for syncing with Runkeeper. As for the activity editing function, I'm glad there's a "fix in place", but that was announced over three weeks ago and we still don't have the feature restored. Do you understand how frustrating that is?

[SarahWinder]

Hi, 

I just started using my Fitbit Charge HR today and connected it to my RunKeeper app on my phone. When I went for a walk today I activated the workout function on my Fitbit and started RunKeeper to track my walk that way as well. Both workouts showed up on my Fitbit Dashboard. Does this mean the same, single workout was tracked twice and gave me double credit for miles/steps/calories? I want to make sure I am getting an accurate count of those values and they are not being duplicated. Should I "un-sync" my RunKeeper account? Thank you!

[tastybrew]

If you're going to track activities with Fitbit, then there's minimal reason to track activities with Runkeeper. You'll likely get two activities due to timing. You can delete one of the activities in your dashboard and you should be fine. Runkeeper or Fitbit, that's a personal preference.

[PaulBt]

Dear moderators,

Being an IT Interoperability specialist, I can relate to the your position: there are so many devices and applications, hence where to start, or stop for that matter. Therefore, you provide for an open interface in the hope that others will make the connection. However, I would appreciate when you would relate to the consumer perspective as well (such as formulated very well by @tastybrew), especially since they will make, or break, your business.

An open API is only part of the solution; a better one however would be to support an open standard for any data that you provide. Not only are you then truly opening the stove-pipe that your suite represents, but you instantaneously consolidate interoperability, for years and years to come, with more applications and devices than you can think of - a set that will grow each day. Finally, you also enable innovations that you have never thought of, because smart developers and young startups will hardly put effort in interoperability with your open API when there is a standard that they can ride with.

As a starter, why not support the Bluetooth Heart Rate profile. This hardly represents much effort, especially since your devices have implemented the BT stack already.

In conclusion: whenever interoperability is at the table (customer requests about, e.g., supporting this or that app, device, or platform), do not think in terms of devices or applications, but in terms of standards instead. Preferrably open standards, of course. You will experience that it will pay-out, because standards *do* represent a competitive edge.

[spazmojones]

How dissapointing.  I too have years of activity on runkeeper, but got tired of carrying my phone on every run.  I thought fitbit could resolve this with a simple push of data to runkeeper.   For this reason, I'll be returning my fitbit charge which my kids got me for father's day.  Play nice, fitbit or play alone.  

[VivisFitbit]

Hello @spazmojones! I'm sorry for to hear this. Like you, other customer have been asking for a Feature like this. I encourage you to go to @SilviaFitbit's post and vote for the idea. You can see that this idea already has several votes. Rest assured that our team is working hard to bring this feature as soon as possible. 

See you soon.