Most pedometers measure more than how many steps you take in a day. If you calculate and input your average stride length, they can also make a reasonably accurate estimate of how far you've walked. Use this feature to help you meet specific fitness goals, such as walking three miles every day. Being able to measure point-to-point distances traveled on foot is also useful for mapping out a training course as you train to walk or run a 5k or longer race.
Step 1
Place a 12-inch piece of tape across the floor, just in front of your toes. Take 10 steps forward, then place another piece of tape just in front of your toes at the finish position. Measure the distance between the tape pieces, divide by 10, and input the result into your pedometer as your stride length. So if you covered 30 feet in 10 steps, your stride length is 30 / 10 = 3 feet.
Step 2
Reset your pedometer and attach it to your body. Exactly how and where you can mount your pedometer, and still have it measure strides accurately, depends on the pedometer. Most pedometers will read distance accurately if clipped to the waistline of your pants, in line with the crease that forms when you bend your leg at the hip. Some are designed to be carried in a pants pocket.
Step 3
Walk the distance you want to measure. Your pedometer will count how many strides you take, then use this figure and your average stride length to compute distance traveled. Some pedometers will automatically adjust for a longer stride length if you run instead of walking, but not all do; if you're not sure whether your pedometer has this feature, walk.
Step 4
Check your pedometer's readout as soon as you've walked the course you intended to measure, or check periodically to see if you've met your fitness goal. Record the distance in a notebook if you need access to the figure later, then reset your pedometer so it's ready for the next use.
Tips and Warnings
- If you're walking for general fitness, push yourself to walk further, faster, each week as your body adapts to the new demands you're placing on it. You'll reap the benefits of regular aerobic exercise, which include weight loss, better stamina, improved mood, a longer, more independent life and reduced risk of conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Things You'll Need
- 12-inch pieces of tape, 2
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