A pedometer not only makes you feel like a marathon star by clocking in the great lengths you've run, but it can also keep track of your overall progress and serve to motivate. While earlier pedometers used to note they may not be accurate for running or jogging, technology has improved. Some pedometers even come with a "sensitivity adjuster" that automatically adjust to compensate for your particular running or jogging style.
Running vs. Walking
Pedometers generally work for both walking and running, as long as you make a few tweaks while setting it up. Most set-ups include inputting your stride length so the device can translate your number of steps into distance traveled in miles. Since running strides are longer than walking strides, make sure to input the correct length. Some pedometers automatically set the stride for you, so make sure you run during the calibration. Some of the least expensive pedometers don't have the option of translating number of steps into distance, in which case you won't have to calibrate it at all.
Picking a Pedometer
You have a few options when it comes to picking your running pedometer. Basic belt pedometers, worn on your waist band or belt, are often the least expensive of the bunch. Next up is the wrist pedometer, worn on your wrist, and then comes the pedometer worn on your shoe. Some advanced pedometers consist of a sensor inserted in your shoe that sends signals to a wrist monitor.
Accuracy
All types of pedometers have issues with accuracy when it comes to running, The Runners World and L.A. Press explain. Vigorous arm movements while running sometimes confuse the wrist pedometer, which may wrongly gauge them as steps. A running workout that includes sprints or bursts of speed often messes up a pedometer's accuracy, as you're using different stride lengths that differ from your average running pace. Running uphill or on uneven terrain sometimes also results in inaccurate counts.
Other Drawbacks
In addition to not being 100 percent accurate for running, some pedometers have other drawbacks. The pedometer sensor inserted in your shoe often comes with a specific pair of running shoes, which means you have to buy that brand and always wear those particular shoes to use your pedometer. If you hope to use any type of pedometer that measures distance for both walking and running, you are going to have to reset the stride length to coincide with your activity. Shoe pedometers also have to brave the elements, if you're running outdoors in the rain or dirt.
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