A pedometer is a small device that counts the number of steps you take. Attach the pedometer to the waist of your pants. All pedometers count steps but not every pedometer provides information about the distance you walked. You can figure out how many steps it takes you to walk a mile.
Pedometer Features
Basic pedometers provide feedback on your total steps. These pedometers cost as little as $3 or $4. Midlevel pedometers, which generally cost between $6 and $20, include information on distance, approximate calories burned and stride length. High-level pedometers, which cost $25 or more, may have a timer, memory and other advanced features. If your pedometer calculates distance, you can walk one mile and check the total number of steps you took.
Approximate Steps
Stride length differs among individuals. You may have a long stride while your best friend has a short stride. The means the number of steps each of you has to take to complete a mile is different. However, using an average stride length, you can calculate approximately how many steps it takes to travel one mile. Walk North Dakota, an extension service of North Dakota State University, provides an estimate of steps per mile. Approximately 500 steps equals 1/4 mile, 1000 steps equals 1/2 mile and 2000 steps equals one mile.
Stride Length
Your stride length is the distance between the toe of your back foot and the toe of your front foot when you take a step. To determine your stride length, make a mark on the ground. Start with both feet behind this mark, and then move your right foot forward from this point and count 10 steps. Make a second mark at the toe of your tenth step, which should be your left foot. Measure the distance between the two marks and divide by 10. This is your stride length.
Stride Length to Miles
Once you know your stride length, you can calculate how many steps it takes you to walk one mile, even if your pedometer doesn't measure distance. There are 5,280 feet in one mile. Divide 5,280 by your stride length to get the number of steps you need to walk to cover a mile. If your stride length is 2 feet, 5,280 divided by 2 is 2,625. For every 2,625 steps you've taken on your pedometer, you've walked about one mile.
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