What do my stats mean?

[Yesletsgo]

I’ve got a cheapo fitness tracker watch which I switch on as I leave the house for my C25K run and switch off when I get back. It works with the VeryFitPro app. Most of the stats are self explanatory but can anyone explain the two which are still puzzling me?

It tells me that my pacemiles/h is 4.11. Does this mean my running speed is 4.11 mph? Why ‘pacemiles’?

The other one is ‘average speed’ which today was 14’36”. I was recording my time for 49 minutes and covered 3.35 miles so I’m guessing that this is my average speed for running a mile?

I generally walk a few minutes before starting the C25K app so that I don’t have to start running until I’m past where most of the dog walkers are (don’t like talking to people or them seeing me lol). It also minimises the distance run on paths as I prefer to be on grass which is softer on my knees. I realised I’m covering slightly over 5k if I include all the brisk walking and, if I hadn’t stopped for a chat on the way home my ‘average speed’ would doubtless have been slightly quicker. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Btw I completed week 6 today, very pleased with myself. When I started I could barely run for a minute!

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Hello Yesletsgo , I'll admit I don't understand your stats as they seem to be the wrong way round!

Pace is normally the number of minutes it takes to cover a mile (or a kilometre, if you're working in km, as I do) whereas speed is the number of miles (or km) you cover in an hour.

This link might help you make sense of the numbers: therunlab.co.uk/3d-gait-ana...

In fact, I suspect the problem is simply bad translation.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks, that makes sense. Maybe I should get a fancier tracker 😀

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

The accuracy of your tracker will also depend on whether it uses gps or is just relying on a value for your average stride length. Actual stride length will vary depending on speed and terrain etc. What you have will be good to compare similar runs but may not be giving accurate readings. Happy running 🤗

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks, I also have Google Fit which gives the same distance covered. I think the app has gps but the step counter is definitely iffy. It works on hand movements apparently and warns that if you eg fold laundry the movements are recorded as steps! I just want an idea of what progress I’m making, comparing like with like. Only problem is that if I stop for a chat or to admire the scenery on the way home it makes me look a lot slower. That’s my excuse anyway 😁

[John_W Graduate10]

Sounds like your app or tracker has come with some *very dodgy* translation.

Your run of 3.35 miles in 49 minutes gives us all the info we need to work out what's going on.

- 3.35 miles in 49 minutes works out as a SPEED of 4.1 miles in 60 minutes (4.1 mph). Your SPEED is a measure of distance covered in a set time.

Your PACE (time taken to go a certain distance) was (60 mins / 4.1 miles) = 14min :36 secs per mile.

So to clarify, on your device/app

- 'pacemiles/h' = your average SPEED in miles per hour

- 'average speed' = your average PACE in miles per minute

I'd be getting an upgrade if I was you!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Thanks, this confirms what I suspected. Very confusing in the beginning!

[nowster Graduate10]

And maybe switch it to metric units? 🤣

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

That’s such an obvious thing to do! No idea why I didn’t think of it myself 😂I’ve taken your advice, it was surprisingly uncomplicated. Who needs to spend a fortune on fancy tech! Can’t wait until my next run to try it out 🏃‍♀️