Distance discrepancies.

[Meanmommab]

I run with a group on a regular basis and use a Garmin Vivoactive 4s to track my run. Other members of the group use Apple watches etc. My watch always maps my run as longer than everyone else by about 1/2 mile! Anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I can do to correct it?

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That's quite a lot, I had a vivoactive 4s and it was about the same as my friends Apple watch when we ran together, have you input your stride? I have mine set to auto stride, not sure that would make a difference as both Garmin and Apple have GPS.

[Meanmommab Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

No I haven't input my stride. Didnt know I had to or to set autostride!🤦‍♀️Will see if I can find it. Thanks!😁

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Meanmommab]

I think it's auto unless you put your stride length in, mind you I don't know much, I'll see if I can find it .

Mines only got walking stride, it's under user settings.

Steide

[nowster Graduate10]

More recent Garmins have really good GPS, much better than most Apple watches.

Do your runs involve stretches under trees, in "urban canyons" or have lots of turns?

If you compare the GPS traces from your watches and theirs, do you notice theirs cut corners a lot? On longer runs that can really add up.

My old watch (vivoactive3) usually measured my local parkrun (four laps with tree cover and lots of turns) well under 5km, but my current one (Forerunner955) measures it as over 5km.

Both measured the beach parkrun I do perfectly, because that's a gentle curve along a bay with an unobstructed sky view.

[Meanmommab Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

My watch is maybe 3 years old so might not be the best with regards to GPS. We do run under trees etc. and I haven't compared traces so may be useful to do that. Thanks.

[Teresa1632 Graduate10]

My Garmin under records too, but not by much. My friends Apple watch over records, and her times are much faster even when we run together. I've asked to use her watch for a race, I could get a PB 😜If you have Strava, you can use their "correct distance" tab to iron out any inconsistencies. (Its three dots on the left of the screen. Click on that and the menu comes up)