I know I'm slow but I didn't think I was that slow

[JulieByf]

I went for a trot on Sunday morning and did 5.5k which for me is pretty decent especially as I had decided to do a very short run.My local council is trying to encourage residents to become more active and so have joined with an app called Better points. You allow the app to track your movement and the more active you are the more points you get that eventually result in money off coupons for local shops or you can donate the money to charity. It distinguishes between public transport rides (gives points for being eco friendly), car rides (no points), cycling walking or running.

I have the app and after my run out of curiosity I looked to see how many points I had generated. Major disappointment, only about 2 minutes was classes as a run, that's the bit at the end where I tried to speed up a bit. The rest registered as a walk.

It made me smile as it confirmed I am the snail I suspected I was but in my head I hoped I was a hare. 😄🐌🐇🏃‍♀️😅

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Interesting app and whatever it says you know you ran

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏 What a pity it doesn’t just log in the distance! You ran & that’s all that really counts but disappointing not to get the points!! X

[JulieByf Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

I did get some points but it made me smile so I thought I would share my slowness 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Snails rock!

[JulieByf Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I try to 😄

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

What do these gadgets know about the finer things in life, like slow running?Seriously though, I'd like to know how fast you need to go for it to register as a run. If you're older and shorter and a woman you won't be as fast as a tall young man. Is this everyday sexism built into the algorithm? Maybe query it with the app designer, if you're making the effort to run you should be credited with your fair share of points.

[JulieByf Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Somebody somewhere obviously has their idea of what speed equates to a run. Overall my speed was 11.51 miles/hr and I know my walking pace is slower than that. I'm not too bothered about it but as I said it made me smile.Maybe my challenge is to turn my run into a run on the app and not a walk.

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to JulieByf]

Somebody somewhere obviously has their idea of what speed equates to a run.

And that person (the app is made by BetterPoints Ltd) knows nothing about running. Have they never heard of running on the spot? It's not speed that makes the difference between walking and running, but the gait pattern. Walking = one foot always in contact with the ground. Running = there's a point where neither foot is on the ground.

Ugh, I loathe this sort of tech. Measures everything and values nothing.

[JulieByf Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

I know it's frustrating. I just thought it was a good idea to earn a few pennies for a charity, as I'm moving around anyway.

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to JulieByf]

All credit to you for your reason for participating JulieByf - using something you do already to help a good cause.

I still detest the app developers' approach though. Monitoring my behaviour with technology in order to motivate me to change? Forget it. It's wrong for me on so many levels.

[Carners1 Graduate]

If you ain't walking, you're running 😁

[JulieByf Graduate in reply to Carners1]

Agreed. 👍

[Readandrun Graduate]

Sounds like a brilliant idea but a pity that it only registers running if you are an elite athlete. Perhaps they should alter it before hopefully rolling it out to other areas. Well done on your excellent run anyway 😀.

[JulieByf Graduate in reply to Readandrun]

Thank you

[Teresa1632 Graduate]

A run is a run! The app is a liar! It reminds me of the time i was pacing a couple of runners to run slow - they were training for a half marathon. We passed a neighbours driveway as he was coming out. He shouted out "By jaysus, thats some running Teresa!" Just as my chest puffed out with pride, he added "for an old girl". Talk about bringing me back to earth!!! I roared laughing. My fellow runners looked on in disgust and said "so rude!" Actually, I know the man well, and he genuinely meant it as a compliment, even if it did come out all wrong.

Happy running, think about how you're going to use those hard earned points.

[Steady_Stevve Graduate]

Your post reminds me of the quote: "technology is a good servant but a poor master". Sometimes I think my Garmin watch is a problem in that respect, because I get too conscious of the pace I am running at. Thanks for the post. You should get extra points for fast walking at least!

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Steady_Stevve]

I don't wear my Garmin all the time Steady_Stevve and quite often leave it at home when I go for a run. I don't need to cart a technological Dementor about with me incessantly!