Supporting Your Outdoor Experience

Pacing

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Pacing is the practise of calculating the distance you have travelled based on the number of steps you have taken. There are generally two types of pacing, single and double pacing. Single pacing is counting every single step you take while double pacing counts only on right or left foot steps.

Distance Markers in Park Connectors make an excellent place to find your pacing

To find out what your pacing is, you will need some way to measure the distance you are going to cover. Park connectors are excellent places to find out your pacing. A running track could also serve the purpose.

Step 1:
Figure out whether you want to calculate your pacing in single or double steps. I would recommend double steps as its half the numbers to count!

Step 2:

Go to the starting marker on the track. 200 meters is a good distance to calculate your pacing fairly accurately.

Step 3:
Walk the 200 meters and count your pacing as you move forward. When you reach the end, take note of the number and divide it by 2. You will then get the number of steps you take to cover 100 meters. Somewhere between 55 to 70 double pacing steps is normal for most people.

Step 4:
Now confirm your pacing by walking back the 200 meters. Calcualate your pacing for 100 meters and check if its the same. If it is not the same, average the number to find your pacing. You could pace another 200 meters to confirm your pacing.

Notes:

StepsA person's pacing is never consistent. Some factors that will affect the accuracy of pacing includes:

Fatigue level - You walk slower when tired
Weather - You walk slower in hot weather
Terrain - Upslopes lower pacing and downslopes increase
Walking in a group - You may walk faster or slower depending on the group speed
Carrying weight - The more weight on you, the slower you will travel
Growth - If you are a teenager, your pacing should increase as you grow taller

A Pedometer or a GPS could help you calculate distance covered.

 

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