What are advanced running and form metrics?

Step up your runs using these Google Pixel Watch 3 advanced features.

Proper running form is the key to helping unlock your full running potential and helping reduce the chance of injury. Advanced motion sensing measures your cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, and more. Check your running form insights and deep dive into advanced metrics to take action for improvement.

Note: Your workout metrics are recorded in the background, even if you don't view them during your workout. Your workout data is available in the post-workout summary and the Fitbit app on your phone.

Important: If you don’t have a Fitbit account, go to the Google Play Store on your phone and download the Fitbit app. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account and connect your account to your watch. If prompted, follow the instructions to move Fitbit to your Google Account. Pixel Watch 3 users must move Fitbit to a Google Account to proceed. For more information on setting up your watch and connecting your watch to an existing Fitbit account, refer to How do I set up my Fitbit device?.

What running metrics can I check?

Note: Google Pixel Watch 3 users with Premium receive insights on their running form¹. These are based on comparisons of similar portions of workouts and meant to identify trends and outliers in their personal performance.

Form metrics

Form Metrics	Description
Step Cadence	How many steps you take per minute. High cadence is associated with higher efficiency.
Ground contact time	How long your foot touches the ground during each stride. Lower contact time is associated with higher efficiency.
Vertical oscillation	This measures the vertical displacement of your center of mass with each step. Lower vertical oscillation suggests more efficient running form, minimizing
Vertical ratio	This compares your vertical oscillation (foot rise) to your stride length. A lower ratio indicates better running form, where most of your forward motion comes from stride length, not bouncing. Segments can help you check if your form changes throughout your run.
Stride length	The distance between successive points of contact of the same foot. Shorter stride length is associated with higher efficiency.

What other metrics can I check?

Metrics	Description
Steps	Steps taken today and progress toward your daily goal.
Distance	The total distance covered, measured in miles or kilometers.
Elapsed Time	The total duration of your workout, from the moment you start to the moment you finish. It includes all pauses, breaks, and rest periods.
Calories burned	The number of calories burned during your workout.
Elevation Gain	Total vertical distance you climbed during your workout. Note: Your workout summary in the Fitbit app includes a graph of the elevation change over time and includes the highest and lowest elevation during your run.
Heart Rate (HR)	This reflects how hard your heart is working. It's displayed in beats per minute (bpm). Segments can show you how your heart rate responds to different efforts within your workout. Different HR zones indicate varying intensity levels. Note: Your workout summary in the Fitbit app includes a graph of your heart rate change over time and includes your maximum heart rate.
Active Zone Minutes (AZM)	The number of Active Zone Minutes you earned during your run. For more information, refer to What are Active Zone Minutes or active minutes on my Fitbit device?
Pace	Split Pace: The pace you maintain over a specific segment of your workout. Split Average Pace: The average speed you maintained for a specific portion of your workout.
Pace	Segment Pace: Refers to your speed over a specific distance, typically displayed in minutes per kilometer (min/km) for running or minutes per mile (min/mi). Lower pace indicates faster running. Segments can show you how your pace varies throughout your workout.
Cadence	Split Cadence: The average number of steps you took per minute during a specific segment of your workout. It helps you analyze your running technique and efficiency.
Cadence	Segment Cadence: This is your step count per minute while running. Having a consistent cadence can improve efficiency and reduce injury risk. Segments can show variations in your cadence during your run.
Split Time	Time it took you to complete a specific portion of your workout.
Cardio Load	The increase in cardio load you earned during your run. For more information, refer to What are cardio load and target load?

To learn more about these stats, refer to How do I track my activity with my Fitbit device?

Where do I find my post-workout metrics?

After your workout, your watch displays a summary of your performance. These metrics include:

Form analysis, such as cadence, stride length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and vertical ratio
Cardio load
General stats, such as elapsed time, distance run, pace, heart rate, calories burned, steps taken, and elevation change
Heart rate details, such as active zone minutes and time spent in each heart rate zone
Run details, such as distance run, elapsed time, pace, average heart rate, and splits

How do I analyze and compare my running metrics?

Fitbit App

Google Pixel Watch

Learn from your runs: Analyze your data

There are two primary ways to gain insights from your advanced running metrics:

1. Average Advanced Running Metrics and Personal Range Comparisons:

2. Visualizing Performance Over Time:

How do I view advanced metrics during a run?

You can check key metrics during and after your run. Tracking your metrics helps you review your progress and identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can improve over time.

For more information on how to track your workouts on the Fitbit app and other Fitbit devices, refer to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device? and How can custom run workouts help with my daily fitness?

Edit your key metrics

Google Pixel Watch

Related resources

_{¹ Fitbit Premium requires a Google Account, Fitbit mobile app, compatible Android or iOS device (see fitbit.com/devices for specifications), and internet connection. Premium content and features are subject to change, are not available in all countries, and may be in English only.}

Choose a section to give feedback on

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?

What are advanced running and form metrics?

What running metrics can I check?

Form metrics

What other metrics can I check?

Where do I find my post-workout metrics?

How do I analyze and compare my running metrics?

Fitbit App

Google Pixel Watch

Learn from your runs: Analyze your data

1. Average Advanced Running Metrics and Personal Range Comparisons:

2. Visualizing Performance Over Time:

How do I view advanced metrics during a run?

Edit your key metrics

Google Pixel Watch

Swipe to view selected key metric

Related resources

Was this helpful?

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

What is the issue with this selection?

Share additional info or suggestions