Tracking Your Walks: A Guide to Pedometers and Distance

Question
I took up walking several months ago and really enjoy it.  I generally walk late at night to avoid being out in the sun.  My distance varies.  I always walk at least 1.5 miles but more often than not I go 3 to 6 miles.  Every once in a while I get a wild hair and may walk up to 10 miles.  I recently purchased an odometer and am finding it impossible to set.  The instructions were missing on how to measure my stride.  I originally set it at 40 inches but after walking a mile the distance was off.  Then I moved it to 59 inches and even at this setting, it was roughly 20% short of the distance I actually walked.  I am 6'4" tall and have long legs so I'm sure I've got a long stride...but 59" is the max my odometer will go and that sounds like it should be plenty.  I wore it on my waste in the middle of my leg.  Can you comment on my situation?  Can you recommend any good books on walking?  Thanks.

Answer
HI KEN
I FEEL THOSE ARE A WASTE OF MONEY.  U KNOW HOW FAR U WANT TO WALK, MEASURE MILAGE BY YOUR AUTO.
SET GOALS TO THE DISTANCE U WANT TO DO DAILY.
MY DAUGHTER POWER WALKS 4 MILE A DAY IN ONE HALF HOUR.
SHE IS VERY THIN, SHE IS ON MY FRONT PAGE, MANDI OF MY SITE.
IT IS DOWN TODAY BUT WILL BE BACK UP.  SHE HAD 5 CHILDREN AND KEEPS IN TOP CONDITION BY POWER WALKING, IT IS BETTER THAN JOGGING AND RUNNING.
I FEEL NO MORE THAN 5 MILE A DAY IS ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY IF DONE DAILY.
GO TO WWW.AMAZON.COM AND U CAN FIND BOOKS, I NEVER WAS INTO READING, SO I CANNOT HELP U ON THAT PART, BUT I FEEL POWER WALKING WITH ARMS SWINING IS GREAT FOR THE HEART, WEIGHT LOSS, ETC.

WARM REGARDS
PATT
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM