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Altering algorithm for calculating daily steps target?

Is there a way to alter the algorithm? I've found a stable limit where the target is reasonable and adapted to my daily runs and walking patterns. I've managed to hit the daily target for 9 days in a row with some effort. And now as my scheduled garmin training program asks for long runs, I do a long run and collect ~23000 steps. The next day is rest day according to the training program, so I do a long walk or a hike instead, reaching ~10K steps. So. My daily target was ~8000 steps which is managable and on a level that gets me wanting to reach it. But after the long run, my daily target goes up 50% from ~8000 to ~12000 steps, which is not helpful. The streak gets broken, I get demotivated and learn that hitting the daily target can't be important since it clearly is incompatible with training programs. So now the step function is useless until I've forgotten about that unreasonable increase.
How is the daily target calculated and can it be altered, or adapted to the scheduled training program so that my walking habits can benefit from the daily targets instead of getting me pissed of at garmin, and the fact that they completely disregard from user feedback?

By the way "training status - dropping" is translated to ~ "training status - droppings", and there's no place to report it.
  • Is there a way to alter the algorithm?


    No.

    My daily target was ~8000 steps which is managable


    Then disable auto-goal and set a custom step goal at 8000.

    I get demotivated and learn that hitting the daily target can't be important


    Of course it isn't important! I cannot possibly imagine anything less important, than trying to reach a step goal on every single day. My personal opinion, mind you.

    since it clearly is incompatible with training programs.


    Compatibility is not an issue here. You're trying to use simultaneously two different functions of the watch, serving two very different goals.

    can it be altered, or adapted to the scheduled training program


    No.
  • What tmk2 said is true, but I just want to add that the way this automatic step goal is designed is quite silly, useless and mostly demotivating rather than motivating.

    I liked on pebble that you were supposed to beat your averages for different days of the week. So for example you were rewarded with some motivation when you walked more on a specific Monday than what you usually walk on Mondays, etc. It's still not perfect, but people usually have a weekly schedule at least, and the average creeps up a lot slower.

    The way it's designed on Garmin sets you up to either certain failure or certain exhaustion to ever increasing goals if you want to keep your streak. Of course you don't have to, but I find streaks being a good motivational tool for me. You also get badges for streaks in Garmin Connect for it, that's what Garmin thought as well probably.

    I think it would be slightly better if recorded walking/running sessions would count towards the daily amount, but would not increase the goal.
  • Thanks for your answers tmk2 adn Attila.

    I haven't found the custom step goal yet. That could possibly help me get the silly part of the automatic step goal as Attila mentions.

    Compatibility is perhaps the wrong word, but Garmin claims the watch can be used for training AND activity tracking, which makes you think the functions they've actively chosen to includ in the watch wouldn't interfere with each other to a degree where one function makes another one useless. Usability has never been their priority on the other hand, so I wouldn't be surprised.

    I agree with Attila's thoughts though. The suggested changes would do it for me.