Metric glossary
Duty factor
The share of each stride your foot spends on the ground, as a percentage.
- Pods needed
- A pod on a shin or foot
- Usual confidence
- Medium what this means
What it is
Duty factor is time on the ground divided by stride time, shown as a percentage. It tells you how much of each stride you spend on the ground rather than in the air.
How we measure it
From the same landing and push-off moments we use for time on the ground, measured by a shin or foot pod 100 times a second.
Typical range
There is no "good" or "watch" band. It is a detail number in the Stats tab, not used for advice yet. Running is usually below 50 %; at easy pace many runners are around 30–40 %. Above 50 % one foot is always on the ground, which is walking. The app uses this to tell running strides from walking strides.
How sure we are
Medium, the same as time on the ground. See how confidence works.
What you can try
Nothing to change on its own. Duty factor drops when you run faster or with a springier step. Work on time on the ground and steps per minute instead.
Good to know
Duty factor makes runs at different speeds a little easier to compare than raw contact time, because it scales with the length of your stride.
Updated 1 November 2026.
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ReadMyMove shows how you move. It does not assess injuries or health. If you have pain, see a health professional. If you're pain-free, there's no need to change something just because it differs from a typical range.