Yes but what if the rapid update never triggers?
Why would rapid update never trigger?
The app does monitor your location when the screen is off. The app actually use Googles location settings. So all those settings are set in your phone location settings menu and you should have high accuracy or GPS, WIFI, and Mobile network option turned on.
The app can force an update also. And Richard does this for several different things (which I don"t know every one of them) When you unlock the app, change your location settings or open the app it will all force a manual update at that time then it will then go back to normal checking every so often based on googles rules.
The reason why you put your phone is rapid update more then 5 min away from home (could be a mile or less depending on your city traffic and streets you take) is so if your phone is only checking for update every 2-5 min (to conserve battery) is to make sure that some time between that large rapid update fence and the small enter fence your phone wakes up and puts it in rapid update before you cross the small fence.
If your larger fence and smaller fence are too close together it is true your phone may never wake up (not enough time or distance) and poll between those two and rapid update will never be kicked in (which maybe your problem now). Unless you open the phone or app and Richards manual check kicks in and then all starts working (which also maybe where your at now).
So based on what your saying I would try a bigger outer or rapid update fence or turn on debugging and email your self the log after to see what your phone is seeing.