Try This to Measure Your Running Route

[Jane]

Someone posted this link on the Running Room Website!  It is pretty interesting and seems to work great!  If you don't have a Garmin to measure your route and don't want to spend 86 cents a liter or more for gas to measure it, this link seems to work just fine!

http://www.sueandpaul.com/gmapPedometer/

It isn't hard to manoeuver in either.  If you have problems, just ask - but if I can figure it out, it can't be all that hard!  Apparently you can print out your map once you are done, along with the measurement.

To get started, remember to click on the "I'm not from Hoboken Link" then zoom into where ever you do your runs. You can check check out the Satellite link in the top right corner, but it can't quite zoom right into our area.  However, it is blurry, but I CAN see 10 Hangar on the satellite image.

[ShoppinShannon]

I have been wondering for the longest time how to measure my distance, and now, even when I go on holidays, I can have a route planned out!  Thank you!! :D

[Jane]

Yes, welcome Shannon.  I am glad you like that website.  I wish the satellite imagery part could zoom in a little closer.  But it is still fun to map out routes and see how far they are - and anywhere it in the world it seems!  Too bad they don't have the trails on it too!  Especially when the trees block the Garmins, it could come in handy!

[chevy]

It does say its a hack on Google mapping, but it seems to be off by about 10% to me. I know I slowed down over the years but  not that much. Anyone else think the same. After posting this I decided to measure the Spring Thaw 10k path and it came up 9.9 K.  I guess it is pretty tight.  Guess I better pick up my training.

[Janet]

Very cool web site Jane!  Now I know how far I run, and bike without having to drive the route in the car. :lol:

Janet

[Jane]

Well, Chevy did mention that it might be a bit off in its accuracy -- but then again, he tested it and it wasn't in the case of the Spring Thaw route.  I haven't had a chance to test it myself yet, so can't say for sure.  But at the price of gas, it is cheaper to measure it this way!

[Sue]

Hi everyone! I'm a new runner since April 2005 and and training for the half marathon in the county in October.  I thought the GMaps Pedometer site was a great help for me to map out my routes, even in the small little village of Bloomfield!  Very easy to use. Thanks for the info. As for running, I' hooked!  Any advice for a new runner would be greatly appreciated.

[Jane]

Hi Sue - welcome to the addiction of running!  How far are you up to running now?  Are you going to run in Wellington on Saturday?

Hints?  You will get tons of them on here.  Make sure you read Sandy's columns -- she always has lots of words of wisdom!

What can I contribute to your request for hints?  Here's a couple.

1.  Make sure you always carry water, and make sure you drink it.  (This is one of Sandy's #1 rules).  Hydrating is VERY important, even when it is cold.

2.  When it is really hot, carry a wet sponge under your sports bra strap - wet it at water stations or with water from your water bottle and use it to cool down your face.

3.  To keep your shoe laces from coming untied, when you wrap the lace around the first loop, wrap it around twice, instead of once.  This is another "Sandy" hint and is one of the best - you don't ever have to stop and tie your shoes during a run or race.

Hmmm, I could probably think of more, but I will let other people get their two cents in there too.

Oh yes -- last one -- Tri & Run Sports has the greatest shoes and clothing and at really great prices.  If you want good deals and friendly service, definitely check it out!

[Sandy]

I think I should put on payroll as PR manager Jane, thanks for the kudos!!

Sandy

[Jane]

That's ok Sandy -- after all you have done for me, I am pleased to give you all the free PR I can!

By the way, I realized I didn't give you credit for the second hint (sponges), which means they all came from you.  And then I realized that pretty well everything I have learned about running has come from you!  What a teacher!!

[suestevenson]

Hi Jane,
Thanks for all the great advice!  I learned the water one the hard way while on holiday on the east coast.  I ran 8 miles with no water.  I was a little dizzy and had a headache after the run.  Learned my lesson though!  I'm going to Sandy's tomorrow to purchase a water belt. Any suggestions which one I should purchase?  
I train with Sandy on Saturday's in Belleville and have purchased shoes etc. all from Sandy.  Your right great advice and great products at great prices!  Sandy is very encouraging as well!
I ran 10 miles last weekend and still cannot believe I did it!  My time was not great but hopefully that will come.  I cannot do the Wellington run as I am working this weekend(I work shift and am working nights) and will be doing my long run on Friday morning instead of Saturday.  I am definitely going to try the sponge though on Friday as it has been so hot lately.  I have signed up for the Sandbanks run on the 18th.  Are you running in Wellington Jane?  If you are hope you have a great run!  

Thanks again for the great advice!
Sue

[Sandy]

Congratulations on the 10 miles Sue!!! Good for you.  It is exciting to see the miles add up and know that you are only 3 away from a half-marathon finish.  Keep up the good work.

Sandy

[Jane]

Wow, 10 miles is great!  What do you mean by your time was not great?  I am thinking of Christine in our group who was afraid to come out because she thought she couldn't keep up to us.  Well, she is one of the fastest in the group!!  We like to kid her about that, right Christine?  

About the water belt, it seems like it is personal preference.  Heather (my daughter) got one with the little bottles but didn't like it.  I tried it, but I don't like drinking out of bottles with those little squirt caps on them.  She sold the belt with the little bottles to someone else and got a belt where the bottle is at the back on a slant.  Some of the girls in our trail group have the two bottles at the back type.  One girl loves it but the other one said she was wondering if it was causing a sore back.  I have one that my brother-in-law bought me several years ago, with the bottle straight up at the back.  It tends to flop around some and rotates some around my waist, but I am so used to it now.  When I have to get another one, I will get either the one bottle or two bottle at the back.  You should go and try them all on - Sandy will also give you good advice, I know.

I am planning on running Wellington, but am not registering until the day of the run.  Too bad you have to work.  I will sign up for Sandbanks too.  It seems to be a favourite of our group here in Trenton, with many of us going.  So we will get to meet you there, if not sooner.

Another hint for you, if you take your sponge with you on Friday.  Heather and I found if it is a new one, make sure you wet it thoroughly and wring it out a bit before you go out.  Otherwise you can use up too much of your drinking water trying to get it to hold the water right off.  If you can find spots along the way to wet it too, it is better than using up your precious drinking water - just don't use water from the Trent River if you are around here!   :lol:

[Robyn]

Sue, congrats on the 10k.  A little at a time, is my motto.  Another motto that goes around the group is, "I'll run my own damn race", meaning that time isn't of importance if you don't want it to be.  I'm the slowest of the bunch and it's taken me quite awhile to realize I'll never be able to keep up with the speedies of the group.  I just go out and try to enjoy the scenery.  It's my therapy.  

On the subject of water belts, I use the 4-bottle belt and I love it.  I got it from Sandy.  I've tried the one that straps onto your hand from The Running Room, but I prefer the 4 bottles.  I bought larger bottles than those that come with the belt so it holds about 40 oz of fluid, which is good for a long run.  I never run out of water and there's always enough to pour on my head if it's too hot.  If you'd like to try my hand-held bottle you're more than welcome.  It holds about 700 ml of fluid and if you like it, it's yours.  If anyone else would like to have it, let me know and you can have it.  It's just sitting in my kitchen taking up space.

Keep up the good work, Sue. :D

[Sue S]

Thanks Jane,Robyn and Sandy for the encouraging words!  I picked up my water bottle belt today at Sandy's.  It's the single bottle on a slant and I tried it out this am for my run and it worked great!  I forgot to pick up a sponge yesterday to try but will. Thanks for the offer Robyn for your hand held.  Hope I get to meet you guys out running.  Maybe the Sandbanks Run!

Sue :D