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May 4, 2009 11:14 am US/Central
Online Tools Help Runners Find New Routes
(CBS)
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Finding new routes can often be challenging, particularly when joggers are away from home.
WBZ
Susan Pirkey loves to run, usually four to six miles at a time.
Finding new routes can often be challenging, particularly when she is away from her Boston home. "Sometimes you get lost in a neighborhood if it has a lot of turns."
Now there is whole range of online planning tools to help take the guesswork out of choosing a running route.
Dave McGillvray, the race director of the Denver Marathon, likes these maps because "you're able to sort of look at the map and see the highlights of that particular city or town, and maybe map out a course that goes by all those respective highlights."
All you do is enter a zip code or a city into an online Web site such as
MapMyRun.com,
Google's gmap pedometer, or
Sanoodi.com. You'll get a map of the entire area and then you can navigate and pinpoint your location to start planning your route. McGillvray said "I think that technology today is really revolutionizing the industry."
There are features beyond basic mapping. Some sites, for example, will check the elevation of the area. McGillvray says this type of information can bring peace of mind to a runner. "Runners are anxious. They want to pre-prepare before they get to a particular city or town."
Susan is finding these sites put a lift in her stride. "If you're somewhat familiar with the area, you can map out and see where the streets lead. If you're unfamiliar with it, you can just look at the area and determine where you want to go."
Some of the sites offer a chance for runners to give feedback and rate a particular route. This can often provide insight into whether the route is hilly, and on the condition of the running surface.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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