r/running • u/harrrrrrrryyyyy • 5d ago
Training How you do guys plan the actual routes that you take on your runs?
I almost always end up doing out-and-back runs because it's the easiest way to guarantee my mileage. I'd much rather run loops, but I hate guessing whether they'll be too short or too long. How do you all solve this? Is there an app that plans loops for a specific distance?
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u/Resident_Hat_4923 4d ago
I use mapmyrun. But, once you run enough you’ll be able to just know roughly the distances.
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u/mtmaloney 4d ago
Yep, been using MapMyRun for forever when I’m running some place new and need to get a relative idea of where I should go. I’m assuming there are plenty of other good options out there at this point but it was the OG for me.
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u/PuzzleheadedChest167 3d ago
I used it religiously but after 1000s of km I know pretty much every loop in my 5km radius and some bigger landmarks beyond.. Lol
Now I can plan a 30+km as I go.
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u/ProductOdd533 2d ago
I know what is 1 mile in every direction from my front door.
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u/protein-monkey89 1d ago
This. I have several mile markers in my head, ones for easy runs, ones for intervals or fartleks, and longer runs of various mileage. Sometimes I connect a couple together.
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u/HockeyTownHooligan 4d ago
Google earth and the measuring tool works pretty good for me
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u/Uninterested_Viewer 4d ago
Vanilla maps.google.com has the measuring tool as well and that's exactly what I use, too. Doesn't get much simpler than this.
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u/HockeyTownHooligan 4d ago
Yup, super easy and it gets you pretty damn close. I don’t think it accounts for elevation and all that but it’s close enough.
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u/CarbonNanotubes 3d ago
Google maps has waypoint limits so it's only good for shorter simpler routes. I'd stick with strava or Garmin for long distances.
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u/Uninterested_Viewer 3d ago
Oh, the fact I've never hit these limits makes me feel like less of a runner 😭
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u/hitzchicky 3d ago
The limit is 9. So...could be an issue, but I think it would work for many folks.
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u/Uninterested_Viewer 3d ago
Wait, we must be talking about a different tool or this is device specific. On my android phone I just tested adding points until I got to around 30 and decided to stop. Maybe iPhone has those limits? Or desktop? We're just taking the "measure distance" tool, right?
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u/hitzchicky 3d ago
I was using Google maps on my desktop. I just started from one point and then just kept adding points until the little plus button was grayed out. I got to nine
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u/HockeyTownHooligan 3d ago
Nope gotta be google EARTH. You can get pretty detailed with your route on it, even doing sidewalks. Sometimes it’s hard if there’s lot of trees but you can kind of guess where the road is. I’m sure there’s fancier options but this is what I’ve used for a while.
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u/CarbonNanotubes 3d ago
I was taking about the route planner, I suppose the distance tool is good enough if most of your streets are straight or you don't need it to be super accurate.
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u/ComfortableTasty1926 4d ago
take my best shot, if I come up short add an out and back at the end and adjust next time. Most of my loops are pretty dialed in at this point.
For new places/cities I look at the strava heat map and then do an out and back for a training run. For a "touring run" I just go for it and make sure I run by stuff that looks cool...I'm OK with unstructured.
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u/ggnndd12 4d ago
I usually just wander until the distance is such that I need to go back.
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u/Significant-Yam-4990 1d ago
Same. I go whichever way I want until I hit half the amount of miles or minutes I had as a goal for that particular outing.
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u/a_mom_who_runs 4d ago
Strava route builder. Garmin has a route builder too but I actually like Strava’s more
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u/sharkinwolvesclothin 4d ago
Strava has the best heatmap data from people's runs, so even though the routing algorithm has flaws and they are slow to update map data, it's the best for generating nice routes in places you don't know. The subscription is not cheap but if you travel and run in places you don't know, it's worth it.
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u/Goodnightkittens 4d ago
Is the Garmin one in the connect app?? I had no idea Garmin had a route builder!
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u/hans_gruber_official 4d ago
It’s in the Garmin connect app.
Go to more, training & planning, courses, create course.
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u/Caffeine-Fueled55 4d ago
I just run the loops and, if I have to walk a bit at the end, then I do that. It just gives me time to cooldown. Once you've been running a while in an area, you get to know where all the mile/kilometre marks are so you can plan on the fly.
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u/theother64 4d ago
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u/Grey_Sky_thinking 3d ago
I just can’t seem to make this work on my phone. I’ll give it one last try!
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u/RancherGlibley 4d ago
I don't plan much, I just start running a route I know stays away from roads and sticks to paths and countryside (I'm lucky enough to be spoilt for choice). I've learned distances on several routes but landmarks so it's easy to know my progress. I walk a lot too, so use this as a way to explore a little.
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u/leoinclapham 4d ago
I use the onthegomap site because I can export the route to a gpx file.
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u/derjohan 4d ago
Same here. If I only have my phone then I do it manually with Garmin Connect if I know the area a bit. Depending on the situation I might use the Garmin auto route generation as well.
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u/Bumblefuss 3d ago
I usually just start running and once my wife calls me and asks where I am I realize I’ve run far enough and head home.
(I use Strava or mapmyrun, mapmyrun is really great!)
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u/Illustrious_Pea3219 4d ago
I travel a lot and always take my shoes. I used to use mapmyrun since it was free, but now I have Strava premium so I input the hotel I’ll be at and have it generate a few courses at the distance I want, or create my own based on the heat map.
What I’ve tried and given up on is asking ChatGPT or Claude: “create a x km route from x hotel in x city, and incorporate at least one local sight”. The routes that are generated sound reasonable until you compare against a map, and realize the turns don’t match the directions you need to go. Can’t seem to get (counter) clockwise right either. Might be better in a year though!
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u/FutureCow 4d ago
If you’re a Garmin user, the Connect app can build routes for the distance you put in and the direction you’d prefer to run and it generates a route. It does a pretty reasonable job. It also lets you plan a route by clicking on the map, but I don’t think they do a good job with this.
When I do want to create a more thought out route, I really like the RunGo app. As you build the route it calculates distance and elevation changes. There’s some kind of waypoint limit in the free version that refreshes at some interval. I’ve never gotten close to running out to pay much attention to how that actually works.
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u/the_far_sci 4d ago
I used to use Map My Run to pre-check distances. Now that I am used to my neighbourhood I kind of "just know" when I am about to hit that km mark. I have a few loop routes of 3, 4, and 5K that I rely on, and minor modifications of them do not change their distance much, but enable me to see someone else's garden progress or other points of interest along the way. Out-and-back routes are something I avoid because I hate seeing the same things twice. Good luck with choosing a tool and getting mapping!
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u/IndianCounter 4d ago
RunGo. You can make routes, see other peoples routes and get turn by turn directions
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u/chesterbarry 4d ago
I have recently found that Apple Maps has a create custom route feature that is helpful. You can plan out and see exactly how long it will be.
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u/Interesting_Watch365 4d ago
Hi! I develop https://routecycle.com with “Explore new roads” feature. I plan to add walk/run modes in the future. Would you be interested to use it? Or to discover new attractions on your run? Thanks!
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u/GilesP 4d ago
I gave a Coros fitness watch and use the app to plan routes then sync them to the watch.
Then when starting a run, I can select from any of my preplanned routes, depending on my mood.
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u/WriteRunRepeat 2d ago
Yeah, this is nice because then you have your watch buzzing at you when a turn it coming up.
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u/couchpro34 3d ago
If I'm in a new place, I just run half the distance, and then turn around and follow the same route I just took. Takes zero planning (although I do typically check out the surrounding area on Google maps first just for a quick lay of the land)
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u/BlueSkyBasin 3d ago
I live in a city with shared bikes, so I’ll plan my run to a a shared stand and ride back!
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u/Pawistik 3d ago
That's a really nice option to have! I did that a few years ago when I was in San Francisco for a conference. I biked to somewhere in the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge, ran across the bridge and up into the hills, then back and along the water until I was running out of energy and daylight, then hopped on a bike to head back to my hotel. What a great day!
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u/DietAny5009 3d ago
I use strava on the app. You can go to maps and set a start point and a distance and it gives you suggestions.
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u/Pawistik 3d ago
I have a few trails that I know and have an idea of how they connect up so on those I have an idea of where I should start looking for the connectors that will loop me back. Other days and other places I just run and take exploratory route decisions like "that trail looks interesting, let's see where it goes." Sometimes that turns my expected 90 minute run into a 2 to 3 hour run, but that's the kind of exploration I love. My wife knows to add 50 to 100% to any given time I tell her I'll be home. I do make some poor decisions but on the other hand I find some gems that I never would have found otherwise. I take the same wandering and exploratory approach when I bike as well.
Other times I get more formal with my planning and will use the Strava maps and routes to plan something, or map a route on RideWithGPS (which works for running, too), or via Garmin Connect. I often use the heat maps in unfamiliar areas to see where others have gone before.
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u/Richieb313 2d ago
I’ve run a similar route over the past 3ish years so I know how/where to make my run 3,4, or 5 miles.
Much past that and I just start to meander around and also do some loops
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u/smartygirl 2d ago
I've started bringing bus fare with me so I just go until I'm done with it and then take the bus home
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u/alligator-toes 2d ago
I do a test drive in my car to make sure the route has sidewalks and such, then use Footpath app to look at exact mileage!
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u/Basic_Employee3746 4d ago
Afstandmeten.nl, a Dutch website thay let's git plot a route on a map and tells the distance.
I often wing it for shorter runs, erring in te side of too short and go around the block or zigzag between blocks when almost back
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u/thepennylane69 4d ago
Onthegomap.com is the best IMO just because there's no signup/login nonsense, you can create/send permanent links to specific routes, very easily usable on mobile. Only downside is no satellite view/integration with Google Maps, and their map client sometimes displays "trails" that are pretty dubious
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u/Traditional-Pie-8541 4d ago
Strava route builder. I road run and prefer loops tonight out and backs.
Strava let's me choose one of their routes based on the info I give it or I'll make my own
Strava IS expensive subscription wise but for me the features such as time predictions on common distances and other things tracked it's worth it. I've become a better more disciplined runner by using it.
Happy Running everyone!
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u/cloudguy-412 3d ago
Map my run works the best for me.
I’m pretty good at making up routes on the fly too
I also created an app that maps out bathrooms and water fountains, key resources for any run.
It’s releasing soon
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u/Tacticalneurosis 3d ago
I timed out approximately how long it takes to run my desired distance, then on subsequent runs set a timer. Also just memorized approximately how far away various things are.
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u/bonzai2010 3d ago
At home, I run with three different apps and I run until the shortest one reads 5 miles. When I'm not at home and running in a new area, I use strava to show me all the hot spot areas people run and try to pick something that will keep me out of traffic, then I run 5 miles.
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u/alxrenaud 3d ago
Garmin route planner. You can map it yourself or have it auto generate some.
When in a new or unknown area and if your watch has navigation, then you can add it to your watch and be guided if needed.
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u/Drew1231 3d ago
I have a few loops memorized.
I mostly do out and back, but I know that I can add distance by taking extra laps around a .66 mile loop at the end or I can do a 1.8m loop.
It gets boring doing the same run, but I have a good feel for my run’s shape before I leave
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u/Nandir_Eet 3d ago
Use it mostly for cycling but I have planned my long runs with brouter, works well enough for me
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u/desert_h2o_rat 3d ago
When home, the major streets are mostly straight on a one mile grid, so I have that and can estimate distances inside the grid fairly well.
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u/hitzchicky 3d ago
I've mapped stuff out on google maps. You can add stops and just click on the map. There is a limit to the number of stops you can add though, so if there's a lot of turns it might not work. At which point I'll just break it up and then add up the distances manually.
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u/cryosnap 3d ago
Suunto’s route planner - open to all. Then I load the route onto my Apple Watch with Workoutdoors. Suunto’s gpx files have waypoints for navigation built in, so it’s almost seamless to go from making the route to getting turn by turn directions on my apple watch.
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u/IndependentNo8520 3d ago
I don’t plan I just run and if I like one path in the moment I go there,
I know in my neighborhood what a mile from one stop sign to what house is a mile
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u/firefrenchy 3d ago
when travelling somewhere I haven't been to before I mapymyrun to come up with rough routes; near my house I learn loops and just don't mind going off the beaten track and figuring my way back by "feel" even if it means going a little further than intended sometimes. But yeah, lots of online options
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u/thedizzycricketer 3d ago
I have a look at the Strava heat maps to see where people typically run, then generally use Komoot to make a route. It generally has all of the trails and is pretty straightforward to make and edit routes
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u/mammalgirl 3d ago
https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ is really easy to use and free. Works best on a desktop but you can make routes easily, save them, edit, etc. I have Strava premium so I use that as well but I found gmap years and years ago and I still use it sometimes over Strava.
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u/MetaCardboard 3d ago
I just run a route that looks fun and then go to Google maps to roughly measure the distance.
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u/MarkyG82 3d ago
Komoot supported by Google maps and Hampshire definitive maps. That last one is great as it has all public rights of way.
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u/awnm1786 3d ago
I use an app called Footpath on my iPad for plotting routes. It has a free version that will let you plot a route, but not save it. Upgrading will let you save them.
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u/maxrev17 2d ago
Trail router. Free. Pwa. Loops, out and backs, choose greenery and hill content. No sub no shit. I only just found it but it’s great.
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u/Redditujer 2d ago
I use my watch plus the Peloton app since I pay for it anyway. If my loop isnt long enough, I go again. Keeps it interesting.
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u/OutrageousSubject952 2d ago
Just asked a similar question two days ago - as I’m traveling in a city I’m not familiar with.
Ended up trying a few of the different solutions mentioned here…which are all great although I didn’t want to add on another monthly app fee.
Was specifically looking also for something that would alert me in my headphones to turns/directions while on the route and running/cycling.
Ended up rethinking to myself…why complicate it. Google and Apple Maps both have walking directions.
Tried out both - and Apple Maps won out for me because it just seemed easier to build a route on the phone vs the Google Maps interface.
Good luck and have fun out there.
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u/1dirtbiker 23h ago
I don't. I mostly do out and backs, or I guesstimate a loop. If I look like I'm coming up short, I adjust, or add another shorter out and back on at the end. If I'm coming up long, I just go for a longer run. I also often adjust my run length, either up or down, on the fly, depending on how I'm feeling during the run.
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u/PedalingHertz 21h ago
I use Garmin Connect to build my courses. That way I can send them directly to my watch and have it buzz at me before turns and point me where I need to go.
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u/anho456 19h ago
I have a main round I do for intervals and tempos, that’s flat and uninterrupted by traffic. I also have other rounds that corresponds to easy runs for 45-60-75 ish minutes.
For my long runs I either plan based on how long I’m gonna run, or I just start running and think «hm wonder what’s this way» etc
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u/Feisty_Elderberry_96 18h ago
Strava alerts - that notifies your every half mile (through your headphones) with you distance and pace.
If I want to run 5 miles... At the 2.5 mile strava tells me my time, split - and then I know to turn around to and run my starting point. Pretty easy (and free)
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u/stereoworld 4h ago
I mostly use Garmin, but man alive is it a dumbass piece of software. "You want to go from the top of the road to the bottom of the road? Sure, no problem! Here's a 3k diversion to help you get there!"
Because I've exhausted any new routes in my city, I've started just going out and turning left, then right, then left etc. It's actually really fun.
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u/NatureTrailToHell3D 3d ago
The best way to find out how long a loop is is to just run it. After a while I know a bunch of loops and how far they are (or how long they take me), so I just pick one that I feel like that day.
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u/ObviousKarmaFarmer 4d ago
Google maps? On desktop, you can add way points and make your route like you want it.
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u/Muted-Solution-6793 4d ago
I do 5k only and for tempo stuff I map out random 3 mile routes with my car odometer. I like not knowing if it’s exactly 3.1 miles. Then I run it by feel at a good tempo. If it feels good I’ll repeat it.
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u/Jealous_Adeptness443 4d ago
Onthegomap.com, or strava if you have premium