Advice on route planning

[Davo123]

After graduating C25K last week, on a treadmill, I'm thinking of taking it outdoors for a few 5K consolidation runs. I understand that outdoor running is a bit more difficult than on a treadmill but I'm keen on mixing it up a little. Also, it undoubtedly will be less monotonous than 'running on the spot'.

Anyways, I was wondering how you outdoor runners plan your routes whilst limiting the distance to say 5K. Or, is it a case of just running and checking the distance later on e.g Google maps?

[alisonx Graduate10]

Hi Davo - there are lots of things you can try. Do you have local parks or places you can run?

There is a free app, but you can also use it on google desktop called map my run - you can plan a route and it will tell you the distance you will cover.

If you want to maintain your 5k's you could run until you get to 2.5k and then head back home - if you have an app on a phone or something that will tell you the distance as you go?

Once you have a route, you may want to find alternate options to mix it up a bit because running the same route gets a bit boring after a while too.

Enjoy the outdoors and let us know how you get on

[mrrun Graduate10]

I pick different parks, roads, city routes, anything. I will know how long a run should be so will turn around and go back after 2.5k (if 5K is the target). If l run in the park l will know how long a lap is so will plan accordingly.

Running is also about mental stimulation hence l would never come near any treadmills. I'm not sure how far you're keen to go but if your target is, say, a marathon, you will have to go outside and stay outside, mix various routes and times in order to stay entertained, challenged, amused, pushed and keen to go on. I use an app called Endomondo but there are so many different apps out there that will map your run, tell you distances and whatever stats you're interested in. Or go and buy a good watch with some crazy stuff including your heart beat.

[Knittingrunner Graduate10]

I use Strava to create a route. It’s free. I tend to use mostly roads and parks I know and have walked in so I can remember the route on the day. However next week I’m running a new route with a friend and whilst I have created it I will take a few reminders on which roads I need to turn down written on a post it or something like that. It’s a much longer run and a bit more complicated than my normal circuits. Good luck. I love running outside and I’m sure you will too. 😊🏃🏻‍♀️

[Cadici in reply to Knittingrunner]

I haven't used many apps so please excuse my ignorance, do you mean that you can put your route into Strava and it tells you the mileage/km ? Thank you.

[Knittingrunner Graduate10 in reply to Cadici]

Yes it does. I use my iPad to create the route but you can do it on a laptop too. Then when you’re out running take your phone and it will track you too and give you loads of info about your run too. Hope that helps.

[Cadici in reply to Knittingrunner]

That sounds brilliant, thank you so much for the advice, will get on the case.

[Knittingrunner Graduate10 in reply to Cadici]

Good luck.

[Granspeed Graduate10]

Hi Davo123. I use the free version of an app called Runkeeper on my phone. It tracks runs reasonably accurately & keeps a list with a map of the run & some basic but fun stats about distance and time per km or mile (you set some info). And there’s a good, readable screen that works while you run showing distance. You can set it to give you an alert after a given distance - useful on a new route to be sure you don’t get too far from home. 😄

[Cadici]

Well done , I ran on a treadmill this week, but usually road run. I enjoyed the treadmill for a change, sure you will enjoy the great outdoors! I chose flatish routes and walked the 5 minutes up a hill, so I could run more down hill than up, it might be cheating a little, but 5k is 5k!!!

I used the c25k app at 9 weeks and ran for an extra 3 minutes. Therefore when the trainer said I'd finished, I ran an extra 3 minutes. I need to find a new app now.

[Alligally in reply to Cadici]

If you’re trying to increase your distance, download the free c210k ap....you can skip the first 8-9 weeks if already able to run a 5k

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

I have a couple of parks that I’ve run so much I could plot a route of any length without thinking... but at first I used an app called footpath.

There’s also a lot of trails around and when I run those I just dial up my required distance/time and run. I get updates every half mile from my tracker and also a halfway point one, so I can then turn and run back, no planning required. Strava, Nike Run Club, MapMyRun, and several other apps can do this.

Happy running.

[316neil Graduate10]

Well done Davo! I misread that post and thought you were talking about carrying the treadmill outside lol

You might need to take it easier if running outside, because great though treadmills are, your ankles in particular may not be used to the more uneven terrain outside, so you just need to be a little careful not to pull a muscle etc.

Regarding the route planning, all of the above options are great. I use Strava myself, but I sometimes use Google Earth on a PC to create a “path” to plan a route. I can in theory export that to Strava as a GPX file, and get Strava to guide the route, though never tried that.

You might want to think of getting a Garmin running watch (or similar), that will help you keep track of distance and pace when you’re out. I have the basic Forerunner 30 model, and it’s great.

All the best!! Neil

P.s. Couch to 5k+ podcasts. You need ‘em in your life!! nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/c...

[Cadici in reply to 316neil]

Thank you so much for the podcast information, I will be using it on my next run.

[backintime Graduate10]

There's also this online app

onthegomap.com/ where you can map your run beforehand and it will tll you how far it is, elevation, etc.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

I use plotaroute.com

When the red dot is bright you can plot your route. Tap it to make it dull when you’re just looking around.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Mapometer UK...basic...free..you can plot your routes...Strava too is great!

[JonathanP Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I used Mapometer too when I first started venturing beyond 5k - found it very helpful

[Cosmo501]

This has been useful reading! I had no idea either. Have just been planning routes on a walking App called Footpath. I’ll give one of the running apps a go now 😊 Happy route planning and running to you!

[Nella]

You can download Strava and you can plan a route and get distance at same time but I have route which I know is 3 miles and I use that regularly during the week.

[rickym68]

My goal after c25k was to do a parkrun. Great fun and you get to run with others of similar ability. Group running seems to make the miles much easier.

[5dogs]

Map my run app may provide runs near to you that others have logged.

[Dawn74g]

I wouldn’t allow that notion of outdoor running being more difficult if I were you. Personally I think it’s so much easier and way more enjoyable. I tried a treadmill once.....I wasn’t aware you had to digitally push buttons to go faster or slower.....jeezo I was changing constantly, trying to find my pace....and failing miserably whilst wobbling around trying to stay upright! haha. It wasn’t for me at all.

Why not choose an area you find beautiful? The beach, or a scenic park/country road? And enjoy that fresh air :).

[davelinks Graduate10]

You can use map my run and plan a route to 5km, I've never used it but heard its good.

Also a watch is a big benefit with the cheaper versions showing mileage along with time amongst other things such as steps.

Then there's the dearer watches such as Garmin which is what I have, that also does heart rate amongst a host of other things, and will also record your GPS route you've run along with the stats and will send by USB or Bluetooth to your pc or smartphone onto Garmin connect (showing the actual track of your run route) is very imformative..