Planning running paths?

[MK974]

Does anyone know of any good mobile apps that let you plot a run ahead of time and gives you directions while you are running?

[kmcb]

Strava is very good- lets you plan routes online then save them into your app, also tells you pace and distance as you are going

[MK974 in reply to kmcb]

That sounds great! I'll look it up

[Noaky12 Graduate]

Oh now getting directions while you run would be very handy! I keep getting lost.......

I use mapometer (I think its called) to plot my runs & distances before I go out (or to check distances when I get back) but I'm not aware of one that then gives you directions. Sorry.

[MK974 in reply to Noaky12]

Same here! Haha! I'm hoping I will enjoy running more if I don't have to worry about getting lost

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Maverick is a free app which gives you access to a vast range of maps from around the world, including Ordnance Survey Explorer maps. You can create routes with waypoints and then use it to guide you. It is not the most intuitive programme but does a great job, including telling you your speed. It is probably easiest to create routes on Google Earth on a computer and copy the file over to your phone.

[MK974 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

That would be really nice to be able to create them on Google maps. Thanks!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to MK974]

You need to create a track and save as a kml file, which you can do on Google earth but I don't think it is possible on Google maps.

[Beads Graduate]

Not an app and fairly expensive for the odd one offs. Garmin sell walking/cycling trackers which are also sat nav devices. I've recently got an Edge810 for cycling and a secondhand Fenix2 for running/walking (also cycling, swimming and a whole lot more). Both of these can have GPX files downloaded onto them, the GPX file is a route file from eg Strava and will allow you to navigate (or rather do the navigation for you). I've not used the feature on the Fenix yet, but on the Edge it tells you when to turn left, right etc, will give you a beep when you're approaching a junction and count down the distance/time to the junction based on current speed. It would be bulky to take on a run if like me you have small wrists but they do have a wrist mount available for it. Just for a one off or for running the Edge wouldn't be suitable, but if you're looking for a cycle tracker that you would occasionally use for running/walking then it's pretty good.

Don't know if it's possible on your phone, though with Strava you can create routes etc that you can have show up on your phone but I don't know if you can get turn by turn instructions. With Strava premium (£40/yr) you get 'live segments' and 'live tracking', the segments bit tells you when you're close to a Strava segment then the map appears (on the Edge, presumably on the app if you've got that open as well, but don't take that as gospel without someone else backing it up) with a blue line showing the route of the segment. If you want to follow a whole route created as a segment this may be the way to go.