Using Strava to find new routes

[Joster]

Training for a HM for October, and looking to do some varied routes over the Summer. Spending a few weeks away from home, so wondering if I can look at existing routes others have done in the places where I am going (or even ones I haven't discovered near where I live)? I am not very good at Strava other than basic record and store my runs, so any tips gratefully received. I am on free, not subscription and usually record on my phone, but do also access it on my laptop as sometimes I find it easier to see what is going on/I appear to have more functions.

Thanks.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I used to use Routes on Strava and you could look at heatmaps which showed popular roads, but I think this is only for subscribers now. I've let my subscription lapse and I can't get into it anymore, even on my laptop. Mapmyrun lets you look at routes other people have run; although I never found it that easy to do what I really wanted to do, it was better than nothing. I think you can do it with Run Go and PlotaRoute too. Both are free. There may well be other apps too.

These days I use Komoot to plot routes. When I set the mode to running, it will pick what it thinks is the best route between two points. It uses offroad paths or quieter roads to get from A to B. I used to then cross check that with Strava heat maps but guess I can't do that anymore!

You may be able to take out a limited free trial of Strava subscription to plot yourself some routes though. Good luck.

[Joster Half Marathon]

Thanks Linda. I’ve already done the free Strava trial! I will take another look and see if I have any useful features hut sounds like I may not have what I need. I have used Komoot before to good effect but I find it can have a kind of its own in terms of wheee it wants to take you! Not heard of the others so will take a look, thank you.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

I've never attempted to use the Strava route feature, or indeed used a suggested route. I've just spent hours and hours on my OS app plotting my own exploratory routes locally, and further afield on footpaths and bridleways with the minimum of road usage. Yep, sometimes they are awful! (I really wish there was a way to make a notation of Do Not Use This Path!) But mostly it's great to explore places I didn't even know existed.

I sometimes examine other Strava runners in my area to see where they go, but most of my local folk use more roads than I want to.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

You can look at strava heat maps but I can only do it by logging on on my laptop! Another good place to look is 'Run go' in your area and 'plot a route'..... you can look for nearby routes.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

I just google strava heat maps.....then log in!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Ahh yes! So I can still plot using komoot and adjust based on the strava heatmap - despite letting my subscription lapse. Thank you!!!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

I also just discovered how to get heat maps on my phone...although laptop is still easier... if you click on your map from one of your activities, then click the symbol of stacked squares that changes map to satellite view, there is another option there to view heat map.

[CBDB in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks!! Just discovered Strava heatmaps thanks to this post! On iPhone, rather than going to one of your activities, you can also go directly to maps—>layers(stacked squares)—>heat map .

🙏👍🏽👏

[Joster Half Marathon in reply to CBDB]

Thanks both - will try this on my iphone.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to CBDB]

Yes I just discovered this this morning 😂

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Oh yes I see what you mean CBDB on iPhone 👍 I was on android

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to CBDB]

Sorry I appear to have underlined the last message! It gets stuck on underline when I press @ to tag someone!

[CBDB in reply to Cowladyrunning]

😂😂

[misswobble Marathon]

I look on Goodrunguide I”m currently checking out running routes and footpaths on there for my summer holiday🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Joster Half Marathon]

Thanks everyone, some really helpful tips here for me to investigate. I do use the old fashioned OS maps, though as I stick mainly to the pavement/road, some sections just aren't very suitable for running (traffic, no path etc) so heatmaps and other things that indicate they are well used routes is exactly what I need to plan ahead for a new area. Need to find a 10k quite quickly to do the Vitality 10k in two weeks and I am not at home for it!

[Joster Half Marathon]

Just went onto Strava on the laptop (not tried this on phone) and in the feed of activities of mine and those I follow if you hover the mouse over someone else's map it shows a "try this route" button. If you click, it lets you save that route (you can only edit with a subscription). So, if you do track down others who have run routes you like the look of, eg. via heat maps, presumably even if you don't follow them, you might be able to use that button to save someone else's route to your profile.... the investigation continues....

Try my Route

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Joster]

Good stuff! I was thinking you could search for Strava clubs in the area of interest, and use maps from members of those.

[Joster Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Ah, another excellent tip! Thank you.

[Joster Half Marathon]

Not done much yet other than admire the beauty of the maps over lunch with my daughter (who is about to go off to English Language exam!). Our coastal routes are so pretty, all that wide red area where people walk along the beach and it could be high or low water so it's an amazing effect on the heatmap! Fascinating! (click on map for full effect!)

Norfolk coastal heatmap

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Joster]

Wow!

[CBDB in reply to Joster]

Nice!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

I use ‘on the go map’ in conjunction with Google maps to find nearby routes and plan more distant routes. It provides live distance as you build a route and elevation too.