For the last couple years I’ve been using Mapmyrun.com to create maps of my running routes. This has been particularly helpful when traveling because where I typically have no idea how far I’ve run. Mapmyrun is a pretty good website, but a few things have always annoyed me.
Problems with Map My Run
First, there are too many annoying pop-up ads that get in the way when trying to map a route. Second, the software moves slow and maps take too long to create.
I know these problems might be solved by joining their premium service but the truth is, it’s just not worth it to me. I often run the same routes so paying to create more maps as infrequently as I need to do it makes no sense. It also makes no sense that I have to pay them and they get the benefit of my mapping work for their system.
These annoyances have kept me open to other possibilities.
Walk Jog Run.net
Enter Walkjogrun.net, a website I was recently introduced to at the Hot Chocolate 15K running expo. This site does everything Mapmyrun does, but with less annoying ads and a smoother software interface. I created my first run here. It is my standard 3 mile run I call the Courtland Loop.
In addition, Walkjogrun keeps a database of routes so you can see other routes near your location. I just discovered that there is a park near my house that is exactly 3 miles around. That would make a good joggling path one of these days.
One other feature that is interesting is a Route Elevation feature. It isn’t too useful in my city (Chicago is super flat) but when traveling, it could be helpful.
There are a couple of features that I hope they add. For example, you should be able to create a Home address location so you don’t have to always type in your starting location. Mapmyrun does this and I like it. Also, they should have a search function so I can look up routes based on a keyword location.
Net Step
I’ve seen enough on Walk Jog Run that encourages me to switch. The only thing I really wish they had is a way to convert all the runs that I’ve already done on Map My Run to Walk Jog Run. That would make my conversion complete.
Do you use a system for tracking your running routes? What is it?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the heads up. I use RunningAhead.com to track my routes and workouts. Good stuff!!
I’ve used gMap-Pedometer. It keeps runs in a database but I haven’t figured out a way to access their database and search for runs — that’s a real negative but I just make sure and bookmark the runs. I recently posted some 300+ routes and variations of routes in the Richmond area on delicious.com.
I’ve used http://www.runningmap.com/, but haven’t used it a lot recently. Most of my routes and distances are very familiar, so I haven’t done much in terms of mapping new routes.
Runningmap.com has it’s pluses and minuses, but usually I can get it to work.
I measure and use my own routes. However, I know mostly prefer to do more running based on time instead of a pre-measured distance. I do both.
Joe — I’ve been considering dropping the whole distance thing and just going with time. I like being able to go for a run and know that I can change course without haven’t to think that it’s going to screw up my mileage log, or thinking that I will have to map my run after I get home to see how far I went.
Matt- Yeah, once you know your pace averages you can predict how much you’ve ran based on your time. When I stop training for the upcoming marathon, I’ll definitely do away with the distance routes.
It’s good to have the freedom to change one’s course and not have to worry about the training log god’s coming to get you….
Another vote for http://www.gmap-pedometer. I’ve found it to be very accurate at measuring the distances. I save a route that is just my starting location, bookmark it, and I can build my routes from there. The part I like best is you can tell it to automatically follow the roads, or switch to manual and track routes on trails or across fields.
i used to use mapmyrun a long time ago and i completely agree that the ads get in the way of using the service. I haven’t heard of walkjogrun, but i’ll have a look. I tend to rely on my garmin and use garmin connect which allows you to publish routes online. I also use runsaturday.com. These don’t let you manually map a route, but they contain lots of routes since people with garmins will have them auto-uploaded to these services.
P.S. Thumbs up to converting the RSS feed to list the entire post. It much more compitable with reading stuff offline.
Great comments everyone! You’ve given some great new choices for me to try out.
Hey Perry! Glad we got you to take a look at the Hot Chocolate expo and more importantly, glad you like the site! If you have a way of exporting routes you put into MapMyRun to a file, let me know and I’ll happily build something simple to make it easy for you to migrate your routes!
Adam
Have you tried runningahead.com? Does everything you talked about and want, plus a whole lot more.