Map and share your run using MapMyRun

June 4, 9:35 AMSeattle Endurance Sports ExaminerLynne Butler

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One of the benefits of running for fitness is it's so easy to do anytime, anywhere, any season. Other than a good pair of running shoes, it requires no equipment. Well, almost. Unless you want to look good and let's face it, we can be out there sweating our _ _ _ off, but we have to look fashionable while doing it.

But like any sport, there's no end to what a runner can spend on their sport. There's the high tech gadgetry that's supposed to make running into science; everything from heart monitors and pedometers to GPS watches, that help you know when to speed up or slow down, and tell you how far you've gone.

The only equipment I use is pretty low tech; an occasional headlamp and a good pair of earphones for my iPod and I'm good to go. Not counting clothing, I haven't invested in much of the cool running technology yet. When trying a new route, I know where to go by first driving the route in my car.

At times I prefer the fun of running with no route, making it up as I go. Most of the time I like to know the mileage so I can calculate speed and pace myself, especially when training for a race. If you happen to own a fancy GPS watch, you can calculate distance off-road, where you can't drive a car. If you haven't splurged on the watch, there are several free interactive web applications available for creating and publishing custom routes, and calculating mileage and calories burned based on your running speed.

I decided to plot one of my favorite routes using MapMyRun. While the end result was pretty good, it took a lot of clicks and patience to get there. The experience reminded me of trying to color inside the lines as a pre-schooler.There seemed to be an issue when switching from the mapping function to the scrolling function. I admit I could have avoided some of the frustration had I read the instructions.

Once I learned what not to do, I was able to complete my map fairly quickly. I've now confirmed what I somehow already knew, that the route is 7.3 miles long. The best thing about MapMyRun is how easily you can save and share your route by email or by embedding it in your blog or website. You can also view elevation and search for local running routes submitted by other users.

I tried another company's product for comparison called Walk Jog Run. Though both companies use Google mapping technology, the exact same route produced a 6.5 mile distance. Despite the inconsistency, I still like the products and would recommend either one.

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