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JoviMom
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Joined: 06 Apr 2004
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Location: Western WA State
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 Posted: 04/08/04 - 16:27 Post subject: Running Outdoors?
Hi all!
Currently, I am doing the Cool Running Couch to 5K program on a treadmill. But I would love to get outdoors!
How do you all track your time/mileage when running outdoors? I cannot afford a GPS or any of the forerunners at the moment... but would a Pedometer work for now? Or should I just take my car out and drive it first? Any suggestions?
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Running Brewer
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 16:28 Post subject:
I always just drive my routes first.
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 16:31 Post subject:
Drive the route or better yet, take a bike out and measure it off. Don't be surprised if running on the roads seems harder at first. It just takes some getting used to. I do a mix of treadmill and road running myself.
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elkid
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 16:32 Post subject:
Drive it. That's how I started out.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 16:43 Post subject:
I measure my routes by car, then bike, then when I got the GPS watched, I confirmed my distances.
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 17:07 Post subject:
I drive out a couple of routes. It isn't exact, but it is close enough (within .1 mile). It is harder running outside than it is on an indoor track (i've never run on a treadmill, but i can guess), but it feels so much nicer if it is warm out.
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akern
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 17:39 Post subject:
When I started out I just used the High School track. It was easy to keep track of laps and after school there were not many people there.
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JoviMom
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 18:32 Post subject:
| akern wrote: | | When I started out I just used the High School track. It was easy to keep track of laps and after school there were not many people there. |
Hmm... didnt think about that... I live less than a mile from the high school....
Thanks to everyone for their ideas. I guess driving is the best way to start out around the neighborhood! It will be a couple of weeks or more before I will be able to run outdoors (Still to dark right now.. but this summer is going to be great!
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Floridaboiler
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 20:23 Post subject:
I got lucky and most of the routes I run were already measured based on everyones pace. If I find a new one I just drive it and call it close enough.
Once you switch to outdoor running you won't want to go back indoors. Just don't get frustrated when you get tired a lot earlier. You don't have the treadmill helping you when you are on the roads.
Good Luck!!!!
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Posted: 04/08/04 - 22:33 Post subject:
Microsoft has a handy piece of software called Streets and Trips. I got my computer from Gateway and it came installed, but I'm thinkin' it's like $30. Anyway, it has feature to simply drag the cursor along a street map and it accumulates the mileage. Not only super handy for figuring how far you just ran, but also for designing a route to get you to the exact mileage you'd like to log. And it's a whole lot less time and money than all the driving around.
Where I live is literally backwoods and I have yet to find a stretch of road not on these maps. I use it alll the time.
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airehead
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Posted: 04/09/04 - 00:05 Post subject:
| jrjo wrote: | Microsoft has a handy piece of software called Streets and Trips. I got my computer from Gateway and it came installed, but I'm thinkin' it's like $30. Anyway, it has feature to simply drag the cursor along a street map and it accumulates the mileage. Not only super handy for figuring how far you just ran, but also for designing a route to get you to the exact mileage you'd like to log. And it's a whole lot less time and money than all the driving around.
Where I live is literally backwoods and I have yet to find a stretch of road not on these maps. I use it alll the time. |
Streets and Trips ROCKS!!!! It is available at Sam's Club/Costco, also, and I think for a lower price than anywhere else I've seen.
Welcome to the board! We drove all of our routes also until my husband got his GPS watch.
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JoviMom
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Location: Western WA State
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Posted: 04/09/04 - 10:30 Post subject:
I forgot about MS Streets and Trips. Didnt think about that one! I need to get a new version though.. Our copy is so old that our street isnt even on it...and we have lived here 4 years+ now. Might have to do that too.
I did get out and drive one potential route yesterday. It is one mile out and one mile back from my door step. I may have to try it out after Easter! 
Thanks everyone!
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