Using Google Maps to Find a Workout

Don’t let a new location leave you without a workout. Here is how you can use Google maps to find a workout.

Google Map Trail Running

Recently we took a roadtrip back to Minnesota. While there I wanted to get our for a run, but wasn’t sure where to go and didn’t want to stay on the pavement. So where else would a techno-geek turn, but google maps.

What I’ve found is that satellite imagery is an excellent way to chart trail runs. Just pull up your current location and start scouting. I think you will agree that scouting for new courses virtually is much quicker than driving, biking, or running around aimlessly.

So let’s take a specific example and see how I found a 3.5 mile run that included a park, wooded single track, swampland, and yes even a river crossing. Remember I’m training for a Tough Mudder so I wasn’t about to shy away from getting muddy, nor from jumping into the might Mississippi river in spring.

Using Google Maps in Minnesota to Find a Workout

First, take a look at this map …

View Larger Map

We were staying nearby this quiet little park on the Mississippi River. The park is the Mississippi River Community Park in Anoka, MN. While at first glance it looks like there is a paved trail that would be perfect for running laps, it is just too short. I wanted more.

Go back to the map. Scroll north …

Do you see what I see? In the timeless words from Monty Python …

There’s huge tracts of land. Now I don’t care if you’d rather sing along to Justin Bieber while you run endlessly on the treadmill indoors. I want to explore huge tracts of land.

So cut that out, cut that out. No more Bieber sing-along’s on the treadmill. Load up Google Maps and get out there to explore huge tracts of land near you.

My Virtually Planned Trail Run

So scour around on the map above to see why I charted the course on the image below. Initially I wanted to embed a route, but I found it was easier to just draw on a screen shot.

The result is a 3.5 mile trail run. I loved it. During the run I chased up 4 whitetail deer, crossed fields of Minnesota itch-weed, and scared a teenage couple out of their wits as I came running out of the woods into the river while they were kissing on the dock. Priceless.

Chart Your Own Course

So next time you find yourself longing for a different route to run. Do some virtual scouting and use google maps to find a workout.

Have you done virtual scouting for courses? Let’s hear how your adventure went.