Map My Fitness.com

Cindy and I have been planning our summer vacation in late August to Colorado. While I won’t probably have much gym access where we’re going, I should still be able to run. One of the problems, though, of running in a different place is that you don’t necessarily know the area, good running paths, etc.

One of the websites I’ve found helpful in this process has been MapMyFitness.com. On this site, hundreds of users have built maps of their favorite runs, bike rides, hikes, etc., and then given additional information about them like the setting, total miles, terrain and elevation, etc. Anyone who tries a route can then rate it on a scale of 1-5 stars. So for our trip to Estes Park, Colorado, I can put in the city name or zip code, and the site will create a list of routes in the area. There’s also the ability to map your own private routes,  like routes that start from in front of your house, for instance.

Another nice feature of this site is that you can track your own exercise and fitness records, thereby keeping a log of all of your activity. Having this ‘bigger picture’ view gives you great insight into the amount of exercise you’re getting, and lets you see your progress over time. You can also track your gear, like bikes and shoes, and have the site alert you when you reach a certain mileage, so you can determine if they need a checkup (bike), or replaced (shoes).

So how do you keep track of your fitness goals and activities?