Plan – & Measure – Your Walk Online

If you’ve ever wondered how far you’ve gone on a walk or a run, or how far you’d need to go to get in a bit of exercise, then you’ll like this cool online gizmo.

It’s an online “pedometer” that lets you easily plot out a route on Google Maps, complete with a running total of the distance you’ve charted. When you’re done you can save the map for future reference, complete with a web URL to share with friends.

It’s simple to make a map:

1. On the web, go to www.gmap-pedometer.com
2. In the “Jump To” field above the map, type a zip code or town name, then click “Go”.
3. “Drag” the map with your mouse or double-click anywhere on the map to center it on that spot. Use the “Zoom” tool on the upper left of the map to zoom in or out. (Click the “+” to zoom closer.)
4. Click the “Start Recording” button on the left-hand side of the web page then double-click where you want to start your route. A marker will appear on that spot.
5. Now double-click on the next point you want to go on your route. A new marker will appear at that spot and line will automatically be drawn along the map to it. Notice also that the “Total Distance” has been filled in with the distance between the marks.
6. Continue marking your route until you get to the end of your walk or run.  If you don’t like the automatic route, click on the “Undo Last Point” button to go back one point at a time.

When you’re all done with your map, click on the “Save route” link on the left-hand side. This will give you a URL to save and share for this route and will also let you save the route in your web browser bookmarks.

There are more of these free exercise mapping sites, too. MapMyRun.com and MapMyRide.com will automatically show you some user-defined local courses to run or ride and the “Trailfinder” link at www.Trails.com will show you maps of nearby hiking trails.

And this link take you to a nice 1.2 mile loop in Pawling Village: http://tinyurl.com/1-mile-loo