Detour Next 5km

I recently started using new running routes and have noticed that my desire to run has increased dramatically! I now find myself daydreaming about my next run while at work. Could it be the new scenery along the route or the smell of the lilac trees that are making me so ecstatic, all I know it that I look forward to my runs now, more then ever!

One of the reasons why I never included new routes into my training was do to the fact that I wasn't aware of the tools that were widely available. If I did introduce a new route I didn't have a way of measuring the distance, other then using a cars trip meter. Below is a list of route mapping tools that I regularly use, try them out and let me know how they have worked for you:

Map My Run – www.mapmyrun.com Plot your running routes over mountains, through the woods, and speeding through the city (street level views) with just a few mouse clicks. Once your running map is complete you can quickly view it in 3D, satellite maps, or share it with friends.

Run keeper – www.runkeeper.com (Mobile Application) RunKeeper makes tracking your workouts fun, social, and easy to understand so that you can improve the quality of your fitness. If you have any other tools that work for you please feel free to post a comment.

Drawing the Line

Whether you're running a kilometer or a full marathon crossing the finish line is always the goal. More importantly, is that finish line the right one for you? More often the none we aren't running the appropriate distances for our current mental and physical health, therefore risking discouragement (failure), fatigue or even worse, injury.

Training, preparation and having a nutritional plan are all important pillars of any good running program, I will discuss each pillar in detail in later blog posts. So whether you're planning on running a kilometer or a full marathon here are few things you can consider:

- Know that it is a not a sprint. It's going to take a certain amount of time to reach your destination, plan to enjoy the journey and take breaks when necessary and know that overnight success is an illusion.

- Set a goal and work toward it. Training, preparation and having a nutritional plan are important building blocks when working towards a goal. Advice is great, but it never hurts to get a second opinion!