measuring distance without driving around

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Date: 12 Oct 2006 07:26:44
From: lake house
Subject: measuring distance without driving around

I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
site: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/

Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.

Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
accurately?

Thanks.

Date: 12 Oct 2006 16:52:20
From: Elflord
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

On 2006-10-12, lake house <tedneeley@yahoo.com > wrote:
> I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
> without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
> site: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/
>
> Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.
>
> Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
> accurately?

gmap-pedometer.com

one of the nice things about it is that you can switch the view from road map to
satellite photos, which comes in handy for routes that aren't all road.

Cheers,
--
Elflord

Date: 12 Oct 2006 10:58:09
From: Beginning runner
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

In article <slrneissm5.5d2.abuse@panix2.panix.com >,
Elflord <abuse@aol.com > wrote:

> gmap-pedometer.com
>
> one of the nice things about it is that you can switch the view from
> road map to satellite photos, which comes in handy for routes that
> aren't all road.

So far as I know, all the Googlemap based ones do that.

Date: 12 Oct 2006 11:13:36
From: Beginning runner
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

In article <bogus-947C27.10580912102006@news.west.cox.net >,
Beginning runner <bogus@invalid.com > wrote:

> > gmap-pedometer.com
> >
> > one of the nice things about it is that you can switch the view
> > from road map to satellite photos, which comes in handy for routes
> > that aren't all road.
>
> So far as I know, all the Googlemap based ones do that.

But gmap-pedometer doesn't work with Apple's Safari browser.

Date: 12 Oct 2006 09:11:12
From: Mrs. Tberry
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

Mapmyrun.com is awesome, I second that.

On 12, 10:15 am, Beginning runner <b...@invalid.com > wrote:
> In article <1160663204.452101.54...@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>,
> "lake house" <tednee...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> > roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> > shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.You have to trace around the curves in small segments. If you merely
> click on the ends, it measures the straight line distance ("as the crow
> flies") instead of the road distance.
>
> Another site that might serve you better is <www.mapmyrun.com>

Date: 12 Oct 2006 08:15:42
From: Beginning runner
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

In article <1160663204.452101.54140@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com >,
"lake house" <tedneeley@yahoo.com > wrote:

> Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.

You have to trace around the curves in small segments. If you merely
click on the ends, it measures the straight line distance ("as the crow
flies") instead of the road distance.

Another site that might serve you better is <www.mapmyrun.com >

Date: 12 Oct 2006 15:09:00
From: Daniel-San
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

"lake house" wrote...

> Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
> accurately?

Not really.

I'm not into exact distances in my runs. As long as I'm close, I'm happy.
That being said, I did look at this and think about it a while back, just
out of curiosity. I think the curve thing is pretty difficult to overcome on
web-based maps

Seems to me that short of gettig one of those surveyor's wheel thingies and
walkng your course, the best (easiest) way to get distance accurately would
be using a bike with a very well-set computer/odometer gadget and ride your
course, following the path your feet take as closely as possible.

Dan

Date: 12 Oct 2006 10:52:58
From: Lowtuc Zowtuc
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

when I weight lift in sets/reps.
rep are 8 for jesus and I get the rest.
sets are allways the first 8 for jesus.

inmiles on me bike now.
past 4 years=3D
1800 run-02
2400 bike-03
7.4=D7365=3D -04
13.4=D7365=3D05
total over the equator half way around he world
this year 06=3D 5 per day + or 10+ every day I ride me bike. to make it
from N pole to equator or 5 years.

so; with out notes and all and since the measure the stride on me one
leg and count the strides.........
I do it on the roads....and know that point a to point b is x
amount....and when I go on the trail add miles there......

good luck.....don't yahoo maps......
because they do best car rout. and you well has to take out a whole
forest in paper.......

stick with these sportsmen and you soon well be on a A,T,V in a pink
braw so your nipples don't get a rash.oh yes wear nylon socks and gresse
your lips so they don't chap.
and wear pink shorts so they know your a man and allways wear shoes that
are for running because you may break your leg.

and what ever you do.never pay for anything because they well say you
did not.

biking in winter is so good for the self images on life:
and I like it!:)

Date: 12 Oct 2006 07:52:45
From: John B.
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

lake house wrote:
> I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
> without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
> site: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/
>
> Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.
>
> Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
> accurately?
>
> Thanks.

You might try doing it the old-fashioned way - go run a mile or two on
a track or on a trail w/mile markers and time yourself.

Date: 12 Oct 2006 20:13:58
From: Doug Freese
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

"lake house" <tedneeley@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1160663204.452101.54140@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
> without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
> site: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/
>
> Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.
>
> Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
> accurately?

Maybe it's your mapping technique. If are not doing multiple clicks in a
turn to more closely approximate the curves then you will off by a lot.
I have found it to be very accurate. You trace of the route should
follow the road closely. OTOH, if the map by chance does not emulate the
real curvature, then there is nothing you can do.

-Doug

Date: 13 Oct 2006 09:59:24
From: bluezfolk
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

lake house wrote:
> I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
> without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
> site: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/
>
> Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.
>
> Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
> accurately?
>
> Thanks.

You can use a bicycle with an odometer, they're quite accurate
if they're set up properly. To do that you have to measure exactly how
far one rotation of the wheel is, and do a little math. I haven't had
any problems with the USATF program being inaccurate, just do multiple
clicks around the curves. Is it possible that you're know distance is
wrong?

Eric

Date: 13 Oct 2006 08:35:52
From: runsrealfast
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

Date: 12 Oct 2006 21:19:37
From: Scott Richardson
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

Download Google Earth. Its free and its cool. Zoom in on your town. Use the
path device to map out our course and it measures and totals the distance in
miles. It quite accurate.
Google Earth lets you explore anyplace in the world from satelite
pictures. Have fun.
Scott in Austin MN
"lake house" <tedneeley@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1160663204.452101.54140@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
> without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
> site: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/
>
> Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.
>
> Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
> accurately?
>
> Thanks.
>

Date: 13 Oct 2006 16:44:07
From:
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

lake house <tedneeley@yahoo.com > writes:
: I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
: without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
: site: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/

: Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
: roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
: shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.

: Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
: accurately?

: Thanks.

I have two relatively accurate ways of measuring my running trails.

1. Ride the trail with my bike and read the distance off the computer.

2. Use a software mapping program called TOPO! I trace the route at
the highest magnification, then read the distance given.

Chacking both methods against each other I can usually get within .02 km
of each other on a 4 or 5 mile run. That's 20 meters, which is close
enough for me.

Larry

Date: 14 Oct 2006 19:26:29
From:
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

Not sure if any one else mentoined this, i don't have time to read
everything. if your mostly on the road there's this website which is by
and far the most amazing thing i've ever used

http://www.mapmyrun.com

just put in your address on the left and start clicking around where
you go the only let down is you can't really do this on a trail unless
you know where all the turns are

Date: 15 Oct 2006 05:17:01
From: jeroly
Subject: Re: measuring distance without driving around

Google Earth is really fantastic...

you can go to any location and measure a path quite accurately...

The interface is quite cool as well...

At the moment it's free.

Disclaimer: writer has no affiliations with google, just a googol of
uses for it...

On 12, 10:26 am, "lake house" <tednee...@yahoo.com > wrote:
> I'm trying to figure out a way to measure distances in my neighborhood
> without actually driving around. I googled this group and found this
> site:http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/
>
> Well.. The issue is, this doesn't seem to account for curves in the
> roads. There's one trail I know for sure is 5 miles that this site
> shows as 4 miles. That's more error than I can ignore.
>
> Does anyone know of better map/websites that measure the distance more
> accurately?
>
> Thanks.