How to Keep Track of Distance While Jogging

Jogging is an excellent way to stay fit and maintain your personal health. Keeping track of your distance while running will help you to measure your progress and reach your personal goals. While it is not necessary to keep track of your distance, it can be helpful to keep this number in mind as a motivating factor. A number of options are available to help you keep an accurate count of the miles you are running.

Instructions

    • 1

      Wear a pedometer on your hip or waist, parallel to the ground. These small gadgets keep track of your distance based on your average speed. While they are not always exact, they are a strong general indicator of your distance. More than just logging your steps or miles, pedometers can also measure calories burned to help you keep your fitness goals in mind. Some are so small you can even tie them onto your shoelace or wear them like a watch.

    • 2

      Measure your distance before you run and follow this route. If you want an accurate measurement of your jog, know in advance the route you want to take. This is not the best option for those who want a free-spirited jog that winds off-trail or through different spontaneous turns; instead, this is best for following a major road.

    • 3

      Track your route online. The Internet has become the perfect place to not only track your progress, but to share your accomplishments with others. Smart phone apps, such as Endomondo and Couch 2 5K, use GPS to track your progress. Fitness training websites such as Map My Run allow you to upload information about your jogging route for an accurate indicator of the distance you covered.

    • 4

      Use your car odometer. If you plan to follow roads, this is a simple option that you can use if you are on a trip and have not had the chance to plot out your jogging route. Simply note your starting and end location, then retrace your steps in your car using the trip odometer for an accurate (to the one-tenth mile) of your jog.

    • 5

      Follow a designated running path and calculate your distance based on the markers. Many community parks have designated running trails for walkers and joggers. Somewhere at the park or at the park website is a notice of the exact distance of the route, making it a visible motivator for your run.