How to Find a 5K Route

Find a running route in your area and stay fit. A 5k or 5 kilometer run equals 3.1 miles and is typically the shortest distance of road race events. Instead of running on a treadmill, find a route outdoors and enjoy the scenery. Running a 5k can be accomplished anywhere including a loop run starting from your doorstep, around the neighborhood and back to your home. All you need is a proper way to measure and track your distance.

Things You'll Need

  • Pedometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a pedometer device -- like a watch equipped with a built-in accelerometer -- to measure the distance of all your runs. This method gives you the convenience of running 5K distances within your own neighborhood and community. Besides pedometer watches, clip-on styles are also available.

    • 2

      Use a free online-based mapping device such as Gmap-pedometer.com or Runningmap.com to map a 5k route. These sites allow you to choose a location and mark point by point routes until you reach a desired destination or distance length. Save or print a map route to remember your trails.

    • 3

      Find a USA Track and Field-certified 5k course in your desired area from the USATF's official website. USATF provides a list of certified 5K courses throughout the nation. The list is alphabetized by state and includes the map, city, state and name of each course.

    • 4

      Attend a 5K running event. Charitable races such as Susan G Komen Race for the Cure holds 5K races nationwide to benefit breast cancer research. Obtain information about 5K races in your area from websites like Runnersworld.com and Active.com