How to Make Your Own Jogging Route

The health benefits of jogging are unquestionable and include lower blood pressure, improved cardiac health, increased bone density, a better lipid profile, enhanced immune function and weight control, according to Peter Schnohr, chief cardiologist of the Copenhagen City Heart Study as reported by the Science Daily website. However, you don't have to limit yourself to a boring three miles on the treadmill to improve your health. Map your own jogging route through scenic neighborhoods or parks to make exercise an enjoyable routine.

Instructions

    • 1

      Consider your start point. If you plan to lace up your jogging shoes as soon as you get home from work, you may want to design routes with a destination in mind. You could jog to the local library or make a loop around the park. If you're willing to get in the car first, your options are much more diverse. You could map routes at a nature reserve, along a river or through an urban area.

    • 2

      Select a terrain. If you're living with an old injury, you'll probably want to design a route along level trails or around a turf track. If you're looking for a challenge, a trip through the forest or up a mountain might be more up your alley. Be sure you are properly equipped for rocky terrain, however.

    • 3

      Go exploring. Drive through local neighborhoods to familiarize yourself with scenic areas. You may discover a beautiful historic district or new park to include in your run. Take note of safety features, however. You should never run along a secluded or poorly lit route, according to the University of Southern California Department of Public Safety.

    • 4

      Set your distance. For a short run, you may want to design a 1-mile loop route around your neighborhood. On the weekend, consider driving to a nature reserve for a 5- to 10-mile jog. Design at least one route with flexible distances. For instance, within your town, three blocks might be half a mile and six blocks would approximate one mile. If you have a general sense of distance, you can easily increase your run when you have a little extra time.

    • 5

      Map the route. Trace your path on an old-fashioned paper map or use an app such as MapMyRun to create a virtual jogging route.