Plan your next walk with a virtual pedometer

Last spring, I decided to take up jogging. I remember coming home from my first time out, gasping for air, telling my husband that I "must have gone at least two miles." It seemed that he smiled at me a little knowingly, and when I checked the distance later with my car, it was just under a mile. I was humiliated and immediately set about marking a safe, three mile route that I could work up to.

Jogging never turned out to be my thing, but I still walk that route. I've been meaning to go back with my car and plan out a few other walking routes for a little variety, but have never gotten around to it. There have been plenty of times when I took off and rambled around my neighborhood and wondered when I returned just how far I'd gone.

Today, I discovered Map My Run, a virtual pedometer by put out by About.com. Using Google map technology, they've created an easy way to map out your walk or run ahead of time. You can see exactly how far you're going, and even use their calculator to get a quick list of workout stats. There's an "out and back" feature that makes it easy to plot a route that brings you right back to your house. You can even figure in elevation, or view your route on a satellite map or Google Earth.

Definitely a fun toy, as long as you don't spend more time playing with it than you do on your walk or run!