how do you guys measure a training run loop?

My watch seems to do the trick. Sometimes I'll just guess how far it is, I know about what my pace feels like. I've also been known to include a mile on the track during my run, check what my mile time was, then continue on at the same pace. Car odometers are fairly accurate if you do your runs along the road.

I don't think the Kenyans are out there worrying about if their run was 15.5 or 16 miles though.

cars can vary alot. i did my long run then measured it with my girlfriends jeep cherokee and was like "NO WAY i ran 7:30p!!!". then i measured it with my car and got close to 2 miles more. i heard the bigger the car/tires the more inaccurate it will be.

I'll bet you did do your long run at 7:30 pace!

if i were kenyan, i'd have the secret...i run most everything on grass...so it's hard to gauge when i get on roads...i don't think kenyans worry about a lot of the things that i do, actually

Simple. If I felt like I was going really fast, I divide my time by 7:30. If I felt not quite as fast, I divide it by 8:00, slower than than 8:30. If I'm hungover and feeling like a slug, 9:00.

That's close enough for training runs.

I do anything that matters time wise on the track or on parts of race courses.

Calibrated bicycle method with Jones counter, available from New York Road Runners Club.

I have two 1 mile loops marked every 110 yards, and various other courses marked every 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, or mile.

1-2 timer - go by pace (may be more accurate w/ HRM).

A once a monther - go with a bike.

A staple - bike and confirm with wheel (anal, but correct).

Also, if you are fortunate enough to push kid(s) from time to time, and your jogger has a correctly calibrated odometer, you can measure a course while getting a run in(also is convenient for carrying the means to mark, if necessary).

Some cars can be accurate, but some suck (in terms of measurement accuracy). It seems like most are too generous, so the original poster was probably actually doing 8s.

Kenyans are human too...they have feelings...they have a brain...they worry too...it is not like Americans are the only ones with feelings, worries, and brains....

Dude - you forgot - Americans are racist, stupid, biggots. Thats why the rest of the world hates them.

How the hell did that happen ... measuring running loops to mental illnesses in 10 posts.

Cars are accurate enough if they measure by metric 100m's. Americans use miles dont they?

i got pc and it came with microsoft expedia streets 98 cd

i use that to map routes, it's 99% accurate. not sure where to get this cd.

for example it comes up with khoury's 4.13 in somerville, ma at 4.12 and it hits Chicago, IL 8k at 4.96.

pretty accurate and quick, i bet it could swing double nickels on the dime if i mapped la marathon

go minutemen

The Timex Speed and Distance watch has a built-in GPS

receiver that measures distance very accurately. I

don't run with it (too bulky), but I use it for measuring

running routes - much more accurate than a car or bike

odometer.

Alternatively (and somewhat cheaper), there is a software program called TOPO! which has very detailed USGS maps

that allows you to trace out a route. Not as accurate

as using the GPS watch, but it also will give you a course

elevation profile (very cool).

ditto on the Timex Speed + Distance GPS thingy. I'll measure each loop a couple of times to make sure I get an accurate reading.

Christian, you are the most ridiculous poster since Mr.Bush.