Create A Route On Map My Run: Complete Guide & Key Details

I remember this one time, I was so excited about a new running route I'd discovered. It was this little trail that wound through a park I'd never really explored, and it promised some gentle hills and a great view of the sunset. I was practically bouncing with anticipation, planning to head out that evening. But then, life happened. A sudden work crisis, a forgotten appointment, the usual suspects that conspire to derail even the best-laid plans. By the time I was free, it was dark. And I had no idea how to get back to the start of the trail, or even how far I'd gone. I ended up doing this awkward, slightly panicked jog back along a busy road, feeling more like a lost puppy than a seasoned runner. It was a bit of a bust, to say the least.
And that, my friends, is where Map My Run, and specifically, the art of creating your own route on it, comes in. It’s like having a personal trail guide in your pocket, a digital compass that whispers sweet nothings about unexplored paths and guarantees you won't end up on a highway after dark. Seriously, if you're anything like me – prone to spontaneous adventures but also a little prone to getting lost – this is your new best friend.
So, let's dive in, shall we? We’re going to talk about how to build your perfect running route on Map My Run, from the nitty-gritty of clicking and dragging to the finer points of making it your route, not just a route.
Why Bother Creating Your Own Route?
I get it. There are tons of pre-made routes out there. You can probably find a dozen different 5Ks within a mile of your house. But where's the fun in that? Creating your own route is where the real magic happens. It’s about:
- Discovery: Unearthing those hidden gems in your neighborhood, the quiet streets, the scenic paths that aren't on the standard tourist trail.
- Personalization: Tailoring your run to your exact needs. Need a killer hill workout? Want a flat, fast 10k? Craving a route with minimal traffic lights? You're the architect here!
- Variety: Breaking up the monotony. Sticking to the same loop can get, well, boring. Mixing it up keeps your mind engaged and your body guessing.
- Safety: Planning a route that’s well-lit, has good sidewalks, and avoids dangerous intersections. Especially important for those early morning or late evening runs.
- Goal Setting: Want to hit a specific distance or elevation gain? Create a route that perfectly matches your training goals.
Honestly, once you start creating your own, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. It’s like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone – suddenly, the possibilities are endless!
Getting Started: The Map My Run Interface
Alright, let's get down to business. You’ll need to head over to the Map My Run website (MapMyRun.com) or download the app. The website tends to be a bit more robust for route creation, so I usually do my heavy lifting there. Once you’re logged in (or signed up, if you haven’t already – seriously, what are you waiting for?), you’ll want to find the “Create” or “Route” option. It’s usually pretty prominent. Think of it as the big red button that unlocks your inner cartographer.
Once you click that, you'll be greeted by a map. A beautiful, blank canvas of potential. This is where the fun begins. You'll see your current location (or a default location), and a whole host of tools at your disposal. Don’t be intimidated by all the buttons and options; we’ll break them down.
The Core Functionality: Drawing Your Route
This is the heart of it all. Map My Run offers a few ways to draw your route, and they’re all pretty intuitive.
Click-and-Drag (The Most Common Method)
This is your bread and butter. You’ll see a tool that lets you “draw” or “create” a route by clicking on the map. Essentially, you start at your desired starting point, click your mouse, and then drag it along the path you want to run. Map My Run is pretty smart; it tries to snap to roads and paths.
Pro-tip: Don't just go wild clicking everywhere. Think about the actual path you'd take. Are you sticking to the sidewalk? Are you cutting across a park? Try to be as accurate as possible. If Map My Run snaps to a road you don't want, you can usually click to add a new point and redirect it. It’s a bit of a dance, a back-and-forth.

You'll be adding points all along your intended route. Each click creates a new segment. The more precise you are, the more accurate your distance and elevation data will be. Imagine you’re drawing with a pen, but the pen is guided by the roads and trails. Kind of cool, right?
Adding and Removing Points
Mistakes happen. You clicked on a side street instead of the main road, or you accidentally added a point in the middle of a lake (don't ask me how I've done that). No worries! You can easily add new points to redirect your route or remove existing ones to correct an error.
To add a point, just click on the map where you want to insert it. To remove a point, hover over it – you'll usually see a little "X" or a delete icon appear. Click that, and poof, it’s gone. It’s like having an eraser for your running dreams. Very handy.
Snapping to Roads/Trails
Map My Run’s “snap to” feature is a lifesaver. As you draw, it tries its best to follow actual roads and bike paths. This is great for accuracy and saves you from manually plotting every single curve. However, it’s not perfect. Sometimes it will snap to a road you didn't intend, or it might struggle with off-road trails.
A little secret: If the auto-snap is being stubborn, you can often force it to follow your exact path by clicking more frequently. This tells the algorithm, "No, no, no, I really want to go this way, not that way!" You can also turn off the snapping feature entirely if you’re trying to draw a very specific, off-road adventure, though this takes a bit more patience.
Customizing Your Route: Beyond Just Drawing
So, you’ve drawn a basic outline of your run. Awesome! But we can make it even better. This is where the real customization comes in.
Naming Your Route
Give your masterpiece a name! Don't just call it "My Run." Be creative! Something like "Sunset Hill Repeats," "Coffee Shop Cruise," or "The 'Avoid the Pedestrians' Path." This makes it so much easier to find later, especially when you’ve created a dozen routes. Trust me on this.

Adding Descriptions
This is your chance to add notes for your future self (or for sharing with friends). Did you discover a great coffee shop along the way? Is there a particularly treacherous pothole you need to watch out for? Is this route great for a tempo run? Jot it down! You can also add details like the type of surface (paved, gravel, trail), if it’s dog-friendly, or if there are water fountains available.
Think of this as your personal running journal for each route. It adds context and makes your runs more enjoyable and informed. You might even write a little anecdote about why you created this route, just like I did at the beginning of this article!
Setting Route Type
Map My Run often lets you categorize your route. Is it a running route, a walking route, a cycling route? This helps with filtering and organization. Make sure you select "Running" if that’s your primary intention.
Marking Start and End Points
While Map My Run usually figures this out, it’s good practice to ensure your start and end points are clearly defined. This is especially important if you plan to run the route as a loop or if you have a specific parking spot in mind. You can usually drag and drop these markers to your desired locations.
Key Details to Consider When Creating Your Route
This is where we elevate your route from "just a path" to "a meticulously planned running experience."
Distance Accuracy
This is probably the most crucial detail. The accuracy of the distance depends on how precisely you’ve drawn the route. If you’ve snapped well to roads and sidewalks and added points where the road bends, the distance will be pretty close. Map My Run calculates the distance based on the points you’ve laid out.
Pro-tip: If you’re aiming for a very specific distance (say, for a race simulation), you might need to do a bit of fine-tuning. Zoom in close, add more points in winding sections, and check the total distance periodically. It's a bit of an iterative process, but worth it if precision matters to you.

Elevation Gain/Loss
This is another incredibly important metric, especially for training. Map My Run uses topographical data to estimate the elevation changes along your route. This is fantastic for planning hill workouts or knowing what to expect on a long run.
When you create your route, Map My Run will automatically calculate the total elevation gain and loss. You can usually see this information displayed prominently. If you’re looking for a challenging climb, you can actively seek out routes with more elevation. If you’re recovering, you’ll want to find flatter options. This data is gold!
Traffic and Safety
This is where you become your own safety officer. As you draw your route, look at the map with a critical eye. Are there major roads with high-speed traffic? Are there areas with limited sidewalks? Are there intersections with poor visibility?
My personal rule: I try to minimize crossing busy roads. If I have to cross one, I look for marked crosswalks or traffic lights. I also prefer routes that are well-lit for evening runs. Map My Run doesn't magically show you safety features, but it gives you the visual overview to make informed decisions. You can even add notes in the description about potential hazards!
Surface Type
Are you a road runner? A trail enthusiast? Or somewhere in between? Map My Run usually defaults to roads, but when you zoom in, you can often see if you're drawing over a park path, a gravel trail, or even a sidewalk.
You can try to draw your route to stick to your preferred surface. If you’re a trail runner, you’ll want to explore parks and designated trail systems. For road runners, sticking to paved roads and dedicated bike paths is usually the way to go. Again, that description field is your friend for noting surface types!
Landmarks and Points of Interest
This is for the explorers! As you draw, notice the parks, the coffee shops, the cool statues, the scenic viewpoints. These can make your runs more enjoyable and provide good reference points.

You can add these as notes in your description. "Turn left at the big oak tree," or "Grab a coffee at the cute cafe on the corner." It makes your route more interesting and helps you remember it. It’s like leaving breadcrumbs for your future self, but way cooler and less likely to attract squirrels.
Saving and Using Your Route
Once you’ve meticulously crafted your route, the next step is to save it. This is the part where you bask in your glory. Look for a "Save" button. It’s usually pretty obvious.
After saving, your route will be added to your personal collection of routes. You can then access it from the website or the app. When you’re ready to run, just select your route, and you can either follow it on your phone (which is great for exploring new areas) or you can use it to log a run and compare your performance to how you’ve run it before.
Following a Route
When you’re out and about, you can pull up your saved route on the Map My Run app. It will show you your position on the map and guide you along your planned path. This is a sanity saver, especially in unfamiliar territory. No more doubling back or getting hopelessly lost!
Logging Runs Against Your Route
Once you’ve completed your run, you can log it. Map My Run will show you how your actual run compares to the route you created. Did you stick to the plan? Did you take a detour? It’s a great way to track your consistency and identify areas where you might have deviated.
Troubleshooting and Common Issues
Even with the best intentions, you might run into a few snags. Here are some common issues and how to deal with them:
- Inaccurate Distance: As mentioned, this usually comes down to how precisely you've drawn the route. Zoom in, add more points, and re-check the distance.
- Map Not Loading: A classic. Try refreshing your browser, clearing your cache, or checking your internet connection. Sometimes the digital world just throws a tantrum.
- Auto-Snap Goes Haywire: Sometimes, the "snap to road" feature can be overly enthusiastic. If it's not cooperating, try turning it off temporarily, or manually clicking more frequently to force it onto your desired path.
- Can't Find a Specific Trail: Not all trails are on every mapping service. If you're trying to map a very specific, unpaved trail, you might need to rely more on your own drawing and less on the auto-snap. You might even need to do a reconnaissance run with your phone to record the GPS track and then edit it on Map My Run.
Embrace the Explorer Within!
Creating routes on Map My Run isn't just a technical task; it's an act of exploration. It's about taking ownership of your running journey and designing an experience that’s perfectly suited to you. So, go ahead, get creative. Draw that epic loop, discover that hidden park, and conquer those hills. Your next favorite run might just be a few clicks away. Happy mapping, and even happier running!
