How to Calculate Distance Ran

Measuring Your Distance

1). Go out for a run, making sure that you remember your route. In order to calculate your distance using the method described below, ensure that your running route sticks to areas where you can walk or ride a bicycle.
2). Measure the circumference of your bicycle's front wheel. The easiest way to do this is by putting a chalk mark on the wheel, and then rolling the bicycle forward until the mark has made exactly one revolution. Measure the distance that the bike has traveled to calculate the circumference. An alternative method is to measure the radius of the wheel, and then utilize the formula (2 x radius x 3.1415) to calculate the circumference of the wheel. If you are going to be calculating your distance in miles, measure the circumference in inches. To calculate your distance in kilometers, measure in centimeters.
3). Place a chalk mark on the edge of the bike's front tire (or use the one that you made to measure the wheel's circumference). Walk or slowly ride your bike along the course that you ran earlier, and count the number of times that the chalk mark makes a full revolution.
4). If you measured the circumference of the wheel in inches, divide that figure by 12 to determine the circumference in feet. Multiply that figure by the number of revolutions that your front tire made as you retraced the course, then divide that figure by 5,280 to calculate your distance in miles. For example, a circumference of 84 inches is 7 feet (84/12). Counting 500 revolutions of 7 feet each would mean that you have traveled 3500 feet. Dividing that figure by 5,280 will provide your distance, in this case 0.66 miles.
5). If you measured the circumference in centimeters, divide by 100 to determine the circumference in meters. Multiply that figure by the number of revolutions that your front tire made as you retraced the course, then divide that figure by 1000 to calculate your distance in kilometers. For example, a circumference of 200 centimeters is 2 meters. Counting 500 revolutions of 2 meters each would mean that you have traveled 1000 meters. Dividing that figure by 1000 will provide your distance, in this case 1.0 kilometers.