Creating Your First Hometurf
A hometurf is your running route — a trail, park loop, or city circuit that you know well and want to share with others. Think of it as your signature route where you're the local expert.
What You'll Need
Before starting, have these ready:
- A clear route in mind (or a GPX file from Strava/Garmin)
- A Google Maps link to your meeting point
- A quick description of what makes your route special
The Creation Wizard
Creating a hometurf is a guided process. The wizard saves your progress automatically, so you can come back anytime if you need to step away.
Step 1: Choose Your Data Source
You can set up your route in two ways:
| Option | Best For |
|---|---|
| GPX Upload | Precise route with elevation data and map preview |
| Manual Entry | Quick setup when you know the basics |
Tip: GPX files from Strava or Garmin give the best results — they include elevation data and generate a nice route map automatically.
Step 2: Route Details
Fill in the essentials:
- Name — Something memorable (e.g., "Sunset Park Loop")
- Distance — In kilometers
- Elevation — Total climb in meters
- Surface — Road, Trail, or Mixed
- Description — What can runners expect? Scenery, vibe, any challenges?
Step 3: Route Image
If you uploaded a GPX file, you'll see a map preview of your route. You can also upload your own photos to showcase the route.
Step 4: Location Settings
- Start Location — Paste a Google Maps link to your meeting point
- Default Pace — Your typical pace (optional, helps with beginner-friendly badges)
- Visibility — Make it "Explorable" so runners can discover it
Explorable vs. Private
When you create a hometurf, you choose its visibility:
| Setting | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Explorable | Appears on Discover Hometurfs, runners can follow you |
| Private | Only visible when you schedule a run |
You can change this anytime from your hometurf's menu (⋮ → Make Private/Make Explorable).
Draft Restoration
Started creating but got interrupted? No worries — the wizard saves your progress automatically. Next time you visit the creation page, you'll see:
Resume Draft?
You have an unsaved hometurf draft from [date].
Would you like to continue where you left off?
Choose Resume Draft to continue, or Start Fresh to begin again.
What's Next?
Once your hometurf is created:
- Schedule your first run — Pick a date and time
- Watch for runners — They'll start joining
- Meet and run! — Lead the experience
Need to edit later? Open your hometurf from the Hosting dashboard and click Edit.