The training program that I'm currently following calls for a track sprint workout with intervals of 400m, 300m, 200m and 100m. For those of us who don't have a highschool or collegiate track and field stadium nearby, it can be tough to meausre off the right distances.
However, using Google MapMaker, it is easy to measure out the correct distances, and use the satellite images to figure out the visual milestones in your own neighborhood. Here is how to do it.
1. Open MapMaker in your browser: https://www.google.com/maps/mm
2. Use the zoom and pan controls to zoom in on your house. Then press the "Create Map" button (red arrow):
3. Give the map a name ("Sprint Workout Distances") and click "Save":
4. Next, select the line drawing tool:
5. Now, switch to Satellite view:
6. Now left-single-click on a good starting point for your fist distance - 100m - at a convenient spot, such as the street just at the front of your driveway. You can still use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out if needed. Then extend the line until the measurement tool indicates the line is the right distance. If you need to turn a corner, just right-single-click once to set a waypoint and continue to extend the line. 100m is about 380ft:
7. Double-left-click on the end point of your line to finish drawing the line. Then give it a name, like "100m" and press OK:
8. You can now drag the small yellow Street View Man to your end point to see exactly where you should end your 100m sprint if you're not sure exactly where the line ends.
Repeat this for the other distances, or just use the 100m mark as a turn-around point for your 200, 300 and 400m distances.