Pace every metre of the course

gpx2pace turns a course file and a goal time into a segment-by-segment plan that eases your effort on the climbs and presses it on the descents, so you finish on target instead of blowing up or leaving time on the road. Here’s how it works and how to get the most out of it.

01

How it works

Every plan starts from two inputs: a course file (GPX) and the finish time you’re chasing. gpx2pace reads the route, splits it into segments, and assigns each one a target pace.

  1. 01Create a raceName it, set a goal time, pick km or mi.
  2. 02Upload a GPXWe parse distance and elevation from the file.
  3. 03Get a graded planSegment paces that sum to your goal.
  4. 04Print the bandA wrist strip for race day.
02

The grade-adjusted model

Running up a hill at your flat pace costs far more energy than the clock suggests; running down gives some back. A flat average ignores this and sets you up to fade on the climbs. gpx2pace applies a cost-of-running curve to each segment’s gradient, easing the target where it’s steep uphill and pressing it where it’s downhill, while holding the total to your goal time.

Flat average
Same pace everywhere. You overspend uphill and coast downhill.
Grade-adjusted
Eased on climbs, pressed on descents. Effort stays even.

The key guarantee: however the paces shift across terrain, every segment’s time still adds up to your goal, within a few seconds of rounding.

03

Preparing your GPX

gpx2pace reads a standard .gpx exported from any watch, phone app, or route planner. For the best plan, make sure the file has:

Recorded track pointsA real route line, not a single waypoint or address.
Elevation on the trackAltitude per point is what powers grade adjustment.
One continuous trackEvery track in the file is joined in order, so export only the race course.
Under 10 MBLarger files are rejected. The no-account planner takes up to 5 MB.

No elevation in the file? You’ll still get a plan: gpx2pace falls back to a flat average and flags that grade adjustment is unavailable for that course.

04

Reading your plan

The plan view renders two views of the same parsed data. The elevation chart shades the profile by terrain; the segment table lists the numbers. Colour is consistent everywhere:

Climb (eased)Descent (pressed)Flat (goal pace)
Gradient
Average % slope across the segment. It drives the pace adjustment.
Elev ▲ / ▼
Metres climbed and descended within the segment.
Target pace
The pace to run that segment to stay on plan.
Split / Cumulative
Time for the segment, and elapsed time to that point.
05

Printing a pace band

Open any plan and hit Print pace band. That route is print-optimised: a single horizontal strip of segment → target pace, sized to wrap around your wrist. Save it as a PDF or send it straight to a printer.

Cut along the dotted line and tape the ends into a loop, or slip the strip under your watch band so your splits are always in view.

06

Troubleshooting

gpx2pace fails loudly, never silently. Each problem has a clear state and a way forward:

Unreadable GPXWhat happens: The file isn't valid GPX or has no track points.Fix: You'll see a file-error state on the new-race form. Re-export the course and upload again.
No elevation dataWhat happens: The track parsed but has no altitude values.Fix: We build a flat plan and warn you that grade adjustment is off for that course.
Implausible goalWhat happens: The goal time isn't achievable for the distance.Fix: We flag it before generating a plan so you can set a realistic target instead of a nonsense one.
07

Frequently asked

Do I need a heart-rate strap or power meter?+

No. gpx2pace only needs the course GPX and your goal time. Nothing worn or synced.

Which grade-adjustment model do you use?+

Minetti's published cost-of-running curve, applied per segment, with a floor so steep descents never count as free speed.

Can I plan by average pace instead of finish time?+

Enter a goal time as the primary input; the implied average pace updates live as you type.

Is my GPX shared or public?+

No. Files are private to your account. Only you can see your races and plans.

Does the plan account for heat or weather?+

Not in v1. Plans are elevation and terrain based; adjust to conditions on the day at your own judgment.

Ready to plan your race?

Upload a GPX, set a goal, and print a grade-adjusted pace band.

Plan a race, no account needed

Pacing and performance guidance only, not medical advice. Runners race in heat and on terrain at their own judgment.