The History of Strava Art: How Athletes Turned GPS Tracking Into a New Form of Creativity

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For most runners and cyclists, tracking miles is about logging workouts, improving performance, and chasing personal records. But in the past decade, a completely unexpected trend has emerged—one that has nothing to do with race times or leaderboard rankings. It’s called Strava Art, and it has turned the streets, trails, and city grids into canvases for some of the most creative endurance athletes in the world.

What started as a quirky experiment—a simple doodle traced through GPS—has grown into a global movement. Athletes are now crafting elaborate digital drawings, from smiley faces and animals to full-scale portraits and messages of social activism. Some of these works stretch across entire cities, covering hundreds of miles, requiring weeks of planning and hours of running or cycling to execute.

So, where did Strava Art come from? Who started it? And how did it explode into an international phenomenon, with brands, celebrities, and everyday athletes getting in on the trend? Let’s dive into the weird, wonderful world of Strava Art.

The Accidental Birth of Strava Art

Like many great ideas, Strava Art wasn’t really planned. Before fitness apps like Strava existed, runners and cyclists would often trace their routes on physical maps, but it was always about function—where can I get my miles in today? But once Strava launched in 2009, everything changed.

Suddenly, workouts weren’t just miles covered—they were data, visuals, and shareable stories. The app allowed runners and cyclists to track their workouts via GPS, creating digital route maps. At first, people simply used Strava to see their pace and elevation. But eventually, someone noticed something strange—sometimes, a route would accidentally resemble a shape.

That realization opened up a world of possibility: What if you could intentionally run or ride in a way that drew something on the map?

The first recorded Strava Art pieces were small and simple—hearts, arrows, maybe a few letters. But soon, creative athletes saw just how far they could take it.

The First Strava Artists: Turning Workouts into Art

Strava Art’s rise is largely thanks to a handful of early pioneers—runners and cyclists who pushed the boundaries of what was possible with GPS tracking.

One of the first athletes to intentionally use Strava for art was Stephen Lund, a cyclist from Victoria, British Columbia. In 2015, Lund started planning and riding elaborate Strava Art pieces, including a giant dragon, a detailed Santa Claus, and a massive Thanksgiving turkey. His works weren’t just impressive because of their scale—they were incredibly detailed, showing just how much planning went into them.

Around the same time, another name started making waves in the Strava Art community—Lenny Maughan. Unlike Lund, who worked with the flexibility of cycling routes, Maughan was a runner, meaning he was confined to sidewalks, pedestrian paths, and city blocks. That didn’t stop him. He took on some of the most intricate, high-detail Strava Art pieces ever created, including a full portrait of Frida Kahlo, made entirely by running through the streets of San Francisco.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, British cyclist David Taylor was crafting massive drawings across multiple towns. His Christmas reindeer drawing, covering 70+ miles of roads, became one of the first pieces of Strava Art to go viral on social media.

These early pioneers set the stage for what was possible—and before long, the world took notice.

The Rise of Strava Art in Pop Culture

Strava Art stayed somewhat underground for the first few years, mostly circulating within niche running and cycling communities. But as social media became more integrated with fitness culture, Strava Art exploded into the mainstream.

Athletes began sharing their GPS drawings on Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit, and soon, their work was getting noticed outside of the running world. News outlets began covering the most impressive Strava Art creations, and before long, brands and celebrities started getting in on the trend.

One of the most memorable moments in Strava Art history came in 2020, when an anonymous runner in Los Angeles used GPS tracking to spell out "KOBE" alongside a basketball in tribute to the late Kobe Bryant. Covering 24 miles, a reference to Bryant’s jersey number, the piece was widely shared online and picked up by major sports media outlets.

Other notable creations followed, including:

• A 300-mile “Merry Christmas” message created by Australian cyclist Pete Stokes.

• A huge running portrait of David Bowie, mapped out in the streets of London.

• Several Strava Art protest messages, including “BLM” and “Stop Asian Hate,” used as a form of activism.

Strava Art had officially outgrown its niche—it had become a cultural movement.

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How Hard Is It to Create Strava Art?

For those who’ve never tried it, Strava Art might seem like just a fun side project—but in reality, it’s far from easy. The best pieces require:

• Meticulous planning – Every turn, intersection, and dead-end street must be mapped out in advance. A single wrong turn can ruin an entire drawing.

• Serious endurance – Some pieces require athletes to cover over 100 miles in a single day.

• Navigating real-world obstacles – Unlike drawing on paper, Strava Art has traffic lights, pedestrians, and construction zones to deal with.

• Precision GPS tracking – GPS errors can distort the final image, forcing athletes to carefully manage their route accuracy.

Some Strava Art creators practice their designs digitally first, mapping out their routes using Google Maps or route-planning apps before heading outside. Others simply rely on trial and error, sometimes running or cycling their routes multiple times before getting them right.

The Future of Strava Art

Strava Art continues to evolve, and the possibilities are endless. As GPS technology improves, the level of detail and precision in Strava Art will only increase. Some artists are already experimenting with AI-assisted route planning, using software to optimize their designs before attempting them in real life.

Additionally, brands and charities have started collaborating with Strava artists to create pieces that raise money and awareness for causes. More athletes are also using Strava Art as a form of protest, turning their workouts into statements on climate change, social justice, and human rights.

One thing is clear: Strava Art is no longer just a fun distraction for runners and cyclists—it’s a legitimate art form that blends endurance, technology, and creativity in a way that no one saw coming.

Final Thoughts: Why Strava Art Matters

At its core, Strava Art is about seeing running and cycling differently. Instead of just chasing miles, athletes are using the streets as a canvas, turning workouts into stories, messages, and creativity.

What started as an accident—a few routes that happened to resemble shapes—has become one of the most unique and inspiring trends in endurance sports. Whether it's a 100-mile portrait, a holiday message, or a protest sign made of sweat and GPS signals, Strava Art proves that movement is more than just exercise—it’s a form of expression.

And that’s what makes it so special.