How to Add Your Running Stats to a Photo

After a solid run — a new PR, a long trail run, or a race — the Strava screenshot is fine, but it doesn't show the photo. And the photo alone doesn't show the data. Combining both into a single image gives the full picture.

This guide walks through creating a running stats overlay: your pace, distance, heart rate, elevation, and route map layered directly onto a photo from your run.

What Stats to Show for Running

Running stats are different from cycling. The key numbers to highlight depend on the run type:

Run type	Lead stat	Supporting stats
Race / time trial	Avg Pace	Distance, Total Time, Heart Rate
Long run	Distance	Time, Elevation, Avg HR
Trail run	Elevation Gain	Distance, Time, Avg Pace
Interval session	Avg Heart Rate	Distance, Time
Casual run	Distance	Time

Avoid showing too many stats at once — three to four is usually the sweet spot for readability.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Get Your GPX File

Export your run as a GPX file from your tracking app or device:

• From Strava — most common for runners
• From Garmin Connect — Forerunner, Fenix, etc.
• From Komoot — popular for trail running

Apple Watch users: export via the Health app or a third-party app like WorkOutDoors, then share to Strava and export from there.

Step 2: Upload to Stamptivity

Go to Stamptivity and drop the .gpx file on the upload area. Stamptivity reads your pace, distance, elevation, heart rate, and time directly from the file — no manual entry.

Click Open Editor when ready.

Step 3: Pick a Template

For running, two templates work particularly well:

• Runner — built specifically for running. Pace is the hero stat, with distance, time, heart rate, and elevation in a secondary grid. Includes a map at the bottom.
• Climb — good for trail runs and hilly courses. Elevation is prominent, route map in the middle, and an elevation profile chart at the very bottom.

You can customise either template freely — add, remove, or reposition any widget.

Step 4: Add Your Running Stats

In the Elements panel, enable the stats you want:

• Avg Pace — the most important running metric. Shown in min/km or min/mi depending on your unit setting.
• Distance — total run distance
• Total Time — elapsed time
• Elevation Gain — total climbing (great for trail runs)
• Avg Heart Rate — useful for showing the effort level
• Route Map — draws your GPS path, with optional start/end markers
• Elevation Chart — elevation profile as an area chart over distance (great for trail and mountain runs)

To switch between km and miles, use the unit toggle in the Canvas panel.

Step 5: Add a Photo

Click the canvas to upload a background photo. A photo from the run works best — a scenic point on the trail, the finish line, or the post-run sunrise.

If you don't have a photo from the run, a plain dark background (no photo) with a bright accent colour also looks clean.

Use the image overlay slider to darken the photo slightly — this makes white text more readable over bright backgrounds.

Step 6: Choose an Aspect Ratio

Pick the ratio for your target platform:

• 4:5 — Instagram feed portrait (recommended for most runs)
• 1:1 — Instagram square
• 9:16 — Stories, TikTok, Reels
• 16:9 — Twitter/X, YouTube thumbnail

The Runner template is designed with a vertical layout in mind — it works best at 4:5 or 9:16.

Step 7: Download

Click Download JPG to export the image. Share directly to Instagram, X, or wherever you post.

Tips for Running Stats Overlays

• Pace unit: make sure you're showing min/km or min/mi correctly before exporting. Switch in the Canvas panel under Units.
• Heart rate context: if you ran with a chest strap, your HR data will be more accurate than optical. Both show up correctly from the GPX.
• Trail runs with elevation: use a larger elevation widget as the focal point — big elevation numbers are visually striking and get engagement from other trail runners.
• Treadmill runs: treadmills don't record GPS, so the map widget won't render. Speed, pace, distance, and time will still work if your device estimated them.
• Save a preset: if you post runs regularly, save your layout as a preset. Load it next time and just swap the GPX and photo.

After a Race

For race results, consider showing:

• Avg Pace (your overall pace)
• Distance (full marathon, half, 10K, etc.)
• Total Time (your finish time)
• Elevation (particularly for trail races)
• Route map

Keep the design clean and let the numbers do the talking.

For running video overlays — GoPro, action cam, or phone footage — load the same GPX into Stamptivity Overlay to add live pace, heart rate, and map gauges to your video. See the full guide: How to add GPS overlay to running videos.