This is where I explain briefly what all these maps are about

Ultra Marathons

  • ArcGIS Pro

  • GPX Files from Strava accounts

    EU DEM opendem website

    OS Boundary Layer

  • Organised within Catalog in ArcGIS Pro with separate project folders

  • SDW50

    Convert the GPX files to point features, and turn points to line for the route.

    Clipped the raster file for study area

    Created a Feature Class to effectively create the polygon of the sea. Then used this to erase the portion that overlapped the OS boundary layer of the UK. The result was the land (raster layer) and sea (vector polygon) which I could symbolise.

    Scilly 60

    Convert the GPX files to point features, and turn points to line for the routes of each island we ran.

    OS boundary layer used for the Scilly Isles, this was then symbolised.

  • On both maps I really wanted to focus on getting some effects of the sea. I used some tips from John Nelson to gradient fill the sea with a continuous element, so it blends nicely at the edge or close to the land.

    The colours chosen for each route in the Scilly 60 was based on the race logo. For the SWD50 I used a colour to contrast with the greys of the DEM.

    I added labels and logos to tie into the events themselves.

South Downs Way 50

The next couple of maps in this series also involve ultra marathons, I think I need to start looking at other themes!

This time one event that a friend did The South Downs Way 50, a gruelling 50 mile event running along the South Downs Way in one day, starting in Worthing and finishing in Eastbourne. It is completely self supported and we did pop up along the way to cheer her along, but that was all we could do, no giving sweets or extra help in any way.

She finished in a very impressive time of 10 hours 4 minutes!!!! Just incredible. Well since this particular friend also happens to love a map I decided to create one of her route from her GPX file that I ‘stole’ from her Strava account and turned it into a birthday card!

The result is shown here, I think there is still plenty more I could do, but I am enjoyed incorporated a raster file into this with the vector data.

Scilly 60

Secondly, I’m including a map that has a similar theme, involves the same friend and some running! She and I attempted the Scilly60 back in June. This is a ultra with a difference….running the perimeter of each of the inhabited Scilly Isles.

Neither of us had visited the Isles of Scilly before this trip, this collection of islands are located approximately 36 miles off the south-west coast of England, you can only access them with a ferry (summer months only) flight or helicopter (weather permitting) so they are pretty remote. But wow they are stunning, with little development allowed this is a sanctuary for wildlife of all kinds on land and in the sea. We saw so many birds, seals, and plants.

When it came to race day, we lucked out with the weather, which can be extremely variable due to the Isles being out in the Atlantic. In reality the race involves five separate races, as you need to make the hooter and boat for each island in order to progress!! It is very technical terrain and while on paper seems very doable, it was hard and we both pushed as much as we could. You do get a little break between islands on the boat to refuel and stock up bags, but after 48km I missed the cut off on St. Mary’s by 6 minutes!! With 4 out of 5 islands complete, it felt like a solid effort for a first attempt! I decided to make a little map of this too for both of us!

South downs way 50
Isles of Scilly

  • ArcGIS Pro

  • GPX Files from Strava accounts

    EU DEM opendem website

    OS Boundary Layer

  • Organised within Catalog in ArcGIS Pro with separate project folders

  • SDW50

    Convert the GPX files to point features, and turn points to line for the route.

    Clipped the raster file for study area

    Created a Feature Class to effectively create the polygon of the sea. Then used this to erase the portion that overlapped the OS boundary layer of the UK. The result was the land (raster layer) and sea (vector polygon) which I could symbolise.

    Scilly 60

    Convert the GPX files to point features, and turn points to line for the routes of each island we ran.

    OS boundary layer used for the Scilly Isles, this was then symbolised.

  • On both maps I really wanted to focus on getting some effects of the sea. I used some tips from John Nelson to gradient fill the sea with a continuous element, so it blends nicely at the edge or close to the land.

    The colours chosen for each route in the Scilly 60 was based on the race logo. For the SWD50 I used a colour to contrast with the greys of the DEM.

    I added labels and logos to tie into the events themselves.