ShapeRun.
Give your next run a shape.
A heart on a map. A running route on real streets. ShapeRun looks for ways to turn a shape into a run.
Try ShapeRun
The motivation
Why I’m building this.
The original idea came from a friend: what could I draw on the landscape by running from where I am? I like the combination of a playful idea and a demanding implementation. I am developing it into an application that searches for suitable routes and makes the result visible.
The problem behind the idea
On a blank canvas, you can draw any shape. In a city, streets, junctions and obstacles determine what is possible. A route can be mathematically close to its template and still barely resemble a heart or a letter.
The implementation
How I’m approaching it.
ShapeRun tries different placements, sizes and rotations on the existing road network. Its checks also consider individual parts of a shape. If no usable route emerges, the application says so. Previously reviewed examples can be opened directly without calculating new routes every time.
A good overall score is not enough when a defining stroke is missing. You have to look at the result to see whether the shape is still recognisable.
An honest look at the progress
Built. And still building.
What works today
- Explore saved heart-shaped routes on the map, including examples in Vienna and Salzburg.
- Search for a shape near your chosen starting point and compare route suggestions.
- Sign in to download a suitable route as a GPX file.
What I’m working on next
- Review more shapes and locations; some road networks do not yet produce a convincing result.
- Test routes on the ground. The current examples have been reviewed on the map.
- Develop the route search further to support wider use.
ShapeRun
Curious?
Try it and tell me what works for you — and what is still missing.
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