How It Works
Why RaceCraft?
This project started as a personal solution to the challenges I faced planning my own ultra-marathons. I was frustrated by how difficult it was to organise and execute a race plan. From estimating checkpoint arrival times, to figuring out how much fuel/hydration I would need. I tied myself in knots before I had even started the race. I knew there was a better way. RaceCraft grew from my need for a practical solution into a platform I now share with other endurance athletes.
Science Meets Experience
RaceCraft isn’t just theory—it combines research with what I’ve learned from racing and coaching. The effort-based fatigue model:
Effort Distance =
What the map says
+ A tax for going up
+ A smaller tax for going down
Where: 100 m up feels like 1 km extra, and 200 m down feels like 1 km extra. It turns hills into “equivalent flat distance” — something runners can feel instead of calculate.
Climbing & Terrain
The climbing model adjusts vertical speed to your ability (600–1500 m/h) and considers gradient efficiency. Terrain is scaled across seven types, and your technical skill reduces penalties on rough ground. This reflects the races I’ve run and coached—where terrain and climbs can make or break a strategy.
Practical Fuel & Hydration Planning
RaceCraft calculates hourly carbs and hydration, breaking down fueling by checkpoints and drop bags. You can customize servings and export plans to CSV or PDF—tools I wish I had when planning my own races.
Features at a Glance
- Upload GPX routes and analyze elevation profiles
- Effort-based fatigue and fitness scaling
- Climbing model with vertical speed and gradient efficiency
- Terrain difficulty with skill adjustment
- Checkpoint-by-checkpoint pacing and nutrition
- Save/load plans, CSV/PDF export, and more
Plan Your Best Race
Whether it’s a 50K, 100K, or a mountain ultra, RaceCraft gives you tools I wished I had when I started. It helps plan, execute, and adjust strategies so you can race smarter and finish stronger.