A GPX file is the GPS breadcrumb trail of something you did - a marathon, a century ride, a thru-hike, a sailing passage. With the free Running Route Map preset on MyLaserTools you can draw that track as a bold line over a map, so the route becomes the hero and the surrounding city or terrain becomes the proof you were there. It’s the most personal map gift there is.

Where to Get Your GPX File

Source How
Strava Activity menu -> Export GPX
Garmin Connect Activity -> gear icon -> Export to GPX
COROS / Suunto / Apple Health Export Original / Export GPX
Race timing sites Often offer a downloadable GPX of the course

Step 1: Import Your Track

Open the Running Route Map preset. It loads with a sample loop in Chicago. Use Add layer -> Route and upload your .gpx, then delete the sample. Re-search the location to your area and frame the route:

  • Frame the route, not the whole city: zoom until the track fills the middle 60-70% of the frame.
  • Point-to-point routes (a marathon, a thru-hike) read best corner to corner; loops look great centred.
  • Leave one quiet corner for a caption: event name, date, distance, finishing time.

Step 2: Style the Route and Base

Layer Styling
Route Bold crimson line; thicken to width 7 for long or engraved versions. Keep it the boldest mark
Base map Quiet off-white land, soft water, muted roads so the route pops
Backplate Deep navy; shift toward black for a sportier look

Want terrain instead of streets? Drop the track over a topographic base for a backcountry hike or ski route.

Step 3: Export for Your Method

Method Export
Framed print High-res PNG (4096 px), Background ON
Laser engrave Combined SVG; route becomes the deepest tone
Layered build Base-map SVG (engrave) + Route SVG (cut/inlay) + backplate

Build It

Framed print: Print at 250-300 mm on matte paper, add the event details as a caption, and frame with a mat board.

Laser engrave on wood or slate: Engrave the base lightly and the route bold. Paint-fill the engraved route with a fine crimson paint pen before de-masking for a colour pop, then finish with oil.

Layered build: Cut a navy backplate, engrave the base map on an off-white square glued centred, and cut the route from crimson acrylic glued on top following the engraved line beneath.

Make It Yours

  • Finisher’s gift: route plus “BMO Vancouver Marathon - 42.2 km - 3:42:11” engraved under the map.
  • Series wall: one plaque per race, the route colour shifting down a hallway.
  • Multi-activity piece: upload several GPX files as separate route layers in different colours - a whole training block on one map.
  • Sailing or paddling passage: draw the track over a coastal or bathymetry base for a nautical keepsake.

For the tool’s own walkthrough, see the MyLaserTools GPX guide.

Free for commercial use - personalized race maps are a hugely popular custom-order product.