How do I add pace overlay to a running video?

Export your run as a GPX or FIT file from Garmin Connect, Strava, Apple Watch, or any running watch. Open Stamptivity Overlay in your browser, load your video and the GPS file, add the pace gauge, sync the timing with the offset slider, and export as MP4. Free, no install required.

What GPS data can I show in a running video overlay?

From a typical running watch or phone GPS: current pace, heart rate, distance covered, elevation, cadence (with a running pod), and a moving map showing your route. Power is available if you use a running power meter (e.g., Stryd) and record via FIT.

Does running GPS overlay work with Apple Watch?

Yes. Export your Apple Watch workout as a GPX file using HealthFit or WorkOutDoors, then load it into Stamptivity Overlay. See the Apple Watch GPX export guide for the exact steps.

Can I add GPS overlay to a race video?

Yes. Export your race GPS data from Garmin Connect, Strava, or your watch app, then load it alongside your race footage in Stamptivity Overlay. For races with a lot of crowd footage (not helmet or chest cam), position pace and HR gauges in the corners away from the main action.

What camera should I use for running GPS video overlay?

Any camera that records MP4 works: GoPro (chest mount, head mount), iPhone (RunKit mount, vest pocket), or any action cam. The GPS data comes from a separate file — your running watch or phone GPS — not from the camera itself.

How to Add GPS Overlay to Running Videos (Pace, HR & Map)

Running video with overlaid GPS data — pace dropping on the uphill, heart rate hitting zone 4, the map trace following your exact line through the park — makes training footage and race recaps significantly more watchable. Whether it's a YouTube channel dedicated to marathon training or a single Instagram Reel from a trail race, the data context changes how viewers engage with the content.

Here's how to add GPS overlay to running videos, step by step.

What Data You Can Overlay on Running Videos

Data	Requirement
Pace (min/km or min/mile)	Any GPS file
Heart rate	HR monitor paired during run (FIT preferred)
Distance	Any GPS file
Elevation	Any GPS file with altitude data
Cadence	Running pod or watch with cadence sensor
Power	Stryd or running power meter, FIT file
Moving map	Any GPS file with coordinates
Elevation chart	Any GPS file with altitude data

Step 1: Get Your GPS File

From a GPS Running Watch

Garmin (Forerunner, Fenix, Epix): Garmin Connect web → open run → gear icon (⚙) → Export Original (FIT) for full data including HR and cadence. Or Export to GPX if FIT isn't needed.

Coros: Export GPX from Coros — Coros app → activity → share → GPX.

Polar: Export GPX from Polar — Polar Flow → activity → export GPX.

Apple Watch: Apple doesn't export GPX natively. Use the HealthFit or WorkOutDoors app — full guide at Export GPX from Apple Watch.

From a Phone App

Strava: Export GPX from Strava — open activity → ⋯ → Export GPX.

Komoot: Export GPX from Komoot — open tour → Download → GPX.

Step 2: Add GPS Overlay with Stamptivity

Open Stamptivity Overlay in a desktop browser — Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. No install, no account.
Load your video — drag and drop the MP4. Works with GoPro, iPhone, any action cam, or a handheld camera clip.
Load your GPS file — drop the FIT or GPX. Data loads immediately: pace, HR, distance, elevation, map.
Add gauges for running:
- Pace — current running pace
- Heart Rate — current HR with zone colour coding if needed
- Elevation Chart — shows the elevation profile over time (useful for hilly routes)
- Map — route trace with live position
- Distance — total distance covered to that point
Position the gauges — drag each gauge to the corners or edges of the frame. For running footage, the bottom of the frame or corners work well. Avoid the centre where your running form is the focus.
Sync GPS to video — press play, find a clear reference moment (the starting gun, reaching a visible landmark, passing a known turn), drag the time offset slider until pace and map match what you see.
Export — renders the finished MP4 with gauges burned in. No watermark, full resolution.

Open Stamptivity Overlay →

Best Gauge Layout for Running Content

Race recap / PB attempt: Pace + heart rate + map. Position pace prominently — it's the primary metric. HR in the opposite corner to show the effort level. Map in one corner for context. If the race is on a well-known course, the map recognition adds value for viewers familiar with the route.

Training session / interval workout: Heart rate + elevation chart + pace. For interval workouts, the HR gauge tells the effort story better than pace (which fluctuates during rests). Elevation chart shows if there were hills driving the effort.

Trail run: Map + elevation + pace. Trail runners care about terrain. A moving map dot on a trail network is much more interesting than a flat road. Elevation chart shows what the route looks like.

Social media clip (under 60 seconds): One or two gauges max. Large pace gauge, positioned bottom-left. Clean background, visible number. Let the running footage and pace be the story.

Tips for Better Running Overlays

FIT vs GPX for heart rate: If HR matters in your overlay, use the FIT file ("Export Original" from Garmin Connect) rather than GPX. Strava's GPX export often drops heart rate data. A FIT file from Garmin Connect preserves HR at the original recording resolution.

Camera position for running:

Chest harness (GoPro harness) — stable view of the route ahead, shows HR gauge naturally in the bottom corners
Hat/cap mount — slightly bobby but good for trail content showing the terrain
Wrist mount — rarely used but can be interesting for showing the watch data coinciding with the overlay
Phone in vest pocket — works for casual content; front-facing camera shows your face

Sync method for races: Find the race start (gun or beep) in both your GPS data and the video. That's the easiest sync anchor point. Adjust from there.

Pace display units: Set the pace gauge to the unit you train in — min/km or min/mile. Most running audiences expect min/km in Europe/Australia and min/mile in the US.

After the Run: Stats Card for Instagram

Use the same GPS file in Stamptivity Stamp to create a shareable stats image — distance, pace, HR, elevation, and route map sized for Instagram feed or Stories. A matching stats card and video reel pair well for race day posts.