How to Prepare Your Activity Files
New to tracking or ready to export — find your situation below and follow those steps.
Section 1 - Don’t have activity data yet?
No problem — getting started takes about 5 minutes. We recommend Strava, a free app that works for hiking, backpacking, and cycling. It tracks wherever you go — no designated trail or route needed. Record 2–4 activities over 2–3 weeks then come back.
Trip coming up soon and no activity files yet? Email us at contact@elevitventures.com to discuss options.
Already tracking with Garmin, Apple Watch, or AllTrails? Skip ahead to your device below.
How to get started
1. Download Strava (free)
iPhone → search Strava in the App Store
Android → search Strava in Google Play
2. Create a free account
Sign up with your email or Google account
3. Before your next walk, hike, or ride
Open Strava and tap the orange record button
4. Select your activity type
· Walk
· Hike
· Ride
Choose whatever matches what you're doing
5. Go do your activity
Your phone stays in your pocket
Strava records your route automatically
6. When you finish
Tap Stop → Save Activity
Give it a name if you like
7. Repeat for 3–4 activities
Try to include different effort types over the next 2–3 weeks
· One easy flat effort
· One with some climbing
· Your longest effort
8. When you have 3–4 activities recorded
Scroll down to the Strava section below for instructions on how to export your files
Section 3 - Garmin Device
Your activity data is stored in Garmin Connect. For the richest analysis including heart rate export as FIT files — here's how:
1. Go to connect.garmin.com and sign in
2. Click Activities in the left menu
3. Find a recent hike or ride
4. Click the activity to open it
5. Click the gear icon (top right)
6. Select Export Original
7. Save the .fit file to your computer
8. Repeat for each activity you want to share
Why FIT and not GPX?
FIT files include heart rate, elevation, and pace data. GPX files from Garmin Connect strip most of this out. FIT gives us a more complete picture of your fitness.
Section 2 - Strava
Export from individual activity pages — not from the bulk data export.
1. Go to strava.com and sign in
2. Click on a recent activity
3. Click the three dots menu (···)
4. Select Export GPX
5. Save the file to your computer
6. Repeat for each activity
Important: export from each activity page individually. The bulk account export produces a different file format that is harder to work with.
Heart rate note: Strava includes heart rate in GPX exports only if your device recorded it and Strava captured it. Garmin users get better results exporting directly from Garmin Connect as FIT files.
Section 4 - Apple Watch
If you use Apple Watch
Option A — HealthFit app (recommended)
HealthFit ($2.99 on the App Store) exports your Apple Watch workouts as FIT files with heart rate data included.
1. Download HealthFit from the App Store
2. Allow access to Apple Health when prompted
3. Find a recent hike or workout
4. Tap Export → FIT file
5. Save or AirDrop to your computer
Option B — Without HealthFit
If you prefer not to purchase HealthFit:
1. Open the Fitness app on your iPhone
2. Tap a workout
3. Tap the share icon
4. Export as GPX
5. Save to your computer
Note: GPX from Apple Watch does not include heart rate data. The analysis will cover distance, elevation, and pace only.
Section 5 - AllTrails
If you use AllTrails AllTrails records your hikes when you use the app in navigation mode.
1. Open AllTrails and go to your profile
2. Tap Completed Trails
3. Find a recent recorded hike
4. Tap the activity
5. Tap Export GPX
6. Save the file to your computer
Note: AllTrails GPX files include distance and elevation but not heart rate.
Section 6 - What to Upload
Your intake form will show the upload slots relevant to your package. The file types below apply across all plans — upload whichever slots match what you have.
ACTIVITY FILES (up to Package Maximum)
Your activity files are parsed locally to extract summary metrics before any AI-assisted analysis. Your complete route path and raw file are never transmitted to third-party tools.
Choose files that cover different effort types — this gives us the most complete picture of your current fitness:
Slot 1 — Flat or easy effort
Your most recent flat walk, easy hike, or ride. Shows your natural baseline pace and aerobic capacity.
Slot 2 — Climb or elevation effort
Any activity with significant climbing. Shows how you handle elevation gain and ascending pace.
Slot 3 — Your longest effort ever
Your biggest single day — any date, no time limit. Shows endurance and how you perform late in a long effort.
Slot 4 — Optional but valuable
An activity done the day after Slot 3. Shows recovery capacity — the most important signal for multi-day trips.
Don't have all four types? Upload whatever you have. Even one file gives us useful data to work with.
PHOTOS
Please ensure photos do not include your face. Gear, equipment, and fit photos only — no facial images are needed for any assessment.
Your intake form will show the photo slots relevant to your package. Common photo types include:
Shoe or boot sole — sole facing up, good natural light, sides welcome. Include brand and model name in the intake form field below the upload slot.
Tire photos (cycling) — 4 photos required: front tire top down, front tire side profile, rear tire top down, rear tire side profile. Clean tire, good natural light, fill frame with tire.
Bike fit photos (Expedition Package) — 6 angles taken while seated on your bike. Detailed photo instructions included with your intake form.
Pack fit photos (Expedition Package) — front and side photos with pack loaded and on your back. Detailed photo instructions included with your intake form.
Section 7 — Already Have a Plan? Uploading an Update
If you've already received a Trip Plan or Expedition Package, use this same guide to prepare your files for an update — just note a few things specific to updates:
Which update am I getting?
Expedition Package clients: Your Mid-Program Update and Final Pre-Trip Check are included at no extra cost. Want an earlier look before your Mid-Program Update? Add an Early Check-In ($65) anytime.
Trip Plan clients: Use a Priority Check-In ($55, first one $29) anytime you want an updated read against your training priorities. Use the Pre-Trip Final Check ($79) in your final 1–2 weeks before departure.
Fitness Check clients: Updates aren't available at this tier — it's a one-time snapshot. Upgrade to a Trip Plan or Expedition Package (your $49 credits toward either) to unlock updates.
When should I send an update?
Mid-Program Update: whenever your program reaches its natural midpoint — no need to hit an exact week count
Early Check-In: any time before your Mid-Program Update
Priority Check-In: any time you want a read against your original training priorities
Pre-Trip Final Check: your final 1–2 weeks before departure, not earlier
What to upload for an update
Same activity file guidance as Section 6 above — send your most recent activities since your last check-in, prioritizing anything that covers a new effort type (longer, more climbing, etc.) since your last upload.