Don't just run the race.
Outsmart it.
Same runner, same fitness — watch the target pace react to conditions.
Km 25 target pace
4:13/km
Calm and below where heat starts to cost you — this is the baseline target pace for this km.
Same course, real grade
| A normal pace calculator |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Race-day weather | Ignored, or assumes average conditions | Real forecast for your exact start time |
| Wind | Ignored | Headwind or tailwind, calculated per segment against your route's heading |
| Course elevation | Ignored — one flat pace for the whole race | Pace adjusted km-by-km for real elevation |
| Output | One number: your average pace | A different target for every km, with notes on why |
Full plan, free through September · One email, one free plan, one free refresh before race day
Your race has a shape. Your pacing should too.
Even splits fail on real courses. Splitshape models the hills, the wind and the late-race fade — before the gun goes off.
Pick your course
Choose from 20 major races with verified elevation profiles, or upload any GPX file.
Set your goal
Target time plus a recent result. We check it's realistic — and tell you if it isn't.
Get your strategy
Split-by-split pacing (min/km or min/mi — auto-set by your race, switchable anytime) adjusted for gradient and race-day forecast, with coach-style notes on where the race is won and lost.
Take it with you
Works with every watch: printable pace band, a lock-screen card, a Garmin course export, and copy-in guides for COROS and Apple Watch.
Not just numbers. A strategy.
A sample from the founder's own Frankfurt Marathon sub-3 plan:
KM 0–5 — The start is crowded and flat. Everyone around you is going out too fast. Sit at 4:18/km, a few seconds slower than goal pace. You'll bank nothing here and that's the point.
KM 28–34 — The quiet grind through Niederrad. No crowds, no landmarks — this is where a 3:02 stays a 3:02. Lock onto 4:14 and take the field back one runner at a time.
KM 40–42.2 — Forecast says 11°C and calm. Empty the tank at 4:08 — the finish is indoors, on the red carpet of the Festhalle. Arrive with nothing left.
Cheaper than a pair of socks. Worth minutes.
One bad pacing decision costs more than this.
During September, everything below is included for free as part of our beta. From October, Race Pass returns to $9 one-time.
Race Pass
- Full km-by-km or mile-by-mile pacing strategy + AI race notes
- Adjust your goal time and get an honest check on whether it's realistic
- One weather refresh before race day — locks in the latest forecast when it matters most
- Printable pace band + lock-screen card
- Garmin course export + COROS/Apple Watch guides
Racing a full season? A multi-race Season Pass is coming — start with your next race for now.
Why I built this. I ran 3:02 in Warsaw. Two minutes and change from sub-3 — the kind of gap you don't close with more training, you close with a smarter race. I'm building Splitshape for my own sub-3 attempt in Frankfurt, and every plan it generates is the plan I'll be racing with. I'm user #1. This September, every plan is free — I'd rather have real feedback than early revenue.
FAQ
How is this different from Garmin PacePro?
PacePro adjusts for elevation only, with generic settings. Splitshape also models race-day weather, realistic late-race fade, and your recent fitness — and explains the strategy in plain language, so you know why each split is what it is.
Miles or kilometers?
Both. The default follows your race (US and UK races show min/mi, the rest min/km) and you can switch anytime. Pace bands and PDFs come in whichever unit you pick.
My race isn't listed.
Upload the GPX (every race publishes one, or grab it from last year's Strava activities) and you'll get the same full plan.
What if the weather forecast changes?
Yes — you get one free refresh before race day. It pulls the latest forecast and re-solves both your splits and your race notes together, so use it when it counts most.
Is this a subscription?
No. A Race Pass is a one-time $9 purchase for one race — no recurring charges, nothing to cancel. If you race often, a multi-race Season Pass is in the works.
Do you need access to my Strava?
No — a recent race result typed in is enough. Strava integration is coming soon to make the goal-check even smarter. Your data is only ever shown to you.
Is a goal time really predictable?
No model owns race day. Splitshape gives you the highest-probability strategy for your goal — and warns you honestly when a goal doesn't match your recent results.
Still have a question? Email hello [at] splitshape.com