How long is the lightning bolt route in Chicago?

The lightning bolt covers 11.2 km with 19 m of ascent and 20 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 68 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 1.6 km east to west and 3.1 km north to south across Chicago.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 41.90896, -87.75967 — roughly 11.2 km north-west of the centre of Chicago. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

United States › Chicago › GPS art route

Lightning bolt GPS Art Running Route in Chicago — 11.2 km

A 11.2 km loop through Chicago that draws a lightning bolt when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 19 m in total, and covers a footprint about 1.6 km wide by 3.1 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance11.2 km

Elevation gain19 m

Elevation loss20 m

Estimated time68 min

DifficultyModerate

Average gradient0.2%

Route map

Start point: 41.90896, -87.75967 — about 11.2 km north-west of the centre of Chicago. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Elevation profile

Measured from the elevation data in the GPX file: 19 m of ascent and 20 m of descent across 11.2 km, an average gradient of 0.2%.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs east-south-east	-1 m	186–187 m
km 2	Runs south-south-west	0 m	185–186 m
km 3	Runs south-south-east	0 m	185–186 m
km 4	Runs south-west	+1 m	186–186 m
km 5	Runs south-south-west	+3 m	186–189 m
km 6	Runs west-south-west	0 m	188–189 m
km 7	Runs north-north-east	0 m	188–188 m
km 8	Runs north-north-east	0 m	188–189 m
km 9	Runs north-west	+2 m	187–190 m
km 10	Runs north-north-east	-1 m	189–190 m
km 11	Runs north-north-east	-1 m	188–189 m
km 11.2	Runs east	0 m	187–188 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.05 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
0.24 km — turn left, then continue east.
0.72 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
0.95 km — turn right, then continue west-south-west.
1.08 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
1.24 km — turn left, then continue south.
1.52 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
1.75 km — turn left, then continue south.
2.11 km — turn right, then continue west.
2.51 km — turn right, then continue south.
2.88 km — turn right, then continue west.
3.07 km — turn left, then continue south-south-west.
3.34 km — turn right, then continue west.
3.65 km — turn left, then continue south.
3.85 km — turn right, then continue west-south-west.
4.04 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
4.22 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
4.42 km — turn left, then continue south-west.
4.55 km — turn left, then continue south.
4.67 km — turn left, then continue south.
4.83 km — turn right, then continue west.
5.20 km — turn right, then continue west.
5.50 km — turn left, then continue south.
5.63 km — turn left, then continue south.

Difficulty and terrain

Moderate. Flat profile, but 11.2 km of concentration on the line. Expect the distance, not the climb, to be the limiting factor.

Surface: Urban roads, park paths, and mixed city surfaces.

Safety: Check traffic flow, sidewalks, and route lighting before your run.

Best months: Year-round, based on local weather and race calendar.

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the lightning bolt appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in Chicago

All 19 GPS art routes in Chicago

Questions about this route

How long is the lightning bolt route in Chicago?: The lightning bolt covers 11.2 km with 19 m of ascent and 20 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 68 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 1.6 km east to west and 3.1 km north to south across Chicago.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 41.90896, -87.75967 — roughly 11.2 km north-west of the centre of Chicago. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.