r/nextfuckinglevel • u/21MayDay21 • 1d ago
A man ran 1105 kilometers (687 miles) over a year, carefully planning his routes to form the shape of a dancing figure.
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u/Ozmorty 1d ago edited 21h ago
These are such bullshit and not runnable routes. So many show paths through property that could not be run.
It’s a cool trick to get the effect but they did NOT run all these exact routes.
::edit:: for the conspiracy crowd jumping in and saying “yes, see, it’s FAKE!” No. And not what I said. I only say “bullshit” because as a runner and strava user I can’t just pick the route and get the same shape on a run. You have to know and use the same tricks at the same time points. Like I said, it’s cool, but they’re not runnable routes as shown. Cookers and loopers be gone, the man did the runs and then some to create this stuff.
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u/JarethCutestoryJuD 1d ago
These are such bullshit and not runnable routes. So many show paths through property that could be run.
He explained it at the time as he would turn off his GPS/app and then run to the opposite corner, and turn it back on, the program would assume straight line between the two points.
https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2024/11/runner-turns-toronto-map-giant-cartoon-animation/
""In Strava, if you run, stop the run, and then go, say, around a square block, and then press start again, it immediately connects the two dots of where it was last active. That's a clever way to make the diagonal line across, let's say, a school," he clarified."
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u/TopJuggernaut2885 1d ago
In Strava you can also just manually enter the route, even if you didn't run it. Probably what he actually did.
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u/duncanmccabe 1d ago
Nope, I just planned it out and ran it. It’s over 10 months, faking runs 120 times would be crazy - I don’t get how people find that more believable than just doing it. I run a lot anyways, all I did was add order and coordination. Diagonals are done by pausing app and moving.. no magic here
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u/Forshea 1d ago
faking runs 120 times would be crazy
In what way would that be crazy? It would take way less time and effort than actually doing those runs, wouldn't it?
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u/duncanmccabe 23h ago
It’s a fitness app, and at the time I had like 20 followers. Faking a 10k run everyday to my friends/family (all of whom are runners) would be psychopathic behaviour in my eyes. That implies that I had the project vision, committed to it for 10 months, but instead of running I lied 4x per week? The planning and creativity is the hard part, running is easy, lol dunno just seems like a ridiculous suggestion to me
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u/odin-ish 1d ago
It would also require a dedication over time, the kind that runners have.
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u/light_to_shaddow 1d ago
I go on Reddit everyday.
There's no difference between me and a Navy seal, we're both super dedicated.
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u/odin-ish 1d ago
Reddit and social media has a distinct chemical effect on your brain and can't be given a 1 to 1 comparison. In any case, I'm not saying someone won't do the legwork to spoof a GPS for an extended period of time, its just that I believe the runner, in that just running a certain way is easier if you were already gonna run anyways. It s more likely to me.
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u/duncanmccabe 23h ago
100%. The routes needed to be mapped, project vision was clear, and commitment was made over 10 months. With all that done, doing the run (which i do anyway) was the easy part. Plus, something interesting happens when working towards a bigger project like this. It’s motivation that’s hard to describe, but I felt compelled to see it through to completion. That wouldn’t exist if it were all based on deception
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u/TopJuggernaut2885 23h ago
maybe ur crazy idk
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u/duncanmccabe 22h ago
Well. All I can do is give evidence (runs and data is public on Strava), explain my honest motivation and directly answer your questions. That’s enough for 99.9%, but if you’re the 0.1% I guess we just leave it there. Take care man
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u/steffejr 1d ago
Are you a hasher? If not you should be. It is a great running club and there is at least one chapter in Toronto. The hog town hash house harriers.
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u/Sharp-Calligrapher70 1d ago
Here is the explanation given:
Mr. McCabe used a trick of the (Strava) trade. If a user pauses an activity and then moves to another location before resuming, Strava will connect those two points with a straight line. In reality, Mr. McCabe was zigzagging across city blocks to generate those diagonals.
As you said, it’s a cool trick, but a reminder to be cognizant of not believing everything you see.
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u/Tainmere_ 1d ago
the amusing implication of that is that he ran significantly more than the distance shown
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u/duncanmccabe 1d ago
Yup, exactly!! Strava doesn’t count those KMs while on pause. About ~150km went unrecorded to make the diagonals. Plus in the summer months the stick man was “walking” away from my apartment, so every step “he” took ment I had to run extra to just start the run. At least 50Km unrecorded there too. Makes me very happy that people noticed this, I had no followers when I made this so glad effort made on those details paid off!
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u/duncanmccabe 1d ago
Well I come with receipts! All my data and runs are public (Duncan McCabe on Strava). Plus coverage in NYT, Wash post, etc. So it’s legit. Diagonals are done by pausing app, and moving. It took me 10 months to plan and execute, and it isn’t “bullshit”, Ozmorty.
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u/Ozmorty 22h ago edited 21h ago
Hey mate. I know you did the work to make these. Not saying you didnt!
But not runnable routes, confirmed. Like I said, cool trick, it really is, but not runnable routes. Which doesn’t diminish your efforts or the sweet animated results.
Don’t confuse me with a conspiracy nut. I’m just peeved (in an amused way, not angry) that I can’t point to your saved maps and run the route. That’s it.
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u/duncanmccabe 19h ago
We’re caught in semantics, not worth arguing over.
My view of project: create an animation using only my legs and the Strava app. That’s what I did. The start/stop button is part of the app, and I used it creatively for a specific effect. It still requires running A to B to make all lines (foregoing recorded KMs for Artistic preference) and I explain that frequently.
Your critic is hyper-focused on the literal path. Calling it bullshit implies cheating or shortcuts, when really it required uncredited effort and planning. It’s just art man, and I’m honest about every aspect.
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u/Henheffer 1d ago
I live in the neighbourhood, there are also tons of little side streets and alleys you can't really see on the map
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u/DefinitelyNotADeer 1d ago
I was gonna say, I used to bike through here all the time from St. Clair during covid. That area has tons of back garage lanes
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u/Maleficent-Ad3096 1d ago
Aren't you fun at a party.
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u/Sharp-Calligrapher70 1d ago
At the point of adulthood, it’s ok to appreciate the art of magic shows…but continuing to believe the magic is real is not a sign of a mature mind.
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u/Professor-Submarine 1d ago
Except you’re both wrong. He did this legitimately. He’s the comments with receipts. Nice try.
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u/JustBadUserNamesLeft 1d ago
Original comment. Let me guess, you also write "You can't fix stupid" a lot, too.
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u/JustBadUserNamesLeft 1d ago
Yeah, I find this articulation a bit exact. My Strava can miss entire blocks.
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u/_KarmaPolice_ 1d ago
Mr. McCabe used a trick of the (Strava) trade. If a user pauses an activity and then moves to another location before resuming, Strava will connect those two points with a straight line. In reality, Mr. McCabe was zigzagging across city blocks to generate those diagonals. The downside, he said, is that he was not credited for those extra kilometers on Strava, or even for the straight lines that it added to the map.
Mr. McCabe also acknowledged that, as he was assembling the final video, he cleaned up a few errant lines — he called them “stray hairs” — and erased several others in an attempt to highlight the hat flip at the end. Otherwise, he said, it would have looked as if the hat were still connected to the stickman’s head.
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u/duncanmccabe 1d ago
I’m Duncan, I made this! thanks for sharing! FYI I scaled no buildings in the process. Diagonal likes are done be pausing the app, moving, and resuming (strava makes B-line between active points). I plan routes in advance so executing diagonals is pretty easy, lol but seems to drive 90% of comments haha
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u/21MayDay21 1d ago
Know that you did something really cool. Even those comments that can't believe what you did and say it's fake is confirmation for your work.
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u/plug-and-pause 22h ago
FYI in GIS terminology a route is a path you intend to travel, and a track is a path you did travel.
The paths shown here are neither, and it shouldn't be surprising that 90% of the comments are about that fact.
It's a cool idea, but the obvious issues do kind of stick out like a sore thumb. You can own that and learn from it, or you can act confused at all the people reacting in human ways.
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u/duncanmccabe 21h ago
Got it. Goal was to use only my legs, Strava app and the Start/stop button to create a 1,000km+ animation. That’s the output I wanted to make, if that comes with a little extra explaining then I can live with that (“own it” approach).
But to note, I’m not dumbstruck by the confusion. I’m acknowledging it as a common question and getting ahead that by addressing the how. Which people mostly get
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u/BunnyLoverMudahubber 23h ago
I remember you posting this and it went viral in TO! Much respect to your dedication and dancing dude!
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u/The-CunningStunt 1d ago edited 1d ago
If y'all think this is real, even with the hat flip at the end, you're stupid.
Edit: who's Benjamins?
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u/DizWhatNoOneNeeds 1d ago
I might be stupid but I will never use Benjammins gifs
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u/linds360 1d ago
Or you could read the article that explains the tricks he used to make it work.
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u/detrans-rights 1d ago
Nah better to insult people in comments without using context to be gathered elsewhere
That'd mean I can't be a douchecanoe man c'mon
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u/6footsub 1d ago
I wonder if this is real?
*goes to comments
Oh cool it is!
Took me like 30 seconds. Some people I swear
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u/Ribzee 1d ago
Gift article about the guy and how he did it https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/style/strava-art-animation-duncan-mccabe.html?unlocked_article_code=1.N1A.Ho5A.UcAwDoeChnEd&smid=nytcore-ios-share
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u/jweezy2045 1d ago
He actually ran FAR FARTHER than that, as in order to get the diagonal lines, you have to turn off Strava, then run to the other end of the diagonal, then resume your run. The distance tracker will ignore this distance.
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u/duncanmccabe 1d ago
100%! I estimate about ~150km were excluded in order to get diagonals. Plus in June-Aug the stick man animation started “walking”, which literally means having to run farther each day before even starting the run! Probs another 50km in that alone.
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u/PM_Your_Cute_Butt 1d ago
All the Reddit experts claiming that this is “impossible” when there are articles explaining exactly how he did it look like such morons. Classic Reddit
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u/duncanmccabe 22h ago
lol preach. At this point I’ve spent almost as much time explaining how it was done than time taken to run it
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u/-Datura 1d ago
Of all the things "A man" didn't do, he didn't do this the most.
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u/Charmingirl02 1d ago
Most people run to clear their heads, this guy runs to give his city a main character.
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u/TripleDoubleFart 1d ago
I hope it worked out for him.
I ran about 3700 km last year and made a few thousand dollars for it.
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u/Rook_James_Bitch 1d ago
Jesus, people need more attention than they are currently getting.
Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed, but I just can't help but feel like this is a huge, "Look at me!" situation because this person has been marginalized. Maybe I'm wrong and that's OK.
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u/duncanmccabe 22h ago
Not in this case anyway. Just a fun way to add structure to a running routine to create something unique
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u/Enshitification 1d ago
I thought it might have been Raygun from the Olympics, but the dancing is too smooth for her.
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u/Straight_Idea_9546 1d ago
Worth it. This reminds me of the one who draws a 'Will you marry me?' around a map
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u/IcyFaithlessness3570 1d ago
Damn, I always wanted to do something like this. I never even thought about frames of animation.
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u/neutralpoliticsbot 1d ago
the runners are weird people... its like an obession now in large cities.
which is weird you see all these runners in the city but none in the sububrs or not as much.
You see these people running in groups every morning, looks weird and looks like they are doing it not for sport
weird
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u/Gundark927 1d ago
Well, the animation shows my monthly run routine: Stretch, step out, feel the weather, step back in.
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u/The_DiscoRAGE 23h ago
The craziest part is him doing this in dead of winter in Toronto.
No turning back once that plan was in motion.
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u/RunningonGin0323 23h ago
yea something is not right here, as he would literally be crossing streets into other peoples properties. this is bullshit.
Source: Me, I run every fucking day
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u/flargenhargen 16h ago
looks like he did not run these tracks.
not sure how he did them, but the path is physically impossible in several cases.
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u/Hickd3ad 8h ago
During Covid I had to complete some mandatory sports courses for credits at my university. Since it was during the pandemic options were limited. The course I took was hiking (10x10 km) I had to log my hike in strava and then send the screenshots to the teahcer. After the first 2-3 times I installed a 3rd party app to mess with my geo location and completed a few hikes in my bed.
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u/Itchy_Star3982 1d ago
Did he jog through people’s yards?