About CourseRecon

Know Your Course Before You Toe the Line

Every race has a crux — that section where the gradient kicks, the surface turns loose, and unprepared athletes start walking. CourseRecon exists so you never arrive at that moment surprised.

We built CourseRecon because we were tired of staring at a flat elevation chart and pretending we understood what a race actually demands. Total vert and distance tell you almost nothing about whether you're ready for the specific terrain you're about to face. A 2,000m race with long grinding climbs is a completely different beast from one with the same vert packed into short, punchy pitches — and your training should reflect that.

---

What CourseRecon Does

CourseRecon analyses race course files at a level of detail that goes far beyond a basic elevation profile. Upload a GPX file from any endurance event — trail race, ultra, gravel ride, road marathon — and we'll break it down into:

• Gradient distribution analysis — not just average gradient, but the actual spread of gradients across the course, compared against your training history
• Surface type mapping — using OpenStreetMap trail data and NZ DOC track classifications to identify what's underfoot at every section
• Crux section identification — the segments that will define your race, flagged with specific preparation guidance
• Readiness scoring — a four-pillar algorithm that measures how well your recent training matches what this specific course demands

The result is a clear picture of where you're prepared, where you have gaps, and what to focus on in the weeks you have left.

---

Who This Is For

CourseRecon is built for athletes who take course preparation seriously:

• Trail and ultra runners — who know that "50km with 3,000m vert" can mean wildly different things depending on terrain
• Gravel and endurance cyclists — who want to know what surfaces they'll face and how the gradient profile compares to their training rides
• Anyone racing on unfamiliar terrain — whether it's your first mountain race or you're travelling to an event you can't recce in advance

If you've ever shown up to a race and realised at kilometre 15 that you weren't ready for what the course was throwing at you, CourseRecon is for you.

---

Our Approach

We're not trying to replace your coach, your training plan, or your race-day judgement. We're giving you better information so those decisions are grounded in data rather than guesswork.

CourseRecon doesn't generate generic training plans or tell you how to run. It analyses the specific course you're racing and tells you — honestly — how your preparation stacks up against its demands. What you do with that information is up to you.

Our analysis combines GPX elevation data, OpenStreetMap trail metadata, New Zealand Department of Conservation track classifications, and open-source geospatial datasets. No black boxes, no vague "AI-powered insights." Just rigorous terrain analysis matched against your actual training.

---

Based in New Zealand

CourseRecon is built in Aotearoa New Zealand, where the trail running and endurance community punches well above its weight. We've got deep familiarity with DOC track gradings, the quirks of Southern Hemisphere race calendars, and what it means to prepare for events in remote, mountainous terrain.

Our infrastructure is hosted in the United States via Supabase and Vercel, with global CDN distribution for fast performance worldwide.