Turning Daily Runs Into Playful Digital Art

Dec 3

Written By DAB

Have you ever used a digital app in an unexpected way to create art? For Duncan McCabe, a Toronto-based software professional, the exercise-tracking app Strava became a canvas for a whimsical, joyful experiment: turning his daily runs into a playful dancing stickman.

Have you ever used a digital app in an unexpected way to create art?

For Duncan McCabe, a Toronto-based software professional, the exercise-tracking app Strava became a tool for a whimsical, joyful experiment: turning his daily runs into a playful dancing stickman.

Over 10 months, McCabe meticulously mapped 120 runs around Toronto’s city grid, using Strava’s route-tracking feature to create a hat-wearing stick figure. The result? A delightful 27-second TikTok video, inspired by old-school flip-books, where the stickman grooves to the beat of Sofi Tukker’s Purple Hat.

Creating "moving art" was no small feat. McCabe painstakingly stitched together screenshots using a video editing software to create his version of Strava art — a trend where users create images of animals, words, or famous portraits through single sessions of walking, running, or cycling. Unlike many of the Strava art shared online, McCabe's project was dynamic and required months of commitment.

“I became one with the stickman. We shared thoughts, dreams and aspirations. I needed to consider his needs as much as my own.”

While his stickman’s jaunty moves brought smiles to millions, the journey wasn’t without challenges. McCabe described the monotony of running the same streets over and over, joking that he started recognizing neighborhood cats. However, his dedication paid off when the project became a viral hit, racking up over 40 million views across social media platforms.

Of course, art invites scrutiny. Some Strava purists questioned McCabe’s perfectly straight diagonal lines, suspecting Photoshop. McCabe explained his “trade trick”: pausing his activity on Strava to create straight connections between points while zigzagging through city blocks. He even sacrificed mileage credit for the sake of the art.

This creative endeavor highlights the joy of bringing together technology, everyday activities, and creative experimentation. The stickman’s groovy moves were choreographed by McCabe’s wife, who suggested the project’s flip-book concept. For McCabe, running became more than exercise — it became storytelling.

On the other hand, the concept of McCabe working so hard physically when you tend to think of digital art as sitting in front of a computer is just awesome.

McCabe’s playful and innovative approach to Strava art reminds us to explore new ways of making meaning with digital tools, turning mundane routines into delightful, shareable creations.

So, have you ever used an app to create art in an unusual way?

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