How to download and prepare your data from Strava for geo-spatial analysis and mapping in Tableau.

1. Getting Geo Data From Strava
into Tableau
Quick, dirty and free
July 2015

2. Prologue: Inspiration
• What do you want to do in Tableau?
http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/training_guide_0206/Dashboard5?:showVizHome=no#1

3. Step One: Do Something; Get Data
• Start your app. Stop your app! SAVE your session!!!

4. Step Two: Get Data Out of App
• Open Strava in a Browser
- Login
• Select the “Training” menu
Select the “My Activities” sub menu

5. Step Two (cont): Get Data Out of App
• Select A Ride to Map

6. Step Two (cont): Extract Files
• Strava:
Select the Actions icon (1.) and then “Export GPX” (2.)

7. Step Two (cont): Extract Files
• Strava:
Strava will download a .gpx file for this ride.
(Hint: Look in the lower left hand corner of your browser window)

8. Step Three: File Conversion
• Now you have a *.gpx saved to your machine.
(If you have a Garmin device, you probably know the *.gpx file format.)
• Right click, and choose ‘Rename’.
(I prefer to copy first, then change the copy version)
• Change the file extension to *.xml
• You might receive an warning message, if so
disregard by clicking “OK”.
• Steve to talk about XML here… 

9. Step Three (cont): File Conversion
This is what your new *.xml file looks like when viewed in Notepad++

10. Step Three (cont): File Conversion
Open XML File in Microsoft Excel
Truthfully, I prefer Alteryx for this step…

11. Step Three (cont): File Conversion
You may see these, but don’t worry:

12. Step Three (cont): File Conversion
Open XML File in Microsoft Excel
• Delete columns that are not needed
• Change headings as needed
• OR Do it in Tableau’s data connection screen!
• NOW, save this file as an Excel spreadsheet or CSV.
CSV, XLS or XLSX

13. Step Four: Data Prep
Open XLSX/XLS File in Tableau

14. Step Four: Open in Tableau and Viz
Away!