If You Don't Strava, Does It Even Count?
If you exercise regularly outdoors (run, bike, paddle, XC ski) and do not turn on your Strava, did it really happen?
This is a running joke for many outdoor fitness people I have run across; “Wait, we can’t leave yet, I have to turn on Strava.” With the rise of so many digital fitness apps in a highly competitive market and all the features they have, it can be overwhelming to decide if you should use one and which one is the best. Strava can be an amazing tool to help you to your fitness and health goals.
Since its inception in 2008, Strava has grown in popularity and is now a common name in the digital fitness world, with over one billion actions recorded in 2020. The social media app is an essential part of many fitness enthusiasts, including runners, bikers, and so many other activities.
Here are the top six reasons why you should use Strava if you haven't already. However, be aware that Strava can be extremely addictive.
1. The Basic Version is Free.
The app is available for most smartphones to download. You don't need any special hardware; simply install the app, tap start, and go; it tracks your journey using the GPS data from your phone. It will also link to your apple watch, so if you have the GPS-enabled apple watch and need to leave your cellphone at home, you can. Strava will also link with your Apple Health app, and link with certain heart trackers. There is also a paid version available for an annual charge that includes additional features.
2. All Your Freinds Are Doing It
It is a pretty good chance that most of your fitness pals are probably already using Strava. Do you want to be left out of the fun? If the heart of Strava is a fitness tracker, then the soul of it is a social media platform to share your runs, encourage others, participate in challenges, share statistics, and connect with people on another level. Many top-level cyclists, runners, and athletes use it as well if you're looking for some motivation follow them on Strava.
3. It's a Welcoming Community
Tied very closely with #2, you can exercise alongside others and offer support in the form of live kudos and remarks, which adds a social element to your training, this can be beneficial if you primarily ride alone. You can also join clubs to become a part of a local or larger riding community. For many users, the social side of Strava is its most compelling feature.
4. It will Inspire you
The monthly Strava challenges are a unique feature that provides virtual encouragement for many cyclists to get outside and be active even when the weather or motivation isn't cooperating. From distance challenges to speed or split time challenges, there are challenges to suit all types of athletes
5. Keep track of your Accomplishments and Improvements
Professional trainers will tell you that without goals and tracking your movement history, it is challenging to see results. A huge perk in using Strava is that it offers a variety of options for tracking your progress, from a training schedule to a heart rate and power data analysis if you want to delve into more detail. If you prefer things to be simple, the suffer score, when calculated using heart rate, provides a general estimate of how difficult a workout was. You can also use the Route Builder to plan routes and make use of local riding knowledge by highlighting popular roads and segments.
6. It’s just plain FUN
One of my favorite parts is the motivation of seeing friends I know from all over the world going for walks with their kids or doing a 100-miler. This will get me stoked to have my own run, bike, or skiing to post on Strava. Seeing a friend comment on how proud they are of your accomplishments really can mean a lot and get you out there. Not only does it track you on a map but users can upload a pic from your ride, run, or walk. Lastly, Strava also understands that safety is a huge part of running alone, so they will not post your starting point or ending point on the map if you do not want them to. Be sure to check all the settings to adjust them to your comfort level.
I have been using the free version of Strava for years now, and have enjoyed it immensely. I primarily use it for mountain biking, because for other sports I prefer other apps (that is for another blog post). I would like to streamline my fitness app tracking into one perfect app, but that does not seem to exist for me yet.
App developers and small business financiers, reach out if you wanna try to build the perfect fitness app.
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