What is strava to you?

Strava is better for cycling segments and KOMs, Like other modern things it is a fun way to go about your activities that gets Boomers are hurt because they didn't do it this way.

Strava is just like twitter or instagram... A SOCIAL MEDIA. Just like with other social media, people take it super seriously or they mess around. I fall into the latter group. I try to mess around, rib my friends in the comments, maybe tell a funny story that happened on the run. I see plenty of people who try to flex their workouts and weekly mileage. Good for them but I record all my useful splits and post workout thoughts on another platform. Segments are fun aspect too. It's more suited to cyclists but trying to get a couple KOMs on a run is a fun way to run a fartlek.

I only recently joined Strava and I definitely like it! Of course it's mostly a training log for me to look back on and see how I'm looking fitness-wise, but it's also interesting to see what training other people are doing and I sometimes steal ideas for sessions from them.

I guess the worst thing about it is probably the 'segments'. I don't really pay much attention to them but if you do a tempo run anywhere near 5:00 mile pace you're bound to nab a bunch of 'segment records' on your way. Then the next day you'll be notified about someone who 'broke your record' and if you look at them it's someone who isn't even a runner who clearly did it on a bike or even in a car. I've also seen a few folks who go 'segment hunting' which can often be 20 minute 5K runners who pretty much just run individual segments at all-out race effort.

But people who complain about Strava are morons. If you don't like the social media side of it then just use it as a training log and stop complaining.

Strava to me is a decent training log and a way to look at workouts people faster than me are doing, so I can improve my training and keep track of improvements. But other than that, it's not anything big. I don't spend a lot of time on it. I do like it, though. It's one of the rare social media outfits that is mostly positive and not a swamp of negativity and trolling, at least among the people I'm following.

A way to keep up with running buddies from all over the country, encourage one another, and see what the top-end elites are up to who post on there. Strava is fine if you don't take yourself seriously and aren't super judgmental to begin with. I have zero problems with someone running a 22 minute 5k on 25 miles/week. I don't see how that affects you, OP.

BizarroWorld wrote:

Segments, KOMs, challenges, all of that crap is useless.

I would mostly agree, if you take them too seriously. Friends and I get a kick out of taking each other's segment places on occasion, it can lead to some good lighthearted fun especially in a year like 2020 when we were running together less. Caring too much about them is obviously useless.

The one thing I use challenges for is a replacement for Strava's poor training log metrics. I like to know distance and vertical metrics over an entire month rather than just weekly, so the challenges are actually the most convenient way to get that information. If there was better custom timeframe features in the training log, I would stop using challenges.

Strava's social sharing is the worst thing to ever happen to running.

The app should be canceled.

#CancelStrava

Join the Strava LetsRun group, plenty of good runners in there.

https://www.strava.com/clubs/letsrunDOTcom

I love Strava. I was always too lazy to keep an actual training log, so I really like it for that purpose with the automatic Garmin uploads, but also as a way to keep in touch with friends and former teammates all over the country and the world, see how some of the pros train, discover new routes (especially if visiting an area), etc. I've even made a few new friends from Strava -- maybe we ran a local 5k and finished around the same time, then started following each other after, and then realize we live each other and start getting together for runs or rides. Segments are fun too, especially when trading off the KOM on popular segments with other members of my running and cycling clubs (or members of other running and cycling clubs!). I don't really understand why folks get so hot and bothered about it -- its a decent training tool and a decent social network, and mostly just fun.

NERunner0053 wrote:

A way to keep up with running buddies from all over the country, encourage one another, and see what the top-end elites are up to who post on there. Strava is fine if you don't take yourself seriously and aren't super judgmental to begin with. I have zero problems with someone running a 22 minute 5k on 25 miles/week. I don't see how that affects you, OP.

Me neither, in fact 22mins/25mpw is a decent return. I oddly get more annoyed seeing people run 40+ a week and cant get run under 22 mins. Not really sure why i care tbh.

I really hate social media, but actually really like Strava, tend to think of it more like a PlayStation game or something, basically its just a fun of fun. The Training log is actually useful too.

I've enjoyed my first year on Strava similar to the poster above. Great way to track my runs, great way to find new running routes, great way to keep up with the training of some of my old teammates and many pros, occasionally add some fun and go chase a segment.

Geez I didn't realize people complain about strava this much...weird just delete the app?? I think it's good fun. It's a positive social media for me. Yeah I know some people who don't use it because they feel like every run has to be long/fast. But I relish in posting those slow af recovery days, it's all part of the grind. To the person who doesn't like long winded paragraphs detailing their runs or heck even walking their dog idgaf, lighten up dude it's just working out.

Would I pay for it? Nah, I wouldn't pay for instsgram or Facebook either. But if they can get ad sponsors to keep it free forever that'd be sweet.

I just got a 1.5mile segment on my run today, averaging 5:07/mile

Why use an online forum to capture consumer sentiment when you can post some candy on Letsrun and get your insights for free

I use it as a shoe mileage tracker.

I run about 25 mpw and am current sitting at a 22 min recent 5K PR. I'm somewhat amused to be called out like this. I'm not getting any younger though (already a master's female), and pretty soon I'll be your pet peeve, running 30 minute 5Ks on too many mpw.

In any case, to the original poster. I love Strava. First and foremost, it's a way to keep up with my family members. When i see my elderly parents have completed their daily walk (mom) or cycle (dad), I know they're doing OK. I get to see what city my frequently traveling sister is in.

I also enjoy following a couple friends who work out daily. It's motivating when it's pouring rain or otherwise lousy weather, but I see that my buddy just got out there and cycled 40 miles. Gets me out there as well.

And I like chasing segments occasionally. Especially during Covid when races were canceled.

An online community I don't participate in.

Strava is basically a social network for Runners, joggers, trekkers, bikers, swimmers and so on. It keeps log of all your activities, tracks, analyzes, shares and allows you to compete with others.

Although making Athletes a social sharing platform is kind of a stretch. It is good till one can track and analyze one's own performance gradually and improve.

There are many such Running Apps that do so and is sufficient enough. Track your runs and measure distance, time, pace, calories, heart rate and location via a GPS. One such App is the Runtrackr App. Free to install and available on both iOS and Android Platform.

You're the one who's friends with people who are bad at running. Why is this? not good enough to be on a good team?