The data is in - Strava is wrecking the sport

set a PR? wrote:

BergLaufer wrote:

If for example you stop for a minute on your easy run to tie your shoes, it subtracts that minute from your run and average pace is faster. For example, if you ran 10 k easy in 46 minutes, but stopped for a minute to tie your shoes, it would show up as a 45 minute run. And average pace would go from 4:36 km to 4:30 km.

Or, if you stopped because you couldn't hold your pace you get a free ride for the time you stopped. So, run really fast each kilometer, stop for a minute, run another kilometer. You'll set a PR!

What you're describing is not a way to get a Strava PR, or estimated PR. Strava uses total time for distance for PR. But, you can get Strava PRs on downhills.

Strava is a tool. It does not make decisions for you. FFS, take some personal responsibility. The problem is not with technology, it is with the person misusing it.

I've used straVA to date.

Put the public url on your online dating profile. It attracts athletic people.

Did a flyby, saw a girl, commented on her run. Started corresponding,

Eventually went on a date

DateOnStrava wrote:

I've used straVA to date.

Put the public url on your online dating profile. It attracts athletic people.

Did a flyby, saw a girl, commented on her run. Started corresponding,

Eventually went on a date

Yo that's freaking genius, bro

set a PR? wrote:

BergLaufer wrote:

If for example you stop for a minute on your easy run to tie your shoes, it subtracts that minute from your run and average pace is faster. For example, if you ran 10 k easy in 46 minutes, but stopped for a minute to tie your shoes, it would show up as a 45 minute run. And average pace would go from 4:36 km to 4:30 km.

Or, if you stopped because you couldn't hold your pace you get a free ride for the time you stopped. So, run really fast each kilometer, stop for a minute, run another kilometer. You'll set a PR!

This is how many people run their intervals in my area. 5 x 1K @ 3.20 with 2 min rest, they pause their watch on the breaks and end up with a fast 5K of 16.40 so they have something to brag about it. Yet they barely break 18' in an actual race because they lack endurance.

But ... 'bro I ran sub 17'. Yeah ... 'well done I guess?'

BergLaufer wrote:

LetsRun.com wrote:

Well most runners aren't on strava so I doubt it's ruining the sport.

But what is "moving pace"

If for example you stop for a minute on your easy run to tie your shoes, it subtracts that minute from your run and average pace is faster. For example, if you ran 10 k easy in 46 minutes, but stopped for a minute to tie your shoes, it would show up as a 45 minute run. And average pace would go from 4:36 km to 4:30 km.

It puts that as your pace, yes, but for any "segments" on your route (certain routes defined in Strava, where each one has a leaderboard for all time), they look only at clock time, not moving time. Same with PR's. If you stop to tie your shoes or for a traffic light, it counts against you for a segment or a PR. It's just the broad brush "average" pace on your activity that is displayed that is moving pace.

The problem is Not Strava lol

The problem is that people train without knowing what a proper preparation is. Some of my friends were doing that way before Strava appeared.

silviuburceadev wrote:

This is how many people run their intervals in my area. 5 x 1K @ 3.20 with 2 min rest, they pause their watch on the breaks and end up with a fast 5K of 16.40 so they have something to brag about it. Yet they barely break 18' in an actual race because they lack endurance.

But ... 'bro I ran sub 17'. Yeah ... 'well done I guess?'

This isn't right because the activity shows total elapsed time so you can see they really took say 25 minutes.

Displaying the average moving pace is more useful though if not doing intervals as it means you don't have to worry about adding up trival stops for traffic lights, etc which makes it easier to judge progress if running the same route multiple times.

i am personally one of these types of idiot trainers. It was worse BEFORE I was on Strava.

My main goal with running is to enjoy running and then as a secondary race fast. My form becomes horrible at slow paces and it is uncomfortable- the whole time I want to stop. Tempo pace or faster is painful and not enjoyable for obvious reasons. Therefore, I run (without looking at my watch) what feels nice most days and end up between 6:20-6:40.

I tried the easy/hard thing last year, after being advised bt a few Strava friends that I was training foolishly - got injured anyway after 3–4 months of dreading every run.

Bottom line- most people on Strava I follow train very intelligently

The sport is not being wrecked wrote:

Semi-related: Strava gave me a 45 second PR in the 400 on Tuesday, how do I delete it?

I think if you make the run private it won't show. Another option is to edit the run by splitting it into three separate runs and just cut out the bad GPS data. Then delete that 400, if you can handle your weekly mileage count being 1/4 of a mile low!

I am an old guy and live in the hills among on gravel roads in Vermont.

Who is king of our little mountain?

Ben MF True.

I will never be king of our little mountain, but am thrilled to know that Ben crushed our little mountain.

Thanks! This is like a tutorial on how these guys cheated with strava across Canada last year.

ultra thon bro wrote:

people been training like idiots like that since before strava, now it is just more obvious/public.

Correct. I've probably been running longer than the OP has been alive, and people ran easy days too fast way back when I was in school. Nothing new under the sun. We just have new outlets to broadcast our stupidity now.

thats my boyfriend....i cant get him to slow down and its even worse when he gets the most likes when he does crazy track workouts....he hardly ever trains....maybe 20-30 mpw but he can still run a 2:51 marathon...so of course he wont listen to me. its all for likes which is the most annoying part. any ideas on how to encourage him to STOP doing this would be great (lol)

trollism wrote:

Just don't be so insecure about it.

The hot runner girls aren't touching themselves in the bath because of some guy's 6:10 mile pace run or their impressive segment up Squirrelcock Lane, nor were they about to give you a booty call until they saw your sensible 10 miler.

They don't care. Nobody does.

This post is perfect and just puts everything into perspective. I can't imagine anyone'd be turned on by the thought of angry 130lb runnerbois (like myself, I'll be honest) typing away furiously in mom's basement.

I've been running too fast in training for years, and I'm NOT on Strava.

Training now for my first marathon, and have happily discovered running SLOWER than race pace. Wow, saving it for actual "workout" days!

Who woulda thought...

Previously was racing half marathons with WAAAAAY too many fast miles.

I became obsessed with "training PRs" on my 7, 10 and 13-mile courses and wore myself out.

So, about every 3rd or 4th race, I'd be stale as heck on race day.

Hopefully learned my lesson.

I starting to get tired of people saying that "Hey my fitness level is 30:52 for 5 miles!" No, that indicates your ability

to run 5 miles. It does not mean you are fit. There have been people who have had heart attacks who were capable

of running 2:10 in the marathon.

BergLaufer wrote:

LetsRun.com wrote:

But what is "moving pace"

If for example you stop for a minute on your easy run to tie your shoes, it subtracts that minute from your run and average pace is faster. For example, if you ran 10 k easy in 46 minutes, but stopped for a minute to tie your shoes, it would show up as a 45 minute run. And average pace would go from 4:36 km to 4:30 km.

It does this for segment times, but not for mile splits or your average pace for the whole run.

Makes sense to do it for segments though, otherwise people could just stop and rest and start sprinting again.

Have you heard "If it isn't on Strava, it didn't happen?" Some people think it is verifiable proof of an athletic feat. Any real runner won't care much about running faster than someone else from this corner to that corner. In addition, I have heard of people who will ride their bike or use a scooter to get a strava segment record. Sad.

Real race results can easily be found. That is proof that they happened on a track or a certified road course, and all the people who were there to witness it. I don't need more than that. Maybe some do. To each their own.