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Insider Journal

Get inspired or learn something new by reading blogs on a range of topics written by our expert team members, including product tips, how-to’s, news and personal stories.

  • 80 Topics
  • 304 Replies
80 Topics
Mason
Community Manager
MasonCommunity Manager
published in Insider Journal
Introducing: Privacy Tips

👋 and welcome to Strava’s Privacy Tips series! We’re launching this series to help you, our community, better understand how to use the privacy and safety controls we built into the product to shape your experience on Strava.  Keep in mind, when you share information publicly, no matter the platform, social media app, or website you're using, it is important to be aware of how people may be able to find and use that information. Because you can use Strava to share your information with others, we want to help you understand how this works at Strava. There’s a lot to explore on Strava and a lot of ways to find motivation and inspiration. We know some of you are here because you love competing for top spots on leaderboards. For some of you, it’s not about the achievements — you just want to share your athletic journey with a small group of friends. And some of you use Strava just to track your personal training progress. We know you’re not all here for the same reason

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Mason
Community Manager
1 year ago
K
Strava
k8-the-gr8Strava
published in Insider Journal
How to use Suggested Routes

Hi! My name’s Kate, and I’m excited to share how I use one of my favorite features. Just so you know who you’re talking to, I’ve been running for about ten years. I love all kinds of running, but primarily trail running, especially in the mountains. I travel a lot and love exploring the area around me on foot. Our Suggested Routes feature is something I use weekly, whether I’m at home or traveling.  How to access the feature Mobile: Maps > Routes Web: Suggested routes does not exist on web but you can create your own route from scratch How I use this at home                                                              I try to run 3-5 times a week and am easily bored. I love the go-to trails near my house but sometimes want a different route to motivate me to check out a new part of town, and mix up my routine.

27
K
Strava
1 year ago
Frank11
Strava
Frank11Strava
published in Insider Journal
Personal Heatmaps -> Seeing the World

Personal Heatmaps have always been one of my favorite Strava features. It allows Strava subscribers to visualize on a map the ground they've covered around the world. You can learn more about Strava Heatmaps here: Personal Heatmaps Global Heatmaps. I love looking back at all the places I've lived and reminiscing on everywhere I used to run. When I revisit those places, I'll plan my runs around those previous homes and be reminded of the awesome experiences I've had there.Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston, TX This is where I went to high school and ran on the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. At my first team practice freshman year, we had a 30-minute run planned. At the time I couldn't believe that I was expected to run for that long - the duration of an episode of iCarly. Nevertheless, I did it. This Personal Heatmap data is the accumulation of over a thousand activities with my teammates. Gessner Field, now replaced by a parking lot, was the location of

20
Frank11
Strava
1 year ago
Geode
Strava
GeodeStrava
published in Insider Journal
Account Access Series, Part 1: Log In

Hello! My name is Geode and I am a member of Strava’s Community Management team specializing in account access inquiries. So, let me just say it… Login and account issues are frustrating! But, I have tools and I am here to help. Let’s work together to resolve the issue you are experiencing and get you back into your account. Start with Step 1 below to diagnose the issue you are experiencing. Then go to Step 2, the recommended section to troubleshoot the diagnosed issue. Most likely all the information needed to resolve the issue you are experiencing is included in this article. Let’s get started! 01Diagnose We first need to correctly identify the root cause of the issue you are experiencing. Below are the most common log in, email, and password issue descriptions I hear from athletes. Based on the description, I usually know which direction we need to go to resolve the issue. This does not always seem like a direct path to the athlete I am working with, but trust me as we navigate this

13
Geode
Strava
1 year ago
clyde
Strava
clydeStrava
published in Insider Journal
Running Workout Analysis Guide

Running Workout Analysis Guide The Workout Analysis screen provides you with a thorough breakdown of your activity’s lap data. You can view each individual lap’s stats including pace zone, average pace, distance, time, and heart rate. To take full advantage of the Workout Analysis, your activity must be tagged as a “workout” and your device must be capable of recording laps. You need at least two laps in your activity for the Workout Analysis to display. Two important notes here: Our mobile app does not allow you to create laps in your activity.  This feature will not work for the auto-generated mile or kilometer splits Strava creates on your activity.  Let’s quickly talk about Splits vs Laps. Splits Split times are calculated using moving time on run activities loaded to Strava. This calculation happens during the upload process and is not related to any laps your device has recorded. The splits will default to miles or kilometers based on your preferred measurement. You d

13
clyde
Strava
1 year ago
slainte
Strava
slainteStrava
published in Insider Journal
Don't quit your fitness journey! My top tips

How many times before have you given up on your newly found fitness journey? Sometimes it didn’t last more than a few weeks, or even days. We are close to the end of May (!), which means a lot of people have already given up by now. It’s also probably not the first time they give up. I gave up on my fitness goals many times before. I felt uncomfortable walking into a gym without having a strong physique. I was self-conscious about lifting light weights when the guy next to me would be lifting 100 times the weight I could. I was mortified at not being able to finish a rep, especially for exercises like barbell bench presses. I was unhappy at how my shiny new fitness clothes wouldn’t fit as well as the model wearing them on the website where I bought them from. Many of us have been there and felt this or other feelings about the intimidating world of fitness. On top of that, the unrealistic expectations set by social media influencers and celebrities are a daily reminder that our bodies

03
slainte
Strava
1 year ago
K
Strava
Kurt11Strava
published in Insider Journal
Explore and Compete with Segment Leaderboards

Segment Leaderboards Got a competitive itch? You don’t need to be a pro to compete on Strava! Segment Leaderboards are a great place to go head to head (virtually) with others or measure your own progress. How to access the feature Mobile: Find Segments either from the Maps tab or from one of your activities > Segment Details > All Leaderboards Web: Find Segments either from the Explore tab or from one of your activities > Segment Details > Leaderboards   01 Segments Strava Segments are community-sourced portions of road or trail that people run, ride, walk, hike, ski, or travel across. When you upload an activity to Strava with a GPS track, you’re automatically matched to any segments you may have done! Then in addition to the stats for your whole activity, you also get info and insight into how you performed on that segment, called your segment effort. Segments in popular areas to ride or run may have a lot of efforts and even communities around competing on them! Yo

35
K
Strava
1 year ago
Jane
Community Manager
JaneCommunity Manager
published in Insider Journal
Strava Employees Share Live Segment Stories

  Do you like to challenge yourself by competing with yourself, Strava friends, or complete strangers? Want to be notified when you're approaching a segment? If so, check out the Strava Live Segments (SLS) feature.   What is it and how does it work? Strava live segments work during your activity (available for rides and runs) and let you compare your current time on a favorite segment to your own PR, your friends on Strava, or the KOM/QOM/CR of the segment. They alert you as you’re approaching the segment and provide updated information throughout.  All athletes can use Live Segments on the Strava Mobile App, however, Strava Subscribers will see additional screens with comparison metrics. To use live segments on third party devices, a Strava Subscription is required.   We all know that pictures speak louder than words, so check out the series of photos below which show Strava employee Jimi using live segments on his Wahoo&nbs

01
Jane
Community Manager
1 year ago
Geode
Strava
GeodeStrava
published in Insider Journal
The Evolution of My Relationship With the Word “Athlete”

I was 12 years old and pitching for my all-ages girls’ softball team. I placed the ball in my glove and lined up to pitch to a girl much younger and smaller than me. I wound my arm around and let the ball go. A *GASP* erupted from the mothers in the stands. I came to my awareness and noticed that the back of my mit was flush against my face. The girl had hit my pitch, andits trajectory had rocketed towards my face. I reacted with no hesitation, no thought-process. I had caught the ball strictly by instinct, and in doing so probably saved myself from a broken nose — or worse — a concussion. Since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed playing sports and adventuring in nature. I enjoy challenging myself and seeing what my instincts can produce, as in my story described above. But as I have gotten older and my physical activity interests have changed, so has my view of what being an athlete means to me. To distill my meaning of the word “athlete,” I have come to this: Being an athlete is rec

01
Geode
Strava
1 year ago
chefnavi
Strava
chefnaviStrava
published in Insider Journal
Route Building and Mobile Photography in Patagonia

Summer (in the Northern hemisphere) is just around the corner which means warmer weather, vacations, traveling, and just more time outside. Does any of the following pique your interest?    Patagonia Creating Routes Mobile Photography Nature Landscapes Traveling   If so, we have just the article for you.It's Chef Navi, back at it again with another article for the community. If you read my first article on Learning A New Sport When You're Older, I mentioned that I had a trip down to Patagonia coming up and I wanted to share how I find routes and trails when I travel as well as some easy photography tips you can try to impress your friends and family back home. I have split up the article into two sections: Creating routes Mobile photography tips It can be overwhelming to do both so hopefully this journal article can help guide your next summer adventure. 01 Routes, trails, heatmap, oh my For a time, I rest in the grace of the world, and am free -  Wen

04
chefnavi
Strava
1 year ago
S
Strava
Sunny415Strava
published in Insider Journal
The Hub for Clubs: A community for club builders on Strava

Community for athletes. That’s the heart of Strava. Strava was borne in the nostalgia of the team locker room, and there’s no better place to recreate that on the platform than in Clubs on Strava. They are places to gather around common interests and to support and encourage one another to keep striving. It’s been a while since we’ve focused on Clubs–we know–and we’re recommitting to these roots.   Some of us have been here with you for the long haul, making clubs that work for you and your communities. Through my view of providing support to athletes in Clubs, I have been impressed by the clubs that you all have created and the communities and bonds that you have formed. And I have seen the questions, feedback, and visions you have for Clubs on Strava–a witness to the magic and potential that exists in Clubs on Strava.  Well, it’s my pleasure to share the news: the time to focus on Clubs on Strava has come again!! Catch the announcement at Camp Strava 2023 and get ready

00
S
Strava
1 year ago
Tre
Strava
TreStrava
published in Insider Journal
Recording All The Things

I’m one of those people. One of those guys that records everything, as in everything. Partially because of my role on our Community Management Team, where testing is invaluable.  One time I even recorded a 2 hour session of chopping wood.   The other reason I record everything is because I believe that an active lifestyle isn’t just about epic century rides or whether or not you can run a marathon or a 5k for that matter. I believe that just about everything we do where we move our bodies, counts towards being active. In short, I believe it all adds up. Last year I recorded 610 activities for a total of 450 hours. After breaking my back many years ago (which thankfully did not result in spinal cord injury but required a fusion and many months of rehab) I became even more appreciative of, well just about everything, but especially the ability to be active and I began to appreciate just walking as an activity. I still consider my walks to be an important part of my activ

03
Tre
Strava
1 year ago
Soren
SorenStrava Alumni
published in Insider Journal
To The Peaks & Beyond: Mount Stanley

Rising to a height of 5,109 meters, Mount Stanley is the highest mountain in the Rwenzori Range of East Africa. This majestic peak has long been a fascination for mountaineers and adventure enthusiasts alike. Sounds like: /ˈstænli/  “stan·lee” The Rwenzori Range was first explored by Europeans in the late 1800s, but it wasn't until 1906 that the peak of Mount Stanley was first climbed. Luigi Amedeo, Duke of Abruzzi, led an expedition to the mountain and successfully reached its summit. Since then, Mount Stanley has been a popular destination for mountaineers from all over the world. Fun facts: Mount Stanley is also known as Mount Ngaliema in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it is located. The Rwenzori Range is often referred to as the "Mountains of the Moon". Mount Stanley is home to several glaciers, although they have been rapidly melting due to climate change. The highest peak of Mount Stanley is called Margherita Peak, named after the Queen of Italy. The asc

00
Soren
1 year ago
kartoone
kartooneHub Rookie
published in Insider Journal
Part 3: A Tour Divide Adventure

Estimated Reading Time: 15 mins ⏲️ The final installment of the Tour Divide series features a personal story of the journey home.  Unspeakable Tragedy Uvalde, Texas. I stood in silence before the memorial with one foot still clipped in so that I could ride to see more of the impromptu memorial which had grown to wrap around the front of the entire school. I was Facebook live streaming, but I said nothing because I knew that I would start sobbing uncontrollably. The only sounds, instead, were birds chirping and then a sudden jolt from a canopy collapsing knocked over accidentally by a security guard who had been guarding the memorial over-night. How did I find myself standing here on July 3rd, 2022 about five weeks after gun violence claimed 19 more lives in the USA? Well, let's back up just a few days to June 28th, 2022 where I found myself standing someplace completely different... Antelope Wells, New Mexico. I stood at the least used border crossing between th

10
kartoone
1 year ago
M
Strava
MadameJStrava
published in Insider Journal
The Joy of the Everyday Athlete

Growing up, I was more of a “hanging out in the art studio” versus “picked first in gym class” type of kid. I found intramural sports intimidating and brewery 5k's not to be worth it. Four years ago, when I received my offer letter from Strava and began working at a fitness-based app, my friends and family were flabbergasted, to say the least. Sure, I downloaded Strava prior to applying to try to look more "legit" in my interview but I considered my walks to work each morning and six-hour concerts on the weekend to be my greatest exercise at the time. I definitely did not think of myself as an "athlete." I thought Strava was for people like my roommate who already had the NY and Boston Marathons under her belt at 22. I thought I am not a cyclist/runner, I am not competitive, and I am embarrassed by what I post. However, upon starting work at Strava, I saw all types of "athletes" at the office. Of course, we have the classic daily runners and hill-seeking cyclists, but I also found a ne

01
M
Strava
1 year ago
chefnavi
Strava
chefnaviStrava
published in Insider Journal
Learning a New Sport When You're Older

Do you ever see other people trying new sports and you think to yourself any of the following: How do they make it look so easy? I wish I started that sport when I was younger I definitely would hurt myself if I tried that Well, you're not alone! I've lived in Colorado for almost 8 years and I have only started getting into winter sports recently. When I tell people I live in Denver, they normally ask the same questions, along the lines of, Do you backpack/hike? Is your car a Subaru? Do you ski or snowboard? How's the food in Colorado? Coming from Southern California, I've had my fair share of good food and we do have some pretty nice hiking trails, but the ski and snowboard resorts are pretty far from LA and Orange County.  And while I don't own a Suburu (or any vehicle, bikes all the way), since moving to Denver, I have always had to respond with "no, I never got into winter sports," or "it seems like a steep learning curve," or "it's a pretty expensive activity to get into.

02
chefnavi
Strava
1 year ago
Mason
Community Manager
MasonCommunity Manager
published in Insider Journal
The Human Hamster Wheel, a Tale of a Treadmill Desk

Normally, I stay active by running, riding, skiing, and hiking. When life shifted towards social distance, I experimented with what was available to me in the comfort of my home. Unfortunately, one day I was walking through the house and jammed my pinky toe so hard against the door frame my partner heard it pop from the other room. Sure enough, I broke my toe.  It was such a minor and silly sounding injury, but if I pushed my luck the toe could heal improperly and lead to long term discomfort. So as much as I hated the thought of losing my stamina and fitness I knew I had to cool it.  *Thankful Moment* Before I go any further, I do want to acknowledge that most of this adventure was made possible by my employer, Strava. Without their flexibility and support, this wouldn't have been possible. For this, I am humbled and tremendously grateful. Alright, back to the story... After it healed, I eased back into exercise in whatever way I could find motivating. I began schedul

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Mason
Community Manager
1 year ago
Soren
SorenStrava Alumni
published in Insider Journal
10 Ways to Get More Kudos

Let's be real for a minute, does anyone really need kudos? Probably not. If you clicked on this article, you probably want your efforts to be seen. Some of us like to keep our workouts private, but everyone else tends to enjoy some positive feedback. At Strava we want to celebrate all kinds of movement, whether it's big mileage, impressive 24hr world records, or the weekly gym visit. Community is what keeps us coming back to upload our activities and kudos are the way the Strava community shows its support. There are skills and a few hacks you can use to increase the number of orange thumbs you amass in your activities. Be it a tough yoga sesh at a new studio, your everyday commute, or a grand sunrise-to-sunset hike, these 10 tips can help boost your kudos count. 01 Come up with a snappy activity title The title is one of the first things people will see in their feed. To come up with a good name, think about what stood out in your activity. Did you stop for pastries?

10
Soren
1 year ago
Geode
Strava
GeodeStrava
published in Insider Journal
Account Access Series, Part 2: Locate or Merge

Hello!  My name is Geode and I am a member of Strava’s Community Management team specializing in account access inquiries. This is the second of two parts of my Account Access series. In Account Access Series, Part 1: Log In, we worked on troubleshooting basic issues like password reset, email update, and locating the email address associated with the account. Now in Part 2, we are going to traverse the bumpy trail of duplicate account issues, so get those trekking poles out! Note: Start with Step 1 below to diagnose the issue you are experiencing. Then go to Step 2, the recommended section to troubleshoot the diagnosed issue. Most likely all the information needed to resolve the issue you are experiencing is included in this article. Let’s get started! 01Diagnose We first need to correctly identify the root cause of the issue you are experiencing. Below are the most common locate or merge account issue descriptions I hear from athletes. Based on

00
Geode
Strava
1 year ago
Mason
Community Manager
MasonCommunity Manager
published in Insider Journal
To mute or not to mute

Today I'm highlighting one of our lesser known features, called "Mute Activity". Let's start with the basics...   How it works Mute Activity: Don’t publish to Home or Club feeds. You can use this option if you want to hide your own activity from your followers’ home or club feeds. A muted activity will still be visible on your profile (in accordance with your privacy controls) and count towards progress charts, goals, and competitions.   This setting must be enabled on an individual activity basis via the mobile or web edit activity screen. To locate this setting on an already saved activity, navigate to the activity in question > tap the ellipses icon > tap Edit Activity > scroll all the way to the bottom and enable the check box next to "Mute Activity". Make sure you hit update activity afterward to save your changes. By the way, did you also know there’s a way to mute an athlete’s activities from appearing in your feed? That’s a blog for another day, bu

24
Mason
Community Manager
1 year ago
L
LouBStrava Alumni
published in Insider Journal
Exciting News! Strava Acquires Outdoor Adventure Platform, FATMAP

Some exciting news for Strava users everywhere. Today, Strava announced the acquisition of FATMAP, a mobile app for discovering, planning, navigating and memorializing outdoor adventures using 3D mapping technology. In the near future, Strava users can expect a new mapping experience upon completion of FATMAP’s proprietary 3D mapping technology being integrated into the platform. What does this mean? In the coming months, there will be more tools at your fingertips to holistically discover and plan an outdoor experience with curated local guides, points of interest and safety information. Designed specifically for trails and exploring the outdoor world, FATMAP’s technology helps you to safely discover, navigate and share adventures, even without a mobile connection. The combination of FATMAP’s 3D mapping technology with our data set of activities will make it easier to design routes whether you’re moving on the slopes, in the trails, city streets or neighborhoods.Your experience on

24
L
1 year ago
M
Strava
MaxwellStrava
published in Insider Journal
My Favorite Pro Cyclists on Strava

It's January, which brings three things to my mind in the world of professional road cycling: The obligatory new team kit photo on January 1, escaping to the warmth of Spain for team training camps, and the winding down of another epic cyclocross season (Ok, maybe a fourth thing too... racing is back the Tour Down Under!).  I've been a Strava member since 2011 and have always enjoyed following pro athletes. Thankfully, many pros also love Strava! Over the years, the number of pros on Strava has grown and grown. Strava offers a unique experience for fans of the sport, enabling us to follow our favorite athletes and see what they are up to in their day-to-day training and their races. We get to look in awe at the crazy amount of km's they can rack up in a week of training, as well as how many coffees and pastries they consume!      My Favorite Pros   While there are many pros on Strava, I thought I'd share some of my personal favorites to follow: Robert GesinkR

01
M
Strava
1 year ago
kartoone
kartooneHub Rookie
published in Insider Journal
Part 2: A Tour Divide Adventure

From racing the school bus to racing across the country in all kinds of ways Imagine a random weekday in the late 80s in Alabama in a small suburban community outside Birmingham. The school bus drops off a kid who immediately sprints down the street, grabs a bicycle, and chases the bus around the neighborhood. That kid was me, and one of the most vivid memories I have of those chases was the taste of blood climbing the steep hills in my efforts. Many years later, I'd recall that taste a few times going for KOMs during our unofficial weekly Strava showdowns in the early 2010s. Amazingly, I could push myself hard enough chasing the bus around the neighborhood and twenty-five years later chasing Strava KOMs, but I never had that happen during a race at any level from amateur Cat 5 all the way through professional races like the Athens Twilight night race. And never during my ultra distance races like the Race Across America in 2015 and 2017 or the Tour Divide in 2022. I cha

00
kartoone
1 year ago
Mason
Community Manager
MasonCommunity Manager
published in Insider Journal
Segment Matching Checklist

One of the most common questions we see not only in support tickets, but floating around the internet ether is “why didn’t I match a segment”. Once you know what to look for, it’s pretty easy to figure out for yourself why you didn’t match.  Segments will match to your activity when we detect your activity closely overlaps the path of a segment in the manner in which it was originally created and performed. But let’s face it, GPS isn’t perfect and this segment matching wizardry can be daunting—we are here to help! Below is a checklist to use to help you debug and problem solve. Checklist (roughly in order of frequency) Your GPS quality: While we do allow for some amount of GPS inaccuracy, enough of a deviance will be problematic. If your GPS had a bad day and is bouncing on and off the path, it’s much more likely you will not match to the segment.  Sport type: Segments only match if the sport types match. Make sure the segment you’re after is the same sport “type” as your a

05
Mason
Community Manager
1 year ago
kartoone
kartooneHub Rookie
published in Insider Journal
Part 1: A Tour Divide Adventure

Questioning my life choices How did I find myself waking up in a cave in Montana? Or frantically seeking shelter from an electrical storm with an English man and a Belgian woman in the middle of Wyoming’s Great Basin? Or standing in a puddle recording the audio of nearby frogs while soaking wet and freezing cold in New Mexico? The answer to these questions begins 16 days and 2500 miles north of the frogs with 182 other bikepackers outside the Banff, Canada YWCA on June 10th ready to race the 2022 Tour Divide. Into the cold unknown The Tour Divide is a bikepacking race that has grown from a single rider riding the Adventure Cycling Association’s Great Divide Mountain Bike Route through the Canadian and US Rocky Mountains as quickly as possible in 2005 to an annual Grand Depart loosely organized via Facebook and email with nearly 200 people this year (183 south-bounders and about a dozen north-bounders). The basic idea is to make your way to the start line in Banff, Canada by the second

11
kartoone
1 year ago

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