Remove "walks" from running challenges and expand challenges for walks

[runprime]

Walks have been added to running challenges as of January 2024 and as a person who does both run and walk acitvities as separate sports, this has ruined the experience of challenges in the app for me, and in general.

My walks are no counting towards running challenges which rightly used to be separate. They are separate sports.

I found an idea here from last year where somebody requested the opposite and now it has been implemented. From their point of view, they were lesser abled and some walks "felt" like runs to them, which i acknowledge - however, the solution there is ti simply record a running workout on your device, not a walk.

To improve the experience for walkers then more 5k, 10k and monthly mileage challenges can be set up to keep it interesting. 

Last year I really enjoyed tracking my walking challenge and sepaately doing the running challenges. 

Now there are fewer challenges in total which seems like the app is getting worse, not better.

Also importantly need to point out that runs are not included in the walking challenges.... I guess that's the real punchline to this joke.

[Kootw]

Hi, as a runner I enter every month in a number of running challenges, like Half marathon for April, 100km running in April etc. 

To complete such challenge, you actually need to complete say a half marathon, i.e. 21.1km.

The challenge describe which activities are accepted to complete. Recently, also 'walking' is accepted to complete running challenges, which results in that my 'Half marathon for April' challenge got completed through a 23km walk activity.

Similarly, my 100km running in April got completed after only 55km of actual running activities.

Who would be able to correct this? Or is there a specifc reason why also walks count for running challenges?

KR Wim

[Agoodheart]

There was a request a while ago (that had very little support, mind you) requesting to add walks to running challenges because for some people "walks feel like runs" for people with disabilities. The response to entirely eliminating running challenges was totally bizarre though. Walking challenges already existed, making a combined run/walk challenge for people who would use that, or encouraging people to record their walks as "runs" if they want to would all have been reasonable responses to that request, rather than eliminating running challenges on what's probably the biggest running app out there. A bunch of us have been asking for this to be changed back for a long time, with no response from Strava. I encourage you to cancel your subscription if you have one and leave a bad review on the App Store. People have also been emailing customer support. Not sure how else to try to get them to listen to us!

[Stomping_Jessie]

100% Agree! 

A run challenge is a run challenge! I saw that I had almost achieved the 100K challenge for the first time! Super excited I looked at my totals wondering how and found that it counts my walks. What a joke! When I finally get my run 100K in a month badge It's going to be a lie. This is something I've been working towards for years and when I am actually close to really being strong enough to run 100k the challenge is as good as gone. 

I started my running journey walking 100 miles for charity over a month. Very achievable! Running 100K takes alot of hard effort and training. Total rubbish.

[shartattacc]

anyone else notice they removed the comment feature from the challenges this month?

[PauliusG]

Yeah I saw that and I thought that it's some kind of defect for me or something but it looks that Strava getting better and better... 😄 Such a progressive platform 😄

[Agoodheart]

April challenges are up. Still no change, and still no reasonable response from Strava. Time for another 1 star review on the App Store.

[Hubert12]

Very good idea, it was funny that this coincided with Strava asking for feedback. Another one Star for their collection

[PauliusG]

Let's try to flood them directly: support @ strava . zendesk . com
(remove spaces, Strava do not allow to use this email :D)

[SusieG]

Great idea PauliusG! Here's what I emailed:

Hi Strava Team

The Community Hub has been continuously voicing their discontent (including myself) at the inclusion of walking activities towards running challenges, yet you don’t seem to be listening. 

It mightn’t seem like such a big deal to the powers that be at Strava, but it has bothered me so much that I have cancelled my premium membership and so have many other people.

Why would anyone think that walking should count towards running?? Yet strangely you don't count running activities towards the walking badges!!

The whole thing is so ridiculous I’ve been changing my ‘walking’ activities to ‘golf’ so they don’t count towards the running challenges (I don’t even play golf!) 

Please take a look at the Community Hub and see the hundreds of comments and kudos and membership cancellations because of this.

Kindly listen to what is being said in the Community Hub and  reconsider what you have done with these challenges.

[Hubert12]

I've sent the same email too, this said I had to change the cancel subscription as I was automatically renewed as I didn't cancel it on time. Might still do the cancellation!