Down Strava Challenges Memory Lane

[Katie]

Strava challenges, perhaps one of the most popular and long-standing features of the Strava product!

When I first started working at Strava, challenges mainly consisted of cumulative challenges referred to as the MTS (Monthly Training Series), Strava Races (10k, half marathon), the Gran Fondo and a few hosted by some of our partners. Back then, we only had run or ride activity types and in order to participate your activities had to be public in order to reflect on the challenge leaderboard. At one point we even offered the opportunity to purchase unique gear like cycling and running kits for those who completed them. Shout out to anyone who remembers the rainbow of jersey colors (and the one athlete our distribution center accidentally shipped several boxes of foam swords to - are you still out there?).

Backside of Strava Gran Fondo jerseys

At that time, Strava Challenges seemed pretty far out of reach for me - more of a weekend warrior type who was maybe able to get in a few miles a week on the bike with friends. Going back to look at my Trophy Case I’m embarrassed to recall I was only able to rack up a few completion trophies each year. Since then, Strava Challenges have evolved into a wide range of types and eligibility, our partnership with brands has grown and the badge designs and rewards are just too good to ignore. Now, I’m able to select from a wide array of options that suit my fitness goals and am still challenged to complete some of the tougher ones. 

I’ve struggled with consistency in my fitness (who hasn’t?) but Strava Challenges have been a great way to keep me motivated and accountable. And since shifting to working largely at home, they push me to get outside or move in some way which has been so crucial for my mental wellness, especially in recent years. 

Completion badge for Vamos! Latinx Heritage Month challenge in Trophy CaseI know there may be some who feel strongly about what activity types should or should not be on Strava or in the Feed so you may be less than thrilled to know that I am not one of you (bless be the mute from Feed option!). You may not want to see my 10 minute stretch session but I’ll be darned if not uploading it keeps me from getting my Vamos! Latinx Heritage Month Challenge badge (15 hours of movement in 30 days is a challenge for some of us working at Strava, believe it or not - I will not be shamed). And just look how good that badge looks in my Trophy Case!

While I started using Strava as a way to track bike rides and eventually runs, I’ve shifted to more indoor activities like strength training and HIIT exercise. I tend to keep my activities private or mute them from the feed but participating in Challenges now gives me, someone more inclined to the single-player mode, a way to mark achievements in a more exciting way as well as motivating me to end the week with just one more workout. 

On that note, I would love to know what is your favorite Challenge completion activity or a Challenge story you are proud of?  

[Shant]

Strava Challenges have definitely been a great motivator for pushing myself even when we don't have time work out in groups. I faced this issue last week with the Strava elevation challenge and now I am looking forward to more hills and going to the mountains even if it's just me because it's meditation. 

[avezado_bello]

Hi!

I am new here and this is my first participation. I am a Strava badges fan and, in my opinion, it would be marvellous if there were some significant challenges over a long time, maybe a few months or even one year. For example, complete the height of Everest over a year, one marathon in only one activity or something like that.

Greetings from Galicia, Spain!

[Shant]

Hi @avezado_bello these are great!

Please submit the Everest Elevation Challenge and marathon badge ideas here so we can vote 🙂

[avezado_bello]

Thanks a lot @Shant! 

[Lola]

I love how elevation Challenge = meditation for you @Shant! Please keep us updated on your next Challenge adventure! ⛰

Welcome to the Community Hub @avezado_bello - greetings from Dublin, Ireland 👋 Not sure if you know, but you can set the custom goals in your Strava account  so let us know how the Everest distance one is going for you if you set it up!

[avezado_bello]

Hey @Lola 

Thanks for your suggestion about the custom goals. I know them. I try every year to achieve, at least, ten thousand positive meters, but a Strava Challenge could give us a badge for our trophy case.

Greetings!

[VikK]

I love the challenges as it gives you an incentive for the month even if you don't always make it. I remember going for a lunch run with a colleague which was around 8k. He insisted we do another 2k so he could get his monthly 10km badge as it was almost the end of the month, annoyingly my GPS recorded 9.99km and I didn't get it!

I've also never been able to get the monthly running elevation challenge but I still join it, you never know!

[NickKnatterton]

Hi everyone, Strava is part of my routine now for several years. When not sick or extremely stressed I have regularly participated in the gran Fondo and the monthly 1250km challenge. Coming back from COVID I cannot find the 1250km challenges for February, March and presumably all the following months. The longest challenge now seems to be to cover 600km in a month. This distance doesn't challenge me and therefore I won't participate. Why was the 1250km challenge omitted? Please reintroduce it. Kette rechts, NickKnatterton 

[anchskier]

@Katie - The challenges can be a good motivator, but Strava totally screwed that up for the running challenges the last couple months.  By adding in walks to the "running" challenges, it ruined them for lots of people for a number of different reasons.  First, Strava does not have the automatic flagging of unrealistic efforts applied to walks that it does to runs, resulting in TONS of fake activities flooding the leaderboards.  Second, lots of people want to track their walking and running separately and have been going for the running challenges for years, but now they are all combined.  Strava needs to get out of their own way.  Instead of fixing things that aren't broken, work on the things that are.

[shartattacc]

My husband makes fun of me for how motivated I am by a silly little electronic badge, but if it works it works.

That said, they've gotten a bit diluted lately. I'm still joining them, but I'm often done before the month is half over. More challenges is always better - why not keep the lower targets but also add some more challenging ones for those who are seeking some more encouragement for a more challenging goal?