Fitness App Spotlight #2: Strava

Strava

Going On A Journey 

Strava is one of the most popular exercise apps for the Apple Watch and for good reasons. Running and cycling are, by far, the exercises with the most analytical returns this app has to offer. Built to maximize the runner's experience, it offers a variety of detailed statistics about you and the environment around you because it uses a lot of GPS data to make detailed analyzations for your exercise.

You can use the Strava app for free, but if you want full access to all of the features offered, a premium subscription is required. Many of the features that I will be showing are part of the premium version. And if you want the premium version, 

Features of Interest

Find a Good Trail, See How Others Did

I like change. Many times our exercises get boring because we do it so often in the same places. Sometimes a change of scenery does well to keep things fresh. Switching up your route can be exciting. Strava helps you discover new places and offers new routes for you in your location.

The maps section of the app shows you several new routes or segments (shorter distance routes) for you to try out. 

Tailored Routes Only for Running and Cycling

Every segment/route available has leaderboard stats from other people who've been here before. This is super intriguing for someone who has fun exercising under some sort of competition, like myself. 

One popular route for running happens to be our very own John Carroll's Don Shula track. Many students have performed the segment and posted their own results on the leaderboard!

Seeing this really inclines me to test my own performance on it. I remember running those laps during soccer practice and they felt grueling, maybe this simple circuit can help my running time for a mile run...

Fastest Time Leaderboards for John Carroll Track (running) and Shaker Heights TT (cycling) segments

I find it super interesting to find records set by people in a location you are familiar with. I had no idea there were so many people using the Strava app like myself. I use running apps to record my exercises but Strava really out does itself by creating these types of resources. There's a spark of motivation than can be sparked in a person when seeing others try it out. 

Visual Analyzation of Workouts

Elevation & Pace

One thing I really enjoyed about this app is how incredibly detailed it can be with the information it records. I don't often think about how the elevation really changes as I progress on a trail. It is easy to forget because I'm used to running on a treadmill a majority of the time. However, it seems to explain why outdoor runs are more challenging. The depiction of the elevation in the picture that drops and picks back up is the portion of the trail that I run at Edgewater lake where I run up the huge hill by the beach. It's nice to look at it on a graph and think "I did all that running".

The pace analysis is really useful for someone like myself that's always trying to improve my performance over time. I can use the information it analyzed for me and I can set up goals that reflect faster times or more consistent overall pace goals. 

Personally, I really fail to pace myself properly sometimes, and the graph also reflects that. I like to run very fast for intervals and I always end up having to catch my breath and changing my pace to a walking pace. I pick it up again when I feel ready. A goal I can achieve for myself is finding a certain pace that doesn't require me to slow down form time to time. 

Pace & Heart Rate

Heart Rate & Pace

Strava also lets you visually look at the way your heart rate varied within your exercise. It's a great tool to get a measure of your intensity any time throughout the whole session. It serves as a good indicator of when to pick it up if you really want to push yourself. 

Splits chops ups your activity into segments of miles and shows certain details respective to that particular mile. It's great feature for someone looking for consistency.

Social Network

I think the social aspect of this app really sets Strava apart. You're able to post your activity achievements with friends that also use Strava. You can upload just about anything about your sessions. You can join groups of others looking to do group exercise activities, which is nice for someone looking to get integrated into a consistent routine with support and encouragement from others. 

Discover Challenges and Clubs

Personally, I've never used the social features that the app includes. I purely use it for my own performance analysis. But I must admit that is pretty handy to see other people's activities because it opens up the door to new locations to run, new trails, new groups, new people. When it comes to discovering different trails, that wouldn't be possible if people didn't upload some of their activities. 

Uploading an Activity