Logging your runs can be a valuable part of your race training. Strava is a great app for keeping track of your progress. But, it’s also a great way to share that progress with your friends.
Strava’s single greatest contribution to the world is that it has allowed runners to move their workout-brags off of Facebook, where many non-running friends simply don’t care, and on to a platform made up exclusively of running and cycling friends who simply don’t care.
For the new Strava user, nothing is more important than learning how to title your workouts. While distance and pace are important fields to display, the title is the single most important piece of data, as it tends to put context on distance and pace.
Strava is an important tool for keeping track of your pace. But it’s an even more important tool for EXPLAINING your pace.
Here are a few tips as you select your Strava titles:
When running with a slower friend, be sure to call it out as an excuse for your pace:
Morning Run with Tim. Great conversation
See what happened there? I not only added Tim as a possible excuse for my run, but mentioning the conversation allowed me to casually point out that this was a very easy effort.
When running with a faster friend, don’t mention them. Take full credit for your pace.
Morning Run
Use the title to clarify the terrain… which also clarifies the pace
If you are running rolling hills, on rough single track trail, make it known
Morning Run, death loop technical, hill repeats, in the rain
But if your route is a 5% downhill on pavement, address the terrain this way:
Morning Run, easy pace
Remember… no one looks at the “Grade Adjusted Pace”, so take full credit for the downhill pace.
Look for other ways to explain a sub-par pace:
Recovery Run
Taper Run
Crazed dog blocked the trail
Run with my 4yo Nephew
Explain any technical issues
Any problems with your watch, or phone, are never an operator error. If you forgot to start your watch… blame it on the watch. If you forgot to stop the watch when you pulled off the trail to sit on the park bench… blame it on the watch. It’s never your fault.
Half marathon, but watch says 10 miles… stupid Strava
Watch didn’t log first 0.25 miles… stupid Garmin
Strava Fail… pace was faster.
Let Strava work for you.