Product Review: Strava Run App Review

The time is here – I am ready to share my opinion and review abut the Strava Run app.  I started using the app around mid-August reluctantly I might add.  Why was I reluctant?  Because I was already using the Nike+ Running app and was very pleased with it.  At least I believed I was pleased with it.  Sometimes you have to try new things.  I had an open mind and said I would try the app and honestly – I LIKE IT!!!

It IS a social running app.  Meaning it allows you to find other athletes and friends and lets you track their running or cycling activities.  Yes I did say cycling activities.  Even though they have a separate Strava Cycling app – you can still track and follow your cycling buddies along with your running buddies and other athletes regardless of app.  I find that very interesting since they are 2 separate downloadable apps.

I honestly like a lot of cool things about this app.  Let me first caveat – I use this app with 2 additional apps (Wahoo Fitness and Nike+ Running) because they all compliment each other nicely.  Also, I did not upgrade to the Premium version which is a monthly subscription.  I am reviewing the FREE version of the running app.

Purchase outlets:  Online App Store

Price point:  FREE, there is a premium version with additional features (monthly or annual)

Here is what I really like:

1.  I find the interface extremely simple.  There is a simple red button to push and then you are OFF.

See that center red button?  How easy it that?  When you are ready to end/stop your run there is a checkered flag to the right of the red button which allows you to finalize your run activity.  If you want to pause, it is also very simple, just click the red button again and it is paused.  Click it again and it is unpaused.  Can not get any easier.  Seriously!

2.  The feeds feature allows you to check out your activity or your friend’s.  When you check out your friends’ activities it shows you meaningful info like their run or cycling route, mileage, time, calories burned and elevation gain.  Other apps don’t share that much information about the athletes or friends you decide to track.

3.  The app allows you to create your very own profile and modify it if you want.  I sort of like that because it reminds me of Instagram and allows you to update your profile description.  I updated mine to reflect Femme Fitale Fit Club in my name so everyone could find me easily.  How cool is that?  It allows you to upload a photo to use as your avatar.  My cycling friend has a very nice one of her alter ego, the Tillmanator.  Click on the name to check out her Women Who Ride interview.  She is cyclocross AWESOME!!

4.  They have their own challenge module which they set up themselves.  Now – I wish it allowed us to create our own BUT you can participate and compete with others across the nation who use the app.  They vary from fastest time, to distance challenges.  It ranks you and your effort during the challenge and how major would you feel if you came in the top quartile of thousands of participants?

I find that pretty cool.

5.  Price point – it is FREE and comes with loads of features.  There ya go!

This is what could be better:

1.  They recently added a feature that when you stop during your run the app will automatically pause.  AWESOME!  Well you must remember to hit the center button to unpause the app else you will miss the other part of your run after you paused.  UGH!  I found this out the hard way during 2 runs and fortunately ran another app which uploaded results to Strava so I could correct my actual mileage.  It would be great if the app could detect when you begin running again and auto-start on its own.  I may be wishing or wanting more than what is possible but that is my dream.

2.  It is an outdoor running app meaning if you run indoors on the treadmill……it is NOT going to accurately record your results.  I tried it and it doesn’t work.  You can run the equivalent of 2 miles on the treadmill and the app will display .4 miles or something like that.  Hey – it is what it is but I do wish it could capture my total lifetime run, treadmill and all.  Some of the other apps can do it and are quite accurate.  Not sure what technology they are using but hey – that would improve the app for me.

3. It does not integrate with your music playlist.  Right or wrong I listen to music while I run.  Whether I use headphones or let the music blare out of the phone, I like it to distract me and to push me through a run.  No worries though – I run another app which does integrate with the music and allows me to fast forward, rewind, pause and stop it at will.

4.  I did not purchase the premium but it seems a bit expensive.  I am sure it comes with an additional host of features but it is taking me a while to get my head around the FREE features.  Not completely sure what you get for $59.99/year.

On a scale of 1 (the worst) – 10 (absolute fab best) I would give this running app an 8.  Overall – it is a reliable and worthwhile app to use while running.  It is sturdy, shares a host of ways to analyze your run/walk activity whether it be reviewing your course, splits, elevation, and pace.  It allows you to socialize a bit, follow other athletes, give kudos and leave comments on their activities and perform some basic interaction.  I like that a lot.  I plan to continue using it because I really do like it!!   If you are looking for a reliable running app that allows you to track your results – THIS IS FOR YOU!!!!  Thank you Spencer for recommending this app to me!!!!

Raffle Announcement

By the way we have a raffle going on this month.  Download the Strava Run or Cycling app and follow ME (Diatta Harris) and get entered to win some cool fitness gear, Road ID ($35 value) and other swag in a care package.  Two winners will be announced November 1, 2013.  Let’s GO!

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