Rule #12: If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen.

For those who are not familiar with it, Strava is, according to Wikipedia, ‘an internet service for tracking physical exercise which incorporates social network features’. I have used the app since July 2012. I use it to track my cycling, running, walking, stand up paddle boarding, and just about any other physical activity that involves leaving the house. My activities are shared with friends and colleagues, and we reward each other with ‘Kudos’.

My running and cycling partners have an agreed rule: ‘If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen’.

You can boast all you like about completing the Melbourne Half Marathon, or achieving an alleged personal best descent time on Western Wedgetail, but if you can’t pull out your smartphone and show us the Strava proof, then we won’t believe you; clearly it didn’t happen!

Although it is a bit tongue in cheek, I actually rely on Strava for something more than keeping up a healthy rivalry with mates. I use it as a way to keep myself accountable.

I have got weekly and monthly distance and time goals for cycling and running, and I regularly join Strava challenges such as ‘November Running Endurance Challenge’ and ‘December Cycling Consistency Challenge’. The reward for achieving each challenge might only be a virtual badge to go in the virtual trophy cabinet, but the small dopamine hit for achieving the reward is well worth the effort.

On any day I can check how I’m tracking against my goals (I better get a wriggle on for the next 32 days!):

And I can get a visualisation of which days are good training days and which ones I find it hard to make the time:

In 2021 I set myself a goal to be active every day of the year. I made a New Years Resolution to either walk a minimum of 30 minutes, run a minimum of 5km, or cycle a minimum of 10km every single day of the year. If it wasn’t for Strava holding me accountable, I reckon I wouldn’t have achieved my #Active365 goal.

There are thousands of apps out there that promise many benefits but I’ve found the one for me. Thanks Strava for helping me to maintain my physical, mental and emotional health.