Strava is a mobile application designed for runners and bikers. Learn about the main features of Strava and find out what the differences between the Strava app and the popular Endomondo are.
Stravais an application developed in 2009 by one of the startups in San Francisco. The word "strava" itself comes from the Swedish language, in which it means: "try", "struggle with something", "strive for something", "reach for something" and is to characterize those for whom the application is intended - athletes who, as we can read on the official Stravy Facebook account, are constantly striving to create better versions of themselves. Regardless of whether they are Olympians or do physical activity only on weekends.
Stravais designed for runners and bikers, and is available in both free and premium versions. However - as its users often point out - the basic version contains most of the useful functions, so usually, if they are not professional athletes, they do not decide to buy additional options.
Strava can be installed on smartphones with Android and iOS operating systems.
How does Strava work?
Strava is used to record and monitor your workouts. Like most applications intended for athletes, it has both a mobile and web version - the first one accompanies us with a smartphone while practicing sports, the second allows you to get a wider view and analysis of training from home. Thanks to the use of GPS, Strava tracks the location of a given person and uses this feature to determine the distance traveled and the pace of covering it.
The distance traveled is presented in segments - separated sections that we can create ourselves or use those already created by other users of the application. This feature also allows you to compete with other people on a specific episode. Thanks to Stravie, we will also receive information about the highest and lowest point, the greatest slope on a given route.
Like Endomondo, Strava allows you to present your results to your friends on Facebook, follow specific people (also, for example, the best professional cyclists, if onlyuse the application), creating groups or even checking who you have missed on the route.
Worth knowingStrava: how to start?
The use of the Strava application should not be a problem for people who use the benefits of new technologies on a daily basis. Registration takes place via an e-mail address or Facebook account. Then we enter our first name, last name and gender and choose the discipline: running or cycling, this choice can be changed later. And that's it: the home screen appears, and … an incentive to buy a premium version that can be skipped.
Strava: features
Below are the free features of the Strava app:
1. Dividing the route into segments
The ability to divide the route into segments is one of the options offered by the application most appreciated by users. Segments are fragments of routes that cyclists or runners define on their own (or use a route that someone previously added). The function not only allows you to monitor your progress in overcoming a given section, but also check how we compare to other runners / cyclists. It is worth adding that the application is used by people all over the world, so the saved routes will be useful not only for exploring the immediate vicinity, but also, for example, when running on exotic holidays. The route we have traveled appears in the form of a map.
2. Competition for the title of KOM and QOM
KOMs and QOMs are terms closely related to what the function described above enables. A person who has traveled or ran a given part of the route is the fastest to receive the title KOM (King of the Mountain) or QOM (Queen of the Mountain) and the recognition (or envy) of other users. The possibility of obtaining such a title mobilizes you to improve your results even more.
3. Route planning
Strava has the Use Popularity function adjusts the route to the one covered by other cyclists / runners, or - in the case of a route that has not been covered by anyone yet - reduces the risk that we will find ourselves on too little or too busy road or road full of holes.
4. Determining the safety zone
The safety zone allows you to mark areas in Strava that we do not want to share with our followers - this hiding will not be visible in our statistics, however. Usually cyclists and runners mark their place of residence, work place, place of residence of a loved one as such.
5. Training calendar
Strava not only allows you to create a training calendar, but also to determine how long the route is to be traveled or set the time for a specific training to beat your record.
6. Public API
API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of procedures used to write a specific program. By making their API public, the creators of Strava make it possible to further use the information they have collected and create extensions.
7. No Ads
There are no ads in the free version of Strava, making the presented data more readable.
Strava or Endomondo: how are the applications different?
Strava is often mentioned next to Endomondo - see the differences between the two apps.
Strava | Endomondo |
possibility to divide the route into segments | no such possibility |
more statistics, aimed at presenting data specific to two fields of sport | fewer stats available |
possibility to choose one of the two disciplines: cycling or running | possibility to choose one of approximately fifty sports |
smaller community of people with a greater percentage of professional athletes | very large community with a large proportion of amateur athletes |
focus on competition and continuous improvement of results - hence the KOM, QOM titles, virtual cups and medals | focus on social functions: likes, comments, adding photos |
more expensive premium version | cheaper premium version |
no ads in the basic version | basic version ads |
Strava: what features are available in the paid version?
Strava in the free version, especially for a person who is just starting their adventure with the application, will be sufficient - the vast majority of functions are available in it. Premium features include the ability to observe the fitness and fatigue index, i.e. to determine how demanding a given training was, how long we spent in a particular heart rate zone. The premium account also allows you to use the live segment, the voice assistant tells us how much advantage or loss we have to the person from the first place.
About the authorAnna SierantEditor in charge of the Psychology and Beauty sections, as well as the main page of Poradnikzdrowie.pl. As a journalist, she cooperated, among others. with"High Heels", the websites: dwutygodnik.com and entertheroom.com, the quarterly "G'RLS Room". She also co-founded the online magazine "PudOWY Róż". He runs a blog jakdzżyna.wordpress.com.Read more articles from this author