How to Get Started with Strava: A Beginner's Guide

Strava has become the social network for athletes, with over 100 million members tracking their runs, rides, swims, and hikes. If you're new to Strava, the app can seem overwhelming at first. This guide will get you up and running — literally.

Setting Up Your Profile

After downloading Strava and creating an account, the first thing to do is set up your profile. Add a profile photo, write a short bio, and set your privacy settings. By default, your activities are visible to everyone, but you can change this to "Followers Only" or "Only You" in Settings > Privacy.

Recording Your First Activity

The simplest way to use Strava is to tap the orange record button before your workout and stop it when you're done. Strava will track your GPS route, distance, pace, and elevation. After you save the activity, Strava will analyze your performance and show you your splits, pace zones, and any segments you ran on.

Understanding Segments

Segments are specific sections of road or trail that Strava users have defined. When you run or ride through a segment, Strava automatically records your time and ranks you against everyone else who has completed that segment. Competing for segment KOMs (King/Queen of the Mountain) is one of Strava's most addictive features.

Connecting with Friends

Strava's social features are what set it apart from basic fitness trackers. Follow friends, give kudos (Strava's version of a like) on their activities, and leave encouraging comments. The social accountability of knowing your friends can see your workouts is a powerful motivator.

Conclusion

Strava is one of those apps that gets better the more you use it. Your personal records become more meaningful, your segment rankings improve, and your social network grows. Start simple — just record your workouts — and explore the other features as you go.