Is Strava destroying your training?

Do you use Strava? Perhaps you know some people who do. There's plenty of positives about the social fitness site, I use it, but here's why I'm in two minds.…

Strava acts as a kind of online social hub for your fitness activities. You can upload training sessions, tracked by your GPS device, share them across other social networks, and compare yourself to training partners, total strangers, and even Pro athletes. Strava sets challenges, which you can compete in, racing against other online users.Gone are the days when we laced up our shoes, or clipped into our pedals, and set off for a training session. Today's triathletes have a habit of checking in, posting status updates and taking a selfie… and that's all before they've even left their front door! With this trend in mind, I wanted to discuss a social networking site which is polarising the fitness industry: it's called Strava. 

The positives: some people thrive on accountability and a little friendly competition. Strava is certainly great as a motivational tool. Lots of us love technology, widgets and gadgets to record the minutiae of training. And plenty of us like to share that information online with anyone who'll give it a "like".

The downsides: here's where I'm not so sure about Strava. By encouraging users to continually go after faster times and new PBs, rather than training in a structured, periodised fashion (such as an actual coach would advise), it's potentially putting people at risk. Type-A personalities love to be king of the hill (or, in Strava-speak, KOM!) When someone takes over from you at the top spot, what do you do in response? The risk doesn't come from Strava itself, of course - I'm not saying it's a dangerous tool - but it does play into the hands of people who can't resist a challenge. Even an online, virtual one! 

At the extreme end of the spectrum, there has been a tragic case where a Strava member, apparently cycling in excess of the speed limit, allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian whilst racing a Strava segment.

Strava sometimes posts specific challenges, which seem to really bring out the competitive nature in some people. My concern is that folk will rise to these challenges and push themselves beyond their abilities (or perhaps simply beyond the necessary parameters of their current training). What does this achieve, other than online glory and a rise in your Strava rankings? 

Let's keep our eye on the real picture here. Are we in this sport for self-improvement, fitness, and race results? Or to climb the ladder of an online fitness community (most of whom we'll never meet)?

What do you think?

Do you use Strava, or are you a lapsed member who stopped for some reason? I'd love to know your thoughts.