Strava, the leading social platform for athletes, has announced its acquisition of Runna, a UK-based fitness startup specializing in personalized running training plans and coaching. This strategic move pairs Strava’s massive fitness community with Runna’s expertise in tailored running programs, promising exciting new benefits for runners of all levels.
What is Runna?
Founded in 2021 by Dom Maskell and Ben Parker, Runna quickly gained recognition as a top-rated running coaching app on both iOS and Android platforms. Officially launched in March 2022, the subscription-based service has assisted numerous runners in achieving their racing goals. Available in over 180 countries, Runna stood out for its innovative approach, earning a nomination as one of Apple’s App of the Year finalists in 2024.
Runna distinguishes itself by offering customized training plans that adapt to individual goals and fitness levels. These plans incorporate a variety of workouts, including easy runs, interval training, tempo runs, and long runs, along with optional strength, mobility, and Pilates sessions for a holistic approach to training.
Why Runna?
Runna has made a significant impact in the running world, particularly in the UK, gaining traction both locally and internationally. The app’s appeal lies in making personalized running coaching accessible and affordable. It offers training plans suitable for various abilities, ranging from beginners to those preparing for ultramarathons.
The app is designed to adjust training plans based on an individual’s fitness level, running goals, and preferred running frequency. While the plans are currently set for a specific timeframe, there are expectations for more adjustable options in the future.
One of the standout features of Runna is its compatibility with various devices and platforms. Users can seamlessly link their Runna plans with Garmin, Coros, or Apple Watch, as well as Strava, allowing workouts to be sent directly to their watch for easy tracking during runs. The app can also be used on treadmills, providing live workout data on linked devices.
Strava’s Vision: A Community for All Active People
Strava’s acquisition of Runna reflects its commitment to providing value to its extensive user base. With over 150 million athletes across 185 countries, Strava seeks to be more than just a workout tracker, aiming to create a space where individuals can connect, find motivation, and track their progress together.
Michael Martin, CEO of Strava, emphasized the company’s dedication to innovation and its API developer community, stating, “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to recognize and invest in an API developer like Runna. Strava is the community for all active people regardless of sport, skill level, location, app or device.”
Strava’s decision to acquire Runna aligns with its broader strategy of enhancing its platform with features that cater to a wide range of athletes. In recent years, Strava has focused on improving user experience through strategic acquisitions and feature enhancements:
FATMAP Integration: Strava is working towards improved search and route discovery, hinting at a redesign of maps and search functionalities on both web and mobile platforms.
SEO Optimization: Strava is enhancing its discoverability through SEO-friendly route pages, designed to attract new users searching for routes in specific areas.
AI-Powered Features: Strava is exploring AI to standardize routes, names, and descriptions, leveraging heat maps and user data to create thorough and informative route guides.
Balance and Mental Health: Strava recognizes the importance of mental well-being in fitness, with Gen Z users prioritizing mental health as a major goal.
Runna’s Perspective: A Shared Passion for Running
Runna’s co-founders, Dom Maskell and Ben Parker, expressed their enthusiasm about joining forces with Strava. Maskell stated, “We are delighted to become part of Strava as we continue to focus on bringing the world the most customized and personalized training plans available. We have spent many hours together with Strava senior management and we couldn’t be more excited to be on the same team.”
Parker added, “Our passion is to give every runner a training plan and access to amazing coaching and this investment allows us to make even more improvements to everything we do at Runna, benefiting runners worldwide.”
What’s Next?
While the specifics of how Runna will be integrated into Strava remain to be seen, both companies have indicated that the apps will remain separate for the time being. Strava plans to invest in growing the Runna team and further accelerate the development of the Runna app, insuring continued innovation and enhancement of its features.
The Rise of Running and Personalized Training
The acquisition comes at a time when running is experiencing a global surge in popularity. Strava’s data shows that nearly 1 billion runs were recorded on the platform in 2024. This growth is coupled with an increasing demand for smarter, more personalized training approaches.
Strava’s acquisition of Runna signifies a strategic move to capitalize on these trends, offering its users access to cutting-edge, personalized training plans that can help them achieve their running goals, whether it’s completing a first 5K or conquering a marathon.
Strava’s Continued Growth and Innovation
Strava’s acquisition of Runna is just one example of its ongoing efforts to innovate and expand its offerings. The company has also made strides in other areas, including:
Improved Analytics: Strava has enhanced its analytics capabilities, leading to increased efficiency and better insights into user behavior. This has allowed the company to make more informed decisions about product development and feature enhancements.
Community Engagement: Strava continues to foster a strong sense of community among its users, with group run clubs and social features that encourage interaction and motivation.
Trend Awareness: Strava actively monitors fitness trends and adapts its platform to meet the evolving needs of its users, recognizing the importance of balance, mental health, and personalized experiences.
The Future of Fitness: Personalized, Social, and Data-Driven
The acquisition of Runna highlights the growing importance of personalized training in the fitness industry. As more and more people turn to technology to help them achieve their fitness goals, companies like Strava are investing in solutions that can provide tailored guidance and support.
With its acquisition of Runna, Strava is well-positioned to lead the way in this new era of fitness, offering its users a powerful combination of social connection, data-driven insights, and personalized training plans. This move promises to empower runners worldwide to train smarter, achieve their goals, and experience the joy of running to its fullest.
