According to Forbes, fitness tracking app Strava is planning to buy Runna, an app that creates custom training plans for runners. This deal is currently in progress, though the companies haven’t shared how much money is involved. Michael Martin, the CEO of Strava, wants to expand the training plans they offer to users. Ben Parker and Dom Maskell, who started Runna in 2021, will continue working with the company after the deal is complete.
If you’re not familiar with these apps, Strava is a popular fitness app that helps people track their runs, bike rides, and other activities. It’s like a social network for active people. The app shows you maps of where you went, how fast you moved, and lets you compete with friends on leaderboards. Strava is very popular worldwide with over 150 million users who share about 1 billion runs every year across more than 185 countries.
Runna is newer and focuses specifically on helping runners train better. It creates personalized running plans based on your goals and fitness level. The app costs $19.99 per month (about ₹1,707) for its premium plans. Runna uses AI technology to create training schedules for all kinds of running goals – from short 5K races to very long ultramarathons. It also includes exercises to make you stronger and help prevent injuries.
- Strava features: GPS tracking, performance statistics, social sharing, and community leaderboards
- Runna features: Personalized running plans, strength training exercises, injury prevention tips, and Strava integration
Good news for users of both apps – they will continue to work separately for now. If you already pay for either app, your subscription won’t change. The companies say this deal will help improve both apps and make them better for runners. Runna will get resources to develop faster, while Strava will be able to offer better training plans to its huge user base.
You might wonder why tailored training plans are so important for runners. Think of them like a personal teacher for running. Instead of following the same plan as everyone else, you get workouts designed just for you based on how fit you are, how much time you have, and what you want to achieve. These plans mix different types of runs – some fast, some slow, some long – to help you improve without getting hurt. This is important because about 70% of runners get injured each year.
- Plans adjust to your personal fitness level and goals
- Include different types of workouts like speed training and long runs
- Help prevent injuries by balancing training properly
- Keep you motivated with achievable targets
While Strava is huge with over 150 million registered users, Runna is smaller but growing quickly. Runna operates in more than 180 countries and has received $6.3 million in investment money. The exact number of Runna users hasn’t been shared, but it’s described as having a sustainable but modest user base compared to Strava.
For runners like you, this deal could mean better training tools in the future. Whether you’re just starting out or training for a marathon, having personalized plans that work with your favorite tracking app could help you run better and enjoy it more. Both companies say they want to help runners worldwide, so we might see new features that make training smarter and more fun in the coming months.
