Strava Acquires Runna: A Runner’s Perspective on What’s Next

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 Strava’s announcement of the Runna acquisition came with the tagline “the world’s biggest team is getting a new coach,” hinting that Strava’s huge community of athletes is about to get Runna’s personalized coaching on its side.

I woke up to some big news in my running world: Strava is acquiring Runna. If you’re a runner, you probably know Strava as the go-to app for tracking and sharing runs, and Runna as that nifty app which builds custom training plans. As someone who has logged countless miles on Strava and relied on Runna for coaching, I have feelings about this – a mix of excitement and a few nerves. Let’s break down what this deal might mean, from the boardroom to the running trail, and why runners like me are paying close attention.

Why Runna Was Special to Runners

Runna might not be a household name for everyone, but in the running community it’s a big deal. Launched in 2021, this London-based app quickly became a #1 rated personal running coach for many of us. It creates training plans tailored to your goals and fitness level – whether you’re eyeing a first 5K or a full marathon. It even uses a bit of AI magic to adjust coaching on the fly. No surprise, it climbed the app charts and drew in runners from over 180 countries in just a few years​. I first tried Runna when prepping for a half marathon, and it felt like having a coach in my pocket: telling me when to do easy runs, long runs, tempo workouts, and when to rest, all based on my progress. Its unique appeal was how personalized and dynamic it was – far from the static PDF training plans of old. In fact, if you scroll through running subreddits or “RunTok” on TikTok, you’ll often find someone asking about (or singing praises of) Runna’s training plans​. It gained real street cred among both newbie runners and seasoned marathoners who wanted structure without hiring a human coach.

All that to say: Runna built a loyal following. It also made a name by partnering with actual races and events in the UK, acting as an official training partner. The people behind it (co-founders Dom Maskell and Ben Parker) are runners and coaches themselves, which explains why the app just “got” what we needed. I personally know a few friends who credit Runna for smashing their personal bests. So when Strava – the gargantuan fitness platform many of us already use – announced it’s scooping up Runna, it felt like two worlds colliding in a potentially awesome way.

Strava’s Strategy: The Business/Tech Side of the Deal

From a business and tech perspective, Strava’s move to buy Runna makes a lot of sense. Strava is the social network for athletes, boasting over 150 million registered users worldwide​. We use it to track our runs (or rides, swims, hikes – you name it) and to connect with friends for some thumbs-up kudos. But one thing Strava hasn’t been great at is training plans and coaching. In fact, Strava’s CEO Michael Martin admitted they tried offering training guides in the past (think old-school static plans in PDFs) and “those were used very, very infrequently”​. Translation: Strava gave us the platform to record our workouts, but it wasn’t telling us how to train in a modern, adaptive way, and users noticed that lack of guidance.

Now, consider the timing. Running has been booming globally – nearly 1 billion runs were recorded on Strava in 2024 alone​. Strava’s data shows running is the fastest-growing sport, with a spike in people signing up for races (43% of Strava athletes surveyed plan to conquer a big race in 2025)​. In other words, a ton of people are looking for training plans and coaching to reach those big race goals. Strava’s own research found that lack of training guidance was a pain point for both longtime users and newcomers​. So from a strategic standpoint, acquiring Runna is a move to fill that gap in-house. As one report put it, Strava is essentially shoring up “one of its biggest weaknesses — the lack of running training plans” by uniting with a leader in that space. It’s a classic case of if you can’t build it fast enough, buy it.

The business upside is clear for both parties: Strava gets to offer a more complete experience (tracking plus training), making its platform stickier, and Runna gets access to Strava’s massive community and resources​. Strava’s valuation hit $1.5 billion a few years back​, and they’re backed by serious investors, so they have the coffers to invest in new features. Runna, on the other hand, is a relatively small startup (around 150 employees, with about 3,000 paying subscribers as of 2023​) – profitable, yes, but nowhere near Strava’s scale. Now, with Strava’s backing, the Runna team can accelerate development and reach far more people than they could alone. Strava’s CEO even highlighted that this isn’t about cutting costs or absorbing users (“This isn’t an efficiency play,” he says), but about genuinely investing in growth and innovation. In fact, Strava has promised to keep Runna running as a separate app for now and grow its team, not dismantle it. That’s a reassuring sign that this is more about tech synergy than a talent grab or elimination of a competitor.

It’s also worth noting the competitive landscape here. Strava is not the only one eyeing the prize of being the all-in-one fitness app. For example, Garmin – known for its GPS watches – recently added AI coaching features and a new subscription tier to its own Connect app​. And just recently, Apple Fitness+ announced deeper integration with Strava​, signaling that even Apple recognizes the value of Strava’s community. There’s a bit of an arms race in the fitness tech world: companies want to offer tracking, analysis, social features, and coaching in one package. By acquiring Runna, Strava is making a play to stay ahead of the pack and ensure that if you’re a runner looking for guidance, you won’t wander off to another platform. It’s a powerful combo – the world’s largest fitness community merging with one of the top run coaching platforms​ – and it could change how we think of running apps going forward.

How Could It Change Your Running Routine?

Business talk aside, what does this mean for me and you, the everyday runners? In theory, a lot of good things. The most immediate hope is a more seamless user experience. Right now, many runners (myself included) juggle multiple apps: you might use Runna to see your training schedule, then switch to Strava to find a good route or record the run with your phone or watch, and then maybe back to Runna to check off the workout. It can be a bit clunky. Dom Maskell, Runna’s co-founder, described it well: a runner might open Runna to see the day’s workout, go to Strava to pick a route, use Runna for live audio coaching during the run, and then rely on Strava’s recording tech or device integration for tracking – “the user kind of gets passed off quite a lot of times” between apps​. If Strava and Runna integrate smoothly, all these steps could come together. Imagine opening one app and having your training plan, route map, run recording, and post-run analysis in one place (or at least without manual app-hopping). That would be a huge win for convenience.

Training personalization could also go to the next level. Runna’s big selling point is personalized plans – it adjusts to your pace, your progress, and even can incorporate things like if you missed a workout or if you’re improving faster than expected. Now combine that with Strava’s treasure trove of data (years’ worth of our run histories, segment performances, heart rate trends, etc.). The potential to create really dialed-in coaching is massive. We might see things like training plans that automatically adapt based on your Strava data – for example, noticing you struggle on hills and suggesting specific hill workouts, or seeing that you bike and factoring that into run recovery. It could also mean better insights for runners: Strava’s social features might let you easily share that you’re on a certain training plan, compare notes with friends, or join group challenges tied to training programs.

For the running community, this marriage could foster a new kind of interaction. Strava is already where we all share our runs; with Runna’s influence, maybe we’ll start sharing our training journey more, not just the final run. I can picture Strava introducing things like a “Training Plan Progress” badge on your profile or allowing users to form training groups (like everyone preparing for the same marathon with Runna plans). It could create more camaraderie – a sense that we’re not just tossing kudos on each other’s runs, but actually in the grind together towards a goal.

However, not everything will change overnight. Strava’s CEO has said that initially nothing will change for users “out of the gate” – they plan to keep Runna and Strava as separate apps in the immediate term. So if you’re a Runna user now, you don’t have to worry about it vanishing or your training plan suddenly moving to Strava next week. In the coming weeks and months, though, we can expect to see gradual changes as the deal closes and the teams start working together​. So maybe a few months from now, we might see new features pop up, like deeper data syncing or one-login for both apps. As an everyday runner, I’m okay with a slow roll-out – I’d rather they get it right than rush it.

Shaking Up the Running App Landscape

Zooming out, Strava’s acquisition of Runna could change the landscape for running apps broadly. If this integration goes well, Strava essentially becomes a one-stop shop for runners: a place to plan, train, track, and socialize. That puts some heat on other platforms. For instance, apps like Nike Run Club or Adidas Running (Runtastic), which offer free training plans, might feel pressure to amp up their social features to keep up. Smaller specialized coaching apps (and there are dozens out there, from AI-driven trainers to ones based on famous coaches’ programs) will need to differentiate or integrate. It’s notable that Strava has over 100 partner apps that connect to its platform via AP – many of those are also training or coaching focused. Strava has pledged to continue supporting those third-party developers​, but if Strava+Runna becomes the dominant solution, some of those might struggle to attract users. As a runner, more integration is convenient, but I also hope Strava stays true to being an open platform. Competition and variety can be good – not every runner wants the same coaching style, and innovation often comes from those smaller apps trying new ideas.

There’s also the question of how rivals respond. Garmin’s move to add AI coaching (and start charging a subscription) is one response, basically saying “hey, we can do personalized plans too, right on your watch app.”​ Fitness device makers like Coros or Polar might consider partnering with or acquiring coaching apps to offer a similar all-in-one experience for their users. And what about other sports? If this runner-specific acquisition goes well for Strava, one could imagine them extending into, say, cycling training plans, or triathlon coaching via similar partnerships or buys. Strava is signaling that it wants to be not just where you log your journey, but where your journey begins (with a training plan and guidance). That could inspire a wave of consolidation in fitness tech – where the lines blur between tracking apps, training apps, and community forums.

From a tech perspective, it’s also a story of AI and personalization becoming mainstream in fitness. Runna was known for using AI to help tailor plans​. Strava integrating that means millions more people could have access to adaptive training. The future of running apps might involve algorithms that learn from thousands of runners’ data to optimize your schedule. That’s kind of exciting – it’s like coaching knowledge multiplied by big data. Of course, it raises the bar for everyone. In a year or two, runners might expect every app to adjust to their needs in real time. Those that can’t offer some level of smarts might fall by the wayside.

Potential Upsides and Worries for Runners

Whenever a beloved app gets absorbed by a bigger company, users tend to have strong opinions. I’ve already heard chatter among friends and on forums, and it boils down to a mix of optimism and concern. Here’s my take on some pros and cons:

• Pro: Seamless Experience. Fewer apps to juggle and a more unified training+tracking platform. Planning, running, and sharing all in one place could make our lives simpler (no more manually syncing workouts between apps). As Maskell said, the goal is a smoother experience where you’re not constantly swapping apps during your run routine​.

• Pro: More Resources = Better Features. With Strava’s investment, Runna’s team can build features faster. We might see improvements like more training plan variety, deeper analysis, or better integration with devices. Strava’s data (like that billion-run dataset) could also help make Runna’s coaching algorithms smarter​.

• Pro: Community and Motivation Boost. Strava’s social network could supercharge Runna’s plans. Imagine being able to easily find others following the same plan or training for the same race, and share progress. It could add a layer of motivation – kind of like having a virtual run club doing the plan together.

• Pro: Possible Subscription Bundles. If Strava handles this like their last coaching-related acquisition, Recover Athletics, they might end up bundling Runna’s core features into the Strava subscription at no extra cost​. (Recover became a free perk for Strava subscribers after being acquired.) This could mean better value – one subscription covering both tracking and training.

• Concern: Subscription Overload. As of now, Strava and Runna each have their own subscription fees (about $79.99/year for Strava’s premium, and $119.99/year for Runna)​. If they don’t consolidate those, hardcore users might be on the hook for two subscriptions, which is pricey. There’s uncertainty on how this will shake out – will Strava Premium eventually include Runna, or will they expect us to pay separately for training plans? The companies haven’t decided yet, and that limbo makes some of us uneasy.

• Concern: Losing Runna’s Identity. Runna as a standalone app has its own vibe and community. Whenever big mergers happen, there’s a risk the smaller brand’s unique charm gets lost. Some loyal Runna users worry that over time it could be swallowed into Strava and lose the personal touch. (Strava did acquire a 3D mapping app called FATMAP and eventually retired it, folding the tech into Strava proper. Will Runna be truly kept separate or eventually merged? We hope for the former, but it’s a wait-and-see.)

• Concern: More Paywalls or “Enshittification.” Pardon the language, but that’s actually a term floating around Reddit where long-time Strava users have complained about features getting paywalled​. In early 2023, Strava had a messy price hike that left a bad taste in many mouths​. So, a lot of folks are sensitive to any changes that smell like a cash grab. If Strava were to, say, take features that were free in Runna and put them behind a higher pay tier, or if they use this to justify another price increase without clear added value, there could be backlash. Essentially, runners just don’t want to see a great thing ruined by corporate monetization moves.

• Concern: Transition Pains. In the short term, there might be some technical hiccups as the apps integrate. Perhaps some syncing issues, or confusion about where to find certain features until they iron it out. Change always comes with a bit of friction – hopefully any bumps are minor and short-lived.

Closing Thoughts

From my perspective as a runner who loves both these apps, I’m cautiously optimistic. Strava grabbing Runna feels a bit like when your two good friends start dating – you hope it’s a match made in heaven because you care about both. There are clear benefits on the horizon: I’m excited about not having to piecemeal my training routine across platforms, and I can’t wait to see what a well-funded Runna team can do (maybe finally develop that perfect 10K to half-marathon bridge plan I’ve been looking for!). I also find it encouraging that the Runna team, especially CEO Dom Maskell, is being so open with the community – he even said he’d hang out on Reddit all day to answer users’ questions and concerns​. That kind of transparency gives me hope that they’ll handle this transition with runners’ interests in mind.

Of course, I’ll be keeping an eye on how Strava navigates the subscription issue and integrates the features. If they get it right, Strava could truly become the ultimate runner’s companion – from the first day of training to the finish line and beyond. If they fumble, well, runners are a vocal bunch and won’t hesitate to vent (I can already see the subreddit threads piling up).

In the end, I believe this acquisition underscores an exciting evolution in running tech: training personalization is becoming mainstream, and the big players recognize that coaching is the next frontier. For us runners, that could mean better tools to help us chase our goals. And as someone who’s benefited from what Runna offers and the community Strava fosters, I’ll be rooting for this partnership to go the distance. Lace up, because the future of running apps is racing towards us – and it might just be awesome.