Strava Is Ending One of Its Subscriber Perks
We’re finally starting to see the results of Strava’s acquisition of Runna , and the news isn’t good. Strava recently announced that it would be discontinuing its online running training plan feature and will now be directing users to Runna for its (paid) training plan service.
In other words, a feature previously covered by a subscription is being eliminated, and Strava users are rightly outraged . The move reflects an ongoing trend in the subscription economy: the gradual erosion of the value of what you pay for, without a corresponding reduction in price.
No more training plans on Strava
Going forward, athletes will no longer be able to create new running plans directly on the Strava website. If you’re already using a Strava plan, the good news is that you’ll be able to complete your current program. After that, you’ll need to head over to Runna to create new plans.
To make the transition easier, Strava is offering all users — both free and premium subscribers — a promo code (STRAVA-TP) that provides an additional week of free access to Runna services beyond the standard one-week free trial. That’s two weeks total. Important note: Users who have previously used Runna’s free trial are not eligible for the extended trial.
Notably, the change only affects running training plans. Cycling training plans provided by Carmichael Training Systems are still available directly on the Strava platform.
What this change means for Strava users
Is this the end of the world? Not quite. Strava’s training plans were by no means the main selling point of this still- top-notch running app . Still, removing features shortly after gaining market share is never pretty.
Strava subscribers paid for a service that included training plans. Now, mid-subscription cycle, Strava decided you were no longer eligible for those plans. It’s as if your gym suddenly announced that the scale was now operated by a third party and you’d need a separate membership to use it.
Of course, Strava didn’t invent this type of subscription scam. Unfortunately, you’ve probably gotten used to it by now — more and more companies are slowly removing features while keeping their prices the same. It’s a real-time subscription scam.
I also don’t like Strava’s statement: “These plans will now be powered by Runna.” Powered by Runna ? They ‘re owned by Runna. That’s corporate speak for “We’re cutting costs by cutting features and making you pay to get them back.” And you’ll no longer be able to conveniently integrate your training plans into the same app you use to track your runs.
Best Alternatives for Study Plans
Runna offers great workout programs . If you like them, $17.99 per month is a reasonable price for a program that will help you stay on track and stay on track. However, before you commit to Runna, I recommend checking out their other workout plans :
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Hal Higdon’s training plans remain the gold standard for free marathon and half-marathon training. His site features dozens of plans for every skill level, from 5K novices to advanced marathoners. These plans have helped millions of runners achieve success without spending a dime. I’ve used some homemade version of these plans for all six of my marathons, and am currently using one for my seventh.
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Nike Run Club offers free guided runs and training plans with audio coaching.
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TrainingPeaks is popular among pros. At $19.95 per month, it’s more expensive than Runna, but it offers advanced training load analysis, power meter integration, and training plans from real coaches. I’m including it here because if you’re going to pay, you’re going to pay for something serious.
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Garmin Coach is free with Garmin devices and offers adaptive training plans that adjust based on your actual performance. If you’re already invested in the Garmin ecosystem, it’s a much better value than paying for a separate service. My colleague Beth Skwarecki has a full review of her training with Garmin plans here .
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McMillan Running explains in detail why you train in every workout. This educational component makes these plans worth it at $39.99 per month for athletes who are really serious about their sport.
Whatever training plan you choose, consider doing some self-study first so you really understand why you’re doing each workout. As with Hal Higdon’s plans above, you can learn a lot just by checking out similar free plans offered by Runner’s World , Hanson’s, and others.
The irony is that by pushing runners to use Runna, Strava may have inadvertently introduced many of them to better, cheaper, or free alternatives they didn’t even know existed.