Going private on Strava

[Pippa49]

I have decided to go private on Strava for the time being whilst I am training (loosely) for the Yorkshire Marathon. One of the reasons is that I don't feel that I can post anything on Facebook and Strava without someone saying that I am not doing enough miles midweek etc and the second is that I have yet to find an alternative which doesn't show my pace. It is my pace that is currently taking the fun out of running. I know I don't have to look at Strava but when I have done what I think was a good run that feeling dissipates when I see my pace. I have changed my weight on Strava but don't think it's made that much difference.

Sorry for the long post and if anyone knows of any any way to record one's distance and time without pace I would be grateful.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Have you looked at pedometers? They give step count and distance but not necessarily pace. I’m just not sure how accurate they are. There might be some of the more simplistic apps or actual worn devises that just give those two metrics. I know with my Garmin I can turn data fields off on my watch but then when I look at the app they are all there again. It has taken me a long time to be ok with my pace. I know have my own good pace and rubbish run pace markers so when I look I only think about it In relation to myself. I very rarely talk pace with other runners unless they ask my finish times of events because I know I can be ultra sensitive about it so I just don’t go there 😀. I run because I love it slow pace and all, I hope you find a solution. Rfc x

[Pippa49 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

I have a Polar m430 watch which gives me my daily steps but I get same problem if I sync my runs to Strava. I have used Runkeeper and Runtastic in the past. Think I will still use Strava on private but may go back to Runtastic as don't think I know anyone who uses it.

[JaoJao]

I see what you mean about the running app, most people done realise but quite a lot of your run information is shared with others you connect with.

I use an app called Runtastic, I love it and I only have one friend on there which is perfectly fine by me, I share the runs I want to on Twitter/instagram but I don’t have to share all of them.

I use the pace as an indicator for myself, where I am, where I want to be, i would be lost without it.

What exactly bothers you about the runs, there are ways around it through privacy options

[Pippa49 in reply to JaoJao]

It is partly the pace however someone I know who knows me follows me on Strava and a while ago said I was doing too little midweek then 10 miles before a half which is rubbish (I have done 5 half marathons to date and at my last one, Swansea this year I knocked 6mins off last year's time so doing shorter runs midweek and a longer run has not hindered me. All I want to do is finish the event not win it). I build up my long runs gradually and what I do midweek is all I have time for and besides it's my business not hers but to avoid any negative comments I decided to go private ie only I can see my runs. It might look to my followers that I have not been running but I don't care. I have used Runtastic before. I assume unlike Strava nobody but you can see your runs unless you share them?

[E27M14 Graduate]

I’ve made my Strava visible to followers only so that people from work can’t see the time on my runs because sometimes I *may* do the occasional run during hours when I should be at work!! I may even have had one or two runs the other week when I was off “sick”. Running is totally not related to the reason I was off work but I can see that some people may not see it that way!

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

I think if you just go private then you won’t feel the pressure of what people may or may not think. I know exactly what you are saying

[Pippa49 in reply to Couchpotato2]

Thank you couchpotato2. I am going to train and do my best to get the mileage done even if I walk most of it as it's time on my feet. The Yorkshire Marathon have reassured me that if I need more than 7hrs I will be moved onto the pavements but will be fully supported by a back marker to the finish line and over to collect my medal. This is all I need. I have the support of a few friends and hopefully people on here.

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to Pippa49]

You can do it. Running is for you. It’s not for anyone else. And you are only competing with yourself. That’s what I have to keep reminding myself. I have a couple of friends as followers on Strava and although they are only supportive, it stresses me out a bit. Probably because they are much faster than me.

[TortoiseRegretsHare Graduate]

I agree with Couchpotato2 - running is for you, not for others and certainly not for people who offer unsolicited "advice" on your training. I went private on Strava about 2 years ago and it's much better - I can feel proud of myself after exercise, or try to work out why I was slower (too much pudding, not enough water, bad mood, or whatever) and compete against myself if I want, or not bother to turn it on at all. Tech should help you, not make you feel worse (or allow others to do that). All the best with the marathon - that sounds amazing.

[Pippa49 in reply to TortoiseRegretsHare]

You are right. I do try not to compare myself to others but it is not easy. Regarding unasked for advice I posted on Facebook but it was more a question rather than asking for advice which I got without asking for which I was annoyed about. I amended my post so it did not read like I was asking for advice. Surely though I don't need to start a post with asking for advice every time so people don't misunderstand?

Re the marathon thank you for your good wishes. The Yorkshire Marathon is a second attempt at the distance. I attempted the Brighton marathon in April this year but only managed 13miles so I am hoping second time lucky 🍀

[DebJogsOn Graduate]

If the pace really demotivates you then I understand why you might want to remove it but why do you have 'friends' whose comments make you feel bad? Can't you just block that person from following you? We are all sensitive, I'm sure, about aspects of our running and all want to do better at some part of it - but it sounds to me like you know what you're doing (and 5 half marathons to prove it!) so I'd be proud and post what you do. Unasked for advice or negative comments are likely to be from people who are insecure about their own performance - don't give them the time of day.

[Pippa49]

The person in question is not a friend as such. Don't socialise with her just know her by sight. She did the London Marathon this year and has done other events but she is faster than I am not that I am bothered. However if I remove her although I don't remember approving her following me won't she know? I have decided to do the less important runs on Strava and the long run on Runtastic. May eventually do all my runs on Runtastic.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Pippa49]

Did you know you can delete her comments? I know you can't unsee them but if someone commented something that really bugged me on one of my activities I would delete it. I don't put my runs up to be judged.

I don't think she'd notice if you unfollow and remove her from your followers either. If she does maybe she'll figure out why and keep her opinions to herself.

[Pippa49 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks it's not on Strava she has commented but Facebook but I will just leave it be as it's her opinion which she is entitled to but I will do in the future although I have decided not to ask for advice on Facebook groups again.

[Murphy113113]

Pippa49 , in my experience anyone who has done any running will not comment on how fast how far or how long you have actually run , most people will give you Kudos 👍 just because you have gone out and done an activity , I’ve found most people helpful and supportive , I used to post on Facebook but stopped doing that because a lot of my friends and family are none runners so it was probably a bit boring for them but I wanted to keep a recorded / diary of what I did and writing things down was not a strong point but pictures were so I opened an Instagram account for my running you can choose to go private so you can vet any potential followers first you can block those who give you negative feed back and you can follow and support like minded people , on the whole runners are a great group of people who only want to help and support others