Fitness for Every Body
Honest Truth: Strava Isn't Really Built for Beginners
Strava is amazing for athletes, but if you're just starting your fitness journey, you might want to consider alternatives designed for building habits, not breaking records.
What Beginners Discover About Strava (Usually the Hard Way)
Your First Week on Strava as a Beginner
Day 1: "Great! I'll track my 20-minute walk!"
Day 2: Your feed shows someone's 100-mile century ride
Day 3: You jog 1 mile. Someone gives you kudos! Then you see they ran 10 miles in the time you ran 1
Day 4: Discover segments. You're 847th out of 850 on a hill
Day 5: Join a beginner group. It's full of people running 8-minute miles
Day 7: Delete app, feel inadequate
Why Strava Struggles with Beginners
It's Built for Athletes
Strava's tagline is literally "The #1 app for runners and cyclists." Not walkers. Not beginners. Not people trying to move more. Athletes. For most people, being an athlete isn't the goal, it's intimidating, we just want to be more active, and healthy.
Performance Metrics Everywhere
- Pace per mile (depressing when you're slow)
- Segment rankings (you'll be last)
- PRs and records (what records?)
- Training load (walking doesn't count much)
The Social Feed Problem
Your timeline fills with marathon finishes, century rides, and mountain conquests. Your 2-mile walk feels embarrassing to post.
Features You Can't Use
- Segments (need GPS activities)
- Routes (designed for runners/cyclists)
- Training plans (start at 5K, not couch)
- Clubs (most are performance-focused)
Luckily, There are Alternatives Designed for Beginners
The Missing Pieces in Strava
Adaptive Goals That Start Where You Are
Not "run a 5K" but "walk 2,000 steps today." Goals that grow WITH you, not ahead of you. Motion's effort-based system starts at YOUR level.
All Movement Celebrated Equally
Your 10-minute walk should feel as celebrated as someone's 10k, if that's their norm. In Motion, it is. Every movement counts toward your goals.
Fair Competition
Instead of competing on absolute performance (you'll lose), compete on effort. Motion's system lets beginners compete fairly with athletes through percentage-based goals.
Non-Intimidating Community
A place where "I walked to the mailbox" gets genuine celebration, not pity kudos. Motion's community includes thousands of beginners supporting each other.
Gamification That Motivates
Not segments you'll never win, but virtual pets that grow with ANY movement. Bingo boards with achievable challenges. Fun that doesn't require being fastest / fittest / strongest / etc.
Visible Progress at Any Level
See improvement from 1,000 to 2,000 steps, not just from 10-minute to 9-minute miles. Every improvement matters and gets recognized.
Beginner-Friendly Alternatives to Strava
Motion: Built for Real People, Not Just Athletes
Motion takes a completely different approach:
- Start where you are: No minimum fitness required
- Grow at your pace: Goals adapt to YOUR progress
- Everything counts: Walking, yoga, housework - it all matters
- Fair play: Compete based on effort, not ability
- Actually fun: Games and tamagotchi-style-pets make exercise enjoyable
See full Motion vs Strava comparison
Other Beginner Options
Couch to 5K Apps
Structured programs that literally start from the couch. Great for running specifically, but typically limited to that one goal.
Apple Fitness+ / Google Fit
Simple tracking without the social pressure. Good for private progress, less motivating long-term.
Charity Miles
Walk or run for charity. Great motivation for some, but lacks community and gamification, and motivation fades when the event is over.
Can Beginners Ever Use Strava?
Absolutely! Once you've built a base fitness level and confidence, Strava becomes more enjoyable. Many people start with Motion to build habits, then add Strava later for performance tracking. They're not mutually exclusive! You can even connect Strava to Motion, getting the best of both worlds.
If You Do Try Strava as a Beginner
How to Make Strava Less Intimidating
1. Make Your Profile Private Initially
Build confidence without the social pressure. Connect with close friends who will support you, and share when ready.
2. Follow Other Beginners
Search groups like "Couch to 5K" or "Beginning Runners" for realistic feeds.
3. Ignore Segments Completely
They're not for you yet. Focus on personal progress only.
4. Celebrate Time, Not Pace
A 30-minute walk is a 30-minute walk. Speed doesn't matter.
5. Use It as a Logger, Not Social Media
Track for yourself, ignore the social features until you're ready.
Or... Just Start Somewhere Else
There's no rule saying you must use Strava because it's popular. Apps like Motion are specifically designed to make beginners feel successful, not slow. Start where you're celebrated, not tolerated.
Frequently asked questions
If you have anything else you want to ask, reach out to us.
Is Strava good for absolute beginners?
Strava CAN work for beginners, but it's not ideal. It's designed for people who already identify as 'athletes' or 'runners.' The performance focus, competitive segments, and athletic community can be intimidating. Apps like Motion are built specifically for beginners with adaptive goals and an inclusive community.
Why do beginners find Strava intimidating?
The constant performance metrics (pace, power, segments), athletic-focused social feed, and competitive nature can make beginners feel slow and inadequate. When your 15-minute mile is ranked 500th out of 502 on a segment, it's hard to feel motivated.
Can I use Strava just for walking?
Yes, Strava tracks walks, but it's not optimized for walking. Many features (segments, route planning, training plans) focus on running/cycling. Walkers often feel like second-class citizens. Motion and other apps treat all movement equally.
Should I start with Strava or something else?
Start with something beginner-friendly like Motion to build confidence and habits. Once you're consistently active and interested in performance improvement, add Strava. Many successful athletes started elsewhere and moved to Strava later.
What's the most beginner-friendly fitness app?
Motion is designed specifically for beginners with adaptive goals that start at YOUR level, celebration of all movement types, and fair competition regardless of fitness. Other good options include Couch to 5K apps for running specifically.
Can Strava and Motion work together?
Absolutely! Many people use Motion for daily motivation and habit building, then sync their Strava workouts to Motion for credit toward goals. You get Strava's performance tracking plus Motion's inclusive motivation.
Your Fitness Journey Starts Here
Download Motion free and discover why this is the fitness app you'll actually keep using. Your future self (and your Motmot) will thank you.
