Fitness for Every Body
Strava for Families: Where Grandma's Daily Walk Loses to Junior's Sprint
You want the whole family staying active together. But when Dad's cycling gets 50 kudos while Mom's yoga gets ignored, and the kids can't even join - you need an app that celebrates everyone equally.
Why Strava Fails the Family Fitness Test
The Family Strava Experience
Dad: Posts 30-mile bike ride, gets crowned Local Legend
Mom: Logs 45-minute yoga session, gets two pity kudos
Teen: Runs track practice, competes with schoolmates, ignores family
Grandpa: Walks 3 miles daily, always last on every segment
10-year-old: Can't even join (Strava requires age 13+)
Grandma: Downloaded app, saw athletic jargon, immediately deleted
The Fundamental Problems
Competition Kills Family Support
Strava's leaderboards and segments create hierarchy, not harmony. The fittest family member dominates while others feel inadequate. Not exactly the family bonding you imagined.
Age Restrictions Lock Out Kids
Strava requires users to be 13+. Got younger kids? They're excluded. Family fitness should include EVERYONE, not just teenagers and adults.
One-Size-Fits-None
Strava assumes everyone's training for races. But Grandma's not chasing KOMs, your 8-year-old isn't tracking watts, and Mom's yoga practice isn't about segments. Different ages need different approaches.
The Intimidation Factor
Show Strava to your non-athletic family members. Watch their eyes glaze over at "FTP," "segments," "suffer score," and "training peaks." It's built for athletes, not families trying to stay healthy together.
What Families Actually Need for Fitness Together
Inclusive, Not Competitive
Effort Over Performance
Grandpa's 30-minute walk should count as much as your teenager's 30-minute run. It's about everyone moving, not who moves fastest.
All Ages Welcome
From 6 to 96, everyone should be able to participate. Kids need fun and encouragement, adults need flexibility, seniors need recognition for consistency.
Multiple Activity Types
Families do different things: walking, swimming, dancing, gardening, playing. Your app should value ALL movement, not just running and cycling.
Celebrating Together
Instead of competing against each other, families need to support each other. Shared goals, team challenges, and mutual encouragement build healthy habits for everyone.
How Motion Brings Families Together Through Fitness
Built for Every Generation
Fair for All Ages
Motion's percentage-based system means Grandma hitting 100% of her goal is just as celebrated as your teen hitting theirs. Everyone can win, regardless of fitness level.
Kid-Friendly Features
The Motmot pet makes fitness fun for kids without needing complex metrics. They feed their pet by moving - simple, engaging, appropriate for all ages.
Every Activity Counts
Garden with Grandpa? Dance party with kids? Walk the dog with Mom? Evening bike ride with Dad? In Motion, it ALL counts toward your goals. No activity hierarchy.
Family Accountability
Motion's buddy system lets family members support each other without competition. See who's meeting goals, send encouragement, celebrate together.
Appropriate Challenges
Weekly battles work for families because they're effort-based. Grandma at 110% of her goal beats Dad at 95% of his. It's about who tries hardest, not who's fittest.
Apps That Actually Work for Families
True Family Fitness Apps
For All-Ages Fitness:
- Pokemon GO: Gets everyone walking together, genuinely fun
- Motion: Effort-based goals, pets for kids, fair for all fitness levels
- Zombies, Run!: Story-based running that teens and adults enjoy
- Charity Miles: Move together for good causes
For Family Challenges:
- Nike Run Club: Has family challenges (but still running-focused)
- Motion: Weekly battles where effort matters more than ability
- Fitbit: Family challenges with step equalizers
Making It Work
Successful family fitness often combines:
- Motion for shared goals and fair competition
- Pokemon GO for family walks
- Individual apps for specific training needs
The key: Choose apps that unite rather than divide your family.
Frequently asked questions
If you have anything else you want to ask, reach out to us.
Can kids under 13 use Strava?
No, Strava requires users to be 13 or older. This excludes younger family members entirely. Motion and Pokemon GO work for all ages, making them better choices for families with young children.
How can families with different fitness levels use Strava together?
They can't, really. Strava's segments and leaderboards always favor the fittest. The family marathon runner will always dominate while others feel discouraged. Apps like Motion use percentage-based goals so everyone can succeed equally.
What's the best app for multi-generational families?
Motion works best for diverse families. Grandparents can walk, parents can gym, kids can play, teens can run - it all counts equally. The effort-based system means 70-year-old Grandma can 'beat' 17-year-old Johnny if she tries harder relative to her goals.
Can Strava work for family cycling?
If everyone cycles seriously, maybe. But if some family members are casual riders while others are serious cyclists, Strava's competitive focus creates inequality. The serious cyclists dominate while casual riders feel inadequate.
How does Motion handle families with varied schedules?
Motion's adaptive goals adjust to each person's patterns. Busy parent? Goals adapt. Retired grandparent with more time? Different goals. Everyone gets appropriate targets for their lifestyle.
Why don't more families use Strava together?
Strava wasn't designed for families - it was designed for serious athletes. The competitive culture, complex metrics, and performance focus alienate casual exercisers. Most families need encouragement and inclusion, not leaderboards and segment times.
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.
