Strava Expands its Fitness Training Ecosystem with Acquisitions of Runna and The Breakaway

Strava, the popular social fitness app, has been on an acquisition spree over the past month, scooping up two specialized training apps - Runna and The Breakaway. These strategic moves signal Strava's ambitions to become a one-stop-shop for athletes looking to plan, track, and share their fitness activities.

Runna, a UK-based app backed by JamJar, provides personalized training plans for runners working towards specific goals. The Breakaway, a Y Combinator alum, uses AI to create customized cycling training programs. By integrating these capabilities, Strava is aiming to enhance the end-to-end user experience for its community of athletes.

"There are so many opportunities to enhance the user journey," said Strava CEO Michael Martin after the Runna acquisition. "Think about how runners plan routes in Strava, train with Runna, and then share back to Strava again — we want to reduce friction in that loop."

Strava's open API has long been a draw for power users, allowing them to connect a wide range of third-party training apps to their Strava accounts. However, the company's latest moves suggest it wants to bring more of these premium features in-house.

While Strava has assured users that it will maintain an open API, some athletes may still prefer to use standalone apps like Runna or The Breakaway to plan their training regimens. Fitness enthusiasts can be quite particular about their routines, so Strava will need to tread carefully as it integrates these new acquisitions.

The pricing of these training tools also remains to be seen. Currently, a Strava subscription costs $80 per year, while Runna and The Breakaway subscriptions are priced at $120 and $70 respectively. Strava has stated there are no plans to change the pricing or remove free access to these products, but users will be watching closely for any shifts.

Ultimately, Strava's acquisitions of Runna and The Breakaway underscore the company's ambition to create a more comprehensive fitness ecosystem. By bringing specialized training capabilities in-house, Strava aims to streamline the user experience and cement its position as a go-to platform for athletes of all levels.