Strava Acquires Runna to Bring Smarter Training Plans to Runners

If you’ve ever laced up for a run with a local club, chances are you’ve seen two things on nearly every wrist and phone: a Garmin watch tracking every stride and a Strava profile to showcase the results.

Despite Strava’s prominence in the running world, it has long lacked something runners often crave: robust, built-in training plans. That is about to change, thanks to its acquisition of Runna.

For those unfamiliar, Runna has rapidly become a go-to for personalized training programs since its 2021 launch. The app has gained a solid following for its AI-based coaching for 5K, 10K, and marathon runners.

With users in 180 countries and $6.3 million in additional funding under its belt, Runna has grown fast. It tripled its team in 2024 and is actively hiring to further develop its platform.

This new partnership looks promising for both companies.

Strava gains a solution to one of its biggest criticisms, the lack of structured running plans, while Runna benefits from access to Strava’s extensive global community and resources.

Strava CEO Michael Martin admitted the platform’s older, static training plans weren’t used much.

Research showed that both new and long-time users wanted more guidance. “When it comes to running, guidance means training plans,” said Martin.

That guidance is now on the way, but don’t expect immediate changes.

“For now, everything stays the same for users,” Martin confirmed.

“Our aim is to continue investing in Runna, in both the app and the team, while keeping it as a standalone experience that integrates smoothly with Strava.”

Runna’s co-founder and CEO, Dom Maskell, echoed the sentiment, highlighting that the two apps complement each other.

“A runner might plan their workout on Runna, look up a route on Strava, then use Runna for live coaching while relying on Strava’s superior tracking tech. We want to make that whole experience more seamless.”

Maskell added that he’s committed to being transparent with users, especially the vocal communities on platforms like Reddit. “I’m genuinely excited about this and happy to answer questions all day.”

One area that remains unclear is how the two apps will handle subscriptions. Strava offers a free tier and a $79.99 per year premium version, while Runna charges $119.99 annually.

Until the integration is finalized, users will need to subscribe to both for full access.

Martin noted the acquisition may follow the same model as Strava’s earlier purchase of Recover Athletics, a recovery app that remains separate but is now bundled for premium subscribers.

In contrast, FATMAP, a 3D-mapping tool acquired previously, was discontinued and absorbed into the main Strava platform.

The subscription model could stir up debate. In recent years, Strava’s user base has criticized changes to its pricing and paywalls.

Any perceived erosion of value or independence, especially from passionate communities like r/Strava, is likely to face scrutiny.

Still, both Martin and Maskell believe this move is essential.

“This is a time when investing in growth isn’t easy,” Martin admitted. “But it’s clearly the right path. We’re not cutting costs. We’re doubling down.”