Nowadays, 20-somethings are either booking a trip to Japan or training for a 5K run. Running is quickly becoming the newest trend — and maybe the last free hobby in 2026.
Apps like Strava might have something to do with it. With nothing more than a pair of sneakers and some motivation, anyone can join the movement. As of 2025, Strava boasts over 180 million users across 185 countries.
By turning solo runs into a social activity — complete with shared routes, leaderboards and “kudos” — the app has transformed running into a competitive, community-based exercise.
Paul Davi, a sophomore at Tulane University, ran a half marathon last weekend in the Shamrockin’ Run. Davi said he uses Strava to track his pace when he’s running.
Davi ran regularly in high school and has continued throughout college, thanks to nearby Audubon Park. Conveniently situated next to Tulane’s campus, Audubon Park is the site of one of New Orleans’ most popular running routes, and one that frequents Strava’s explore page.
Strava uses GPS technology to record runs, making it difficult to fake a post. In other words, you must actually complete a run in order to post it on Strava. In this sense, the posting feature can be a motivator to run consistently.
Feeling the support of your friends and fellow runners through the “kudos” feature on the app can foster stronger friendships and increased motivation, but endlessly scrolling through other people’s statistics can lead to unhealthy comparisons and pressure to perform. Just like most public platforms, Strava is not immune to the double-sided coin that is social media.
“It is kind of like LinkedIn where you can follow people like a social media, but you could be comparing yourself to other people … There was one time last week I wasn’t feeling good, and my run was so bad I didn’t even put it on Strava,” Davi said.
The social nature of apps like Strava inevitably leads to comparisons. Feeling pressure to post your run can turn running into a more competitive and externally validated activity rather than a purely personal one.
Kate Ligon, a sophomore at Tulane, didn’t start running until she was well into her first year of college. At the half marathon, friends cheered her and Davi on with posters and encouragement at the finish line.
“Start slow. Run for the love of it, don’t run for a certain number. Just get used to the habit of moving yourself,” Becca Davidson, Tulane junior and BODYPUMP coach, said. “Make it a therapeutic thing before you start making it competitive.”
Everyone has their own fitness journey, and it doesn’t have to involve an app.