Since we first launched Recover Athletics in the App Store in the spring of 2020, it has been a dream of ours to allow runners to share their recovery experiences on Strava.
After almost a year of work, I’m thrilled to announce that we have launched our partner integration that allows runners on the Recover app to automatically share custom images of their recovery routines with their training community on Strava.
There is no question that the integration has massive potential to help thousands of runners live healthier lives by further embedding the practice of recovery in their training routines. And there’s also no doubt that such a sticky feature could be a game changer for our business and the success of our platform.
But the reason I want to take a minute to write about this feature in particular is because it represents an important step towards realizing the crazy vision that Kafker and I set out with over a year ago.
A crazy world: one without running injuries
We share a crazy belief that our app can help runners live less crazy lives.
Runners don’t talk enough about how the sport makes us go crazy. How addicting it is, and how easy it is to start practicing it in an unhealthy way.
It’s simple to tell ourselves that running is all we need. When you get back from a morning jog and only have time for a quick shower and breakfast before work, it’s easy to fool yourself into thinking you’ll be okay doing this day after day.
This scenario doesn’t sound crazy, but it is. It’s crazy because we know that every year 75% of runners are injured from small overtraining and strength related mistakes. Runners don’t do the prehab and recovery that our bodies really need, and we get hurt all the time accordingly.
We believe our Strava integration can help change this paradigm. By allowing runners to easily share recovery workouts just like runs (and rewarding healthy habits with the endorphin rush of kudos) we think we can start to bring balance to a runner’s lifestyle.
Moreover, when the 75% of runners who get injured have to stop running, today that means they lose touch with their Strava community as well. They don’t have runs to share anymore.
This is especially tough today when many don’t have in person run clubs or teams to join. Our digital sports community is all we have.
The Recover integration changes that by providing the avenue for an injured athlete to keep participating in (and getting vital support from) their athletic community. It’s a support mechanism to keep active runners from falling off the ship, and a lifeline to those who have fallen to keep them in sync with their community.
Our integration doesn’t yet have all the bells and whistles that you see from Whoop, or Zwift, or Peloton. Just give us time and watch! But even today it’s audacious in it’s own way. We’re going to bat for runners for the right reasons – arming them with the tools to stay healthy and participate in their community at the time when we need the help most.
If you’d like to try the recover app or start sharing your recovery Routines to Strava. Get the app right here!
