iRunFar Holiday Run Challenge on Strava
December 22, 2012 by Bryon Powell · 97 Comments
Get out and run 50 miles from December 24 through January 1.
Hey iRunFar Readers,
Bryon here with a challenge for you over the busiest part of the holiday season. Run 50 miles or more (we’d love to see what you can log) from December 24th through January 1st. Yeah, that’s nine days… but nine days filled with gravy and grandma, football and feasts, presents and parties. Amidst all of that, get out there and make some time for yourself and your running!
We’ve partnered with Strava to provide a public platform for the iRunFar Holiday Run Challenge. A little community (and pride) are great for motivating one to get out there for a run when it’s cold, you’ve stuffed yourself silly, and you still have 83 presents to wrap. You can do it! As a bit of extra motivation, we’ll be giving 10 entrants (all you need to do is sign up) their choice of an iRunFar hat or visor. Now get out there and run this holiday season – I know I will be!
Happy trails (and holidays),
Bryon
Ps. It’d be awesome if you left comments with accounts of some of your eventful or meaningful holidays season runs. Pictures are great, too!
How to Use Strava and Join the Challenge
You’ve never been on Strava? No problem, it’s easy. Sign up for free at www.strava.com with your email address or go to the iOS or Android app store and download the Strava Run app. You’ll need to either use a Garmin device or the app to record your runs for them to count.
For a Garmin device, once you’ve completed your run simply plug it in to your computer (make sure you’ve downloaded the Garmin plug-in!) and click the ‘Upload Activity’ button. Strava will recognize the device and then the activities to sync them with the website.
From the Strava app, start a run, put the phone in your pocket and when you’re done, hit finish! You’re all set.
Once you’ve joined the Challenge all your runs logged will automatically be updated on the leaderboard.
Need more info? Check out How It Works.
To make it even more fun? Find your friends on Strava using the Explore feature, follow them and then show them what you’ve got. Maybe give them kudos, maybe say something or maybe just stalk their activities so you’re motivated to go just a little bit further.
Related articles:
- Strava Holiday Challenge Results The winner's of iRunFar's Holiday Run Challenge on Strava....
- iRunFar Salomon Sense Mantra Holiday Giveaway Enter the iRunFar Salomon Sense Mantra Holiday Giveaway....
- Bryon Powell’s Training Bryon Powell's training log....
Filed under Administrative ·
Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell
Great idea. Sadly nobody else on Strava will be running up the same obscure hill in Northern Scotland I’ll be logging all these miles on. (Google “Fyrish Hill Evanton” if you’re curious.) Happy trailsmas!
I can’t help but picture William Wallace :)
I envy your hill :)
I’m waaaaaay too behind the times, in terms of technology, to participate with this formally. (And I’m 24, so I don’t have an excuse.) But it’s a good target to hit nonetheless, so I’ll put in my miles anyway.
I concur. Garmin? iOS? Android?
Sounds interesting, I was planning on doing that much or more anyways. I don’t normally carry my iphone with me on my runs though, that’ll take some getting used to.
There’s a Nathan handheld water bottle with a pocket that fits the iPhone. I run with that and it’s quite convenient for tracking runs. Just be careful when filling the bottle!
Thanks Eric, I DO have 2 Nathan bottles that have pockets big enough to carry my iphone. Neat. And my dear wife got me a Nathan HPL 020 for Christmas so now I’ve really no excuse to leave my phone at home.
2 runs logged so far, just a tad under 13 miles. I need to do better.
I’m into this, I gotta do a 20 and a 10 next weekend (29th & 30th) so that’s 60% of the total (and I’m sure I can fit in another 20 miles somewhere).
It’s on, thanks Bryon!
I’m in. Will be a great way to get started running again after injury.
I’m like Alex above… too technologically behind, but I’ll run that and more anyway! :)
Include or exclude the miles run on January 1st?
Hi Michelle – it includes the miles on Jan 1st.
Thanks, love the challenge. Just enough to do a little bit more and not too much to say yeah right. I was using run keeper for the days I left my garmin home on the mid day office run but didn’t like that I couldn’t import garmin data. Thanks for helping me find a good iPhone app.
I guess I was wrong, 50 was a bit easier than I thought. Ended with 67 miles.
been using strava for a long time… really happy to see more and more ultra and trail folks adopting it. great app.
i’ll definitely be doing this one.
Ditto!
I would love to run 50+ miles until the 1st, but i’m still recovering from pneumonia. I guess I can do as much as I can!
Bryone and Larissa,
Already a registered user, now I’ve downloaded the APP on my phone, IT’S ON BABY!
Awesome challenge…I will be out there as much as I can!
well this was just the perfect little challenge to get me to open a Strava account…
hey do my swim miles count?
Very cool idea…..I like having a nice short-term goal!
I’m in!
This week I’m going to try to do all my favorite DC area trails.
I will call it “Trails of My Life”.
Sounds like a great week. I’d love to check out all my old DC favs in a week. Do a lap or two of Potomac Overlook Park for me (if it’s on your list)!
Not on the list Byron. I’m all about the technical. The list: Maryland/Loudoun heights scramble; lamb knoll AT; old rag; sugarloaf mtn blue&white; Frederick watershed; greenbrier lake & AT; billy goat trail; lambs knoll reprise. Today its the rag…god help me
Hey Bryon,
I am a long time Strava fan. Your challenge is not showing on the Challenges page. I had to find it through your link in order to join it. Is it restricted to the US?
Hi Andre,
It’s not restricted to the US, but it’s just not promoted on Strava since we put it together quickly. It’s available to anyone!
André, This is iRunFar’s first go on Strava… so we’re keeping this a “hidden challenge” for now. Maybe if there’s enough interest, I can get Strava to bump it up to the main challenge page! ;-)
Anyone can join the iRunFar HR Challenge. No country restrictions.
This is awesome. 23 miles on my 23rd bday a week from today will surely contribute.
338 participants, including me, as of 12/23 09:19 EST. Fun!
StumpWater, it’s absolutely incredible. I couldn’t have imagined 379 entrants in just over 28 hours.
Hmm.. This makes our homegrown year 2 Runner’s Festive look a little light!
http://therunnersfestive.com/2012
I will be tring for at least 250 miles during that time at Across the Years.
Merry Christmas
I predict this will make you the winner of the challenge, Aaron! Few could top that and still have legs at the end of nine days. :) Good luck!
I won’t be using strava for this, but the idea Bryon came up with is a great idea.
I was planning on being somewhat traditional and laying low until the 1st, so I’ll have to get going a bit early to make it happen. But mostly I’m stoked to see iRunFar working with Strava. I love Strava and it’ll be great to see more ultra runners over there.
I may or may not reach 50, and will not try to do so – the Winter Solstice is when I rest and let go – but signed up anyway, because it’s fun to see what my friends are up to, and I love Strava.
That’s what I needed for this season, an original challenge. I usually run 25 miles a week, then I can work endurance. I will take up this challenge in Belgium. Merry Christmas to the team irunfar and faithful readers. Thank you for 2012.
I’m in and I’ve got the tech but, it has been -10 to -15 degrees here everyday! My phone has been shutting down at these temps. It’s not projected to get warmer. If my gear freezes can I still play?
Try putting your phone in a pocket against your body.
I’m fine with the technology but stuck on an oil rig in the North Sea so Strava is out. Guess I’ll just have a go anyway!
Hey Tom, won’t they let you run laps of the deck? You’d have quite the view! Would love to have you post a pic of you out on your run. :-)
Sounds like a great challenge, but now that we finally have snow I’m going to just be logging ski and snowshoe running miles!
Pete, snowshoe running miles would work!
I don’t own any of that fancy technology, but what a great idea…I’m in and will log my miles the old-fashioned way – paper and pencil!
Sadly, I’m with Alex and Kristin, i.e., no technology, though all this talk about Strava has me curious. I could pick up a Garmin as a holiday gift to self. If only I can shake this flu and get out on the trail by tomorrow, which is not looking promising …
I’ll throw my legs and lungs into the hat! What a great way to end 2012! Will 80 kilometres suffice for us Canucks? :-)
80.5K will get you there Todd :-)
It’s on like donkey kong!! :-)
Does Nordic skiing count?
Nope. Kick off those skis and get running!
It should count. Classic skiing is runnings faster more fun smoother equivalent.
Jkal. Totally agree on classic. Ski running.
This may be just what I need for the next 9 days. If I can get Strava figured out, I’m in!
Anne – happy to help if you have any problems!
It’s midnight here on the west coast USA and I see the Australians are out kicking our butts while we sleep.
Guess I gotta get my butt off the treadmill for this.
What the hell. That app imports all runs from the Garmin as Bike activities…
Strava support can probably help you convert them.
Agreed.
Dang, you must be running crazy fast! :-)
(… or be logging your runs as rides in the Garmin. ;-) )
In the Garmin the logs are OK, just checked, and it imports as Run to TC and Garmin connect…
Hi Andre – you will have to go to settings and display preferences and change your default sport to running. I can do it for you if you tell me your strava account name (I work there!). Let me know if you have any other issues. (larissa at strava dot com)
HI, Larissa,
I use Strava to track my cycling and running for triathlon training. Do I need to change my default sport every time I want to upload running and cycling individually? I have been converting the bikes to runs later just by selecting the lowest distance activities. Speaking of Tri, are there plans to add swimming distance?
Hi Ron,
You shouldn’t have to in that we have an algorithm for that very reason which is supposed to recognize whether it is a ride or run. You might just be running too fast :-). If it keeps coming up, send a ticket to our support team (support@strava.com) and they can probably help you out.
We do have plans to pursue triathlons down the road and if you have a GPS device that can go in the water (the Garmin 910XT does) we have a swim option. I can’t vouch for the accuracy but I know others who use it.
I’m in! I’ll also be running all the DC/VA area trails. Looking forward to it
I would love to take them to see how much I can make them Hurt next month.
I would like to one up the challenge by sponsoring the outlaw StravaMan/StravaWoman competition. Join and complete both the iRunFar 50 mile challenge and the Rapha Festive 500k cycling challenge which began today, December 24. The winner will receive a free batch of my famous homemade energy bars. Famous? not really, but they did go to Mt. Everest and also have Scott Jurek’s endorsement. Winner must reside in U.S. Total miles will be added up with one running mile equal to five cycling miles. And you need to submit your results directly to me garygellin at gmail dot com.
Dang, if only I had my bike (or knew how to ride it)!
you’ll just have to run more then, right? ;-)
Ran 10 miles at Hall Ranch in Lyons,CO today. My Christmas Eve Bloody Mary tastes even better than normal.
I would use the new trail shoes for my ultras upcoming in 2013. I Need some good trail shoes for all those single tracks
I’m in, don’t think I’ll make it though. Winding down the miles for marathon second week of January.
Great idea. I won´t get the greatest mileage, but I[ll get plenty of vert. Here}s a pic, though I didn{t take it, of my trailrunning playground that shoots straight up out of Lima, Peru
http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explorer#user=4773831&with_photo_id=61998740&order=date_desc
Running a 12 hr ultra on Dec 31st, aiming for 60mi (hope to at least get 50)!
What I would do with a new pair of Salomom Sense Mantras is simple – I would do more of my running on trails, and make it a point to expand my geographic reach! We have an excellent trail system here in Tallahassee, FL, both flat and hilly. However, after having done the JFK 50 this past November (to celebrate being 50), I am thinking it is an apt goal to keep going on trails beyond where I normally get to – I have some sections of the AT I would like to run aside from the limited areas I have done. I would also like to get out west… you never know what you can do until you try, even if you are over 50!!
Tried Strava on the Basin Recreation Track in Park City. Sadly it quit somewhere along the way and I relaunched. I did about 6.2 and it said 5.3 ’cause it took a nap for a while. Guess I’ll have to double and do some Round Valley in the snow to keep in the game. Teaches me to run inside! 2 days of tele and no run has me behind.
I’ve signed up and have been logging my miles but my name never appears though.So far 19 miles.
Does going to Leadville and running at 10,000 feet decrease my needed miles?
Hi Erik,
You’ll need to log the miles either via a Garmin watch or the iPhone/Android Strava Run app for it to count. Let me know if you have any questions about how it works. Thanks!
Thanks Larissa,
So my manual entry wont count? Oh well it doesn’t really matter, I am enjoying the challenge.
I have an old phone with no apps, a timex GPS watch, and training peaks account.
Erik
Here are some more pics of my holiday runs in Peru. Haven’t been too long, but plenty of elevation and technical terrain.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151210882887151.445308.549532150&type=1&l=4abb8ee475
Over a thousand people signed up. I bet you didn’t expect that Bryon!
Yeah, Martin, this scope of the Challenge has far exceeded my expectations! At this point, I’m hoping that we have over 1,000 actual participants and well over 30,000 miles by the time this wraps up.
Amazing!
It certainly helped me ramp up some good base miles over this week. Presently sitting at 59 miles and aiming to reach 80.
65 runners have already reached the 50 mile target and plenty more look as though they will reach the target in the next 3 days.
I just stumbled upon this challenge today. I joined Strava a couple of weeks ago for tracking my cycling and running. Currently, I’m using an old computer so I can only upload from my Garmin once a week when I visit my wife’s family with a fancy Mac that supports Garmin’s software. I am three days behind on the challenge. It definitely looks like I will be running New Year’s Day as well.
I hope to see more of these in the future. It’s a fun way to “meet” fellow runners across the country and world.
I am using this as a bit of a boot in the @ss to get me moving. Just under halfway there and loving the Strava app (surprisingly)
Holy shite – Gary Robbins is at 100 miles with 4 days to go!
You’d best get running, Gary (G, that is)!
… quite hard this week, but 9 miles to go for the next two days sounds like nothing ;)
another “nap-run” with my girl … some pictures in the comments ;)
http://app.strava.com/activities/34818887
yes!
http://app.strava.com/activities/35083855
Ok I only have 14 miles to go and 2 days. Just spent the last few in Leadville. So much respect for flatlanders who come out and race at this elevation. I ran/walk around town and got my ass kicked. My twins were up all night puking,coughing talking in there sleep from elevation also.