It’s been a couple weeks, but thanks to everyone who participated in the iRunFar Holiday Run Challenge on Strava. More than 1,000 (1,048) people participated with more than 460 folks logging the stated challenge of 50 miles over the nine-day challenge period. No Strava challenge – running or cycling – has ever had such a high finishing rate. You guys rock! What’s more, the iRunFar Holiday Challenge crew logged a ridiculous 43,615 miles. Simply incredible.Top Challenge Participants
While I hope that the Holiday Challenge helped all the participants (I can honestly say it motivated me on more than on occasion.), I’d like to recognize the top two participants. We’d intended to provide both the man and woman who logged the most mileage with an additional prize, but I’m guessing neither needs a new pack. You see, the men’s winner is Salomon-sponsored ultrarunner Gary Robbins, who just happened to set a course record at the HURT 100 this past weekend. Looks like Gary’s incredible 184 miles (or 296 km, as he’s Canadian) during the nine days left him in great shape for his run at HURT. As for the women, Larissa Rivers put in more miles than anyone else with 121 miles during the Challenge. As it so happens, Larissa heads Strava’s run outreach and her husband, Brett, is about to open the San Francisco Running Company. (PS. Gary and Larissa, let us know if we can hook you up with anything!)
iRunFar Hat or Visor Winners
Here’s are the challenge participants who won their choice of an iRunFar running hat or visor.
- Andrea Bradshaw
- Justin Contois
- Kevin Doucet
- Chris Eide
- Donnie Haubert
- John Prater
- Beth Santoro
- Luke Sturgess-Durden
- Gregory Brant
- Mihai Cozma
Strava: Who’s Loving It?
Who of you out there is still using Strava after the Holiday Challenge or has otherwise been using it?
I am and am really enjoying it. To be honest, I’m still upload my running data to the two other training platforms I’ve used forever. However, Strava’s so easy that I find myself uploading my data there, too. It’s fun to have my friends comment on my runs just as I enjoy seeing what some of them are running.
I’m also enjoying the segment challenge concept far more than I thought I would. Late in a 20 miler (a long effort for me these days) last week, I came to the base of a steep road climb we’d descended earlier, I decided to “Strava” the climb as I knew it’d be a Strava “segment.” Sure enough it was… and the effort was enough to get me my first runner’s high in quite a while!
