Strava gives a peek into mid-year Year In Sport trends

August 27, 2025

Strava, the app for active people, has released some mid-year findings from its annual Year in Sport Trend Report, revealing how users are tracking and training to reach their 2025 goals, and what’s keeping them motivated.

With five months still to go in 2025, Strava notes that 41% of its subscribers are on pace – or already ahead – of meeting their annual goals. Cyclists are currently taking the crown with an average of 53% goal progress, while runners are close behind at 51%.

• Previous Strava findings have shown that 55% of Gen Z athletes name social connection as their top reason for joining a fitness group. This is seen as evidence that younger athletes are driven by the chance to belong to a community as much as by the thrill of the workout.
• Joining a fitness club is not only good for connection, but it also helps people stay consistent to meet their goals. With over 1 million clubs on Strava, there’s an opportunity to share motivation with others.
• Run club communities are surging: The number of new run clubs on Strava in the UK has tripled compared to this time last year. Meanwhile, Brazil has emerged as the most social market, boasting nearly an 800% increase in new clubs.
• Putting it in the calendar: For those looking for the best time to run with the pack, 9am on Saturdays and 6pm on Tuesdays are the most popular hours to log running miles so far this year.
• Strava points to new research which shows 7,000 steps a day supports overall health. On Strava, the average walk logs nearly 4,000 steps (1.95 mi) while the average run adds about 6,300 steps (3.9 mi).
• Tracking gear: Globally, ASICS is the most-logged shoe brand so far this year, followed by Nike and HOKA. In the US, Brooks leads, while in Brazil, Olympikus continues its three-year reign.
• Gen Z takes the Apple: Younger athletes are far more likely than Millennials or older generations to upload activities with an Apple Watch.
• Generational showdown: 66% of runners and cyclists on Strava have achieved a new personal record on segments in the year to date, but Gen Z has work to do to beat their older counterparts. In the UK, 85% of Boomers have had a segment PR, whereas 74% of Gen Z have had one, compared with 80% of Boomers and only 56% of Gen Z globally.
• Personal bests on the rise: With marathon season just around the corner, 42% of runners this year have had a personal best time in the 5k, 10k, half marathon, or marathon distance so far this year. For those looking for a new goal before the end of year, only 32% of runners who have run a 10k this year have achieved a personal best in that distance, so there’s still time to tackle a new challenge.
• Closing the goals gap: To hit the year’s most popular distance goals, cyclists chasing 5,000km, the most popular cycling distance goal, need just 67 km (42 miles) more than they’re already doing each month, while runners aiming for 1,000km, the most popular running distance goal, need only 17.4km (10.8 miles) more monthly. Endurance.biz