Strava's Year in Sport reports Gen Z's like running short and fast

Is the era of high-mileage runs a thing of the past? Strava, the globally acclaimed GPS and fitness tracking app, has just released its year-end trends report, and the findings are interesting. Running once again claimed the title of the most popular activity upload, but what caught everyone’s attention was the distinct running behaviour of different generations, especially the shorter runs by Gen Z’s. 

Gen Z, aged 11-26, emerged as the speed demons, boasting the fastest average pace (5:14/km) among the four generations surveyed. However, what turned heads was their knack for shorter runs, with an average distance of 5.3 kilometres (3.3 miles). In a surprising twist, baby boomers, aged 57-75, may not win the speed race, but they certainly win the endurance marathon, consistently logging the longest average run of 6.4 kilometres (4 miles).

According to Strava’s report, Gen Z not only sprints but does so with a purpose—athletic performance. These younguns are the least likely to exercise for health alone, preferring the thrill of competition or the camaraderie of friends, run clubs or group fitness activities. Time and work emerged as their primary constraints, a testament to their busy lifestyles and limited time for exercise.

The Year in Sport data was compiled from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023 and included insights from 6,990 respondents worldwide. Boomers, in contrast to Gen Z, leaned towards cycling, being twice as likely to upload rides than runs. Gen Z, on the other hand, flipped the script, almost doubling the likelihood of uploading runs compared to rides, reflecting the surge in race participation in 2023.

This trend among Gen Z isn’t an isolated finding. A 2022 U.S. census report revealed that nearly 60 per cent of Gen Z adults engage in running or jogging for fitness at least once a week, far surpassing the general population’s 26 per cent.

Strava’s report also sheds light on the evolving landscape of athletic footwear preferences. Hoka, On and Asics emerged as top choices on Strava in 2023, indicating a growing affinity for newer and innovative athletic brands among runners. 

While running dominated uploads on Strava for the second consecutive year, the rise of trail running and hiking is a noteworthy trend, experiencing a remarkable 20 per cent increase from 2022.

posted Saturday January 6th