Strava is an app used by runners, hikers, and cyclists. It tracks and analyzes your workouts. You may remember it as the app that accidentally revealed the location of secret US military bases around the world a few years ago when they shared all of the GPS data points collected from users that included soldiers. Strava is very popular among athletes and apparently, sharing and comparing one’s stats is similar to those early days of Wordle. Its mantra is, “If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen.” Some people are taking that so seriously that they’re even trying to make “it” happen even when they didn’t do it themselves! In fact, they’re paying people money to be “Strava mules,” aka people who run in their place while recording the workout on their app.
What is a Strava Mule? A big thing in the running community is sharing your Strava stats on your socials to gain major clout. Popular running creator Veljko confessed to his TikTok followers that he has been a Strava mule for over a year now. “So basically somebody will pay me to run a race with their Strava account on my phone.” Sometimes clients will give Veljko their phone or smart watch and he can become a mule to multiple people at the same time. Veljko has even been a mule for clients at big racing events like the Brooklyn Mile.
Not everyone has a need for speed: “A common misconception is that everyone wants a fast mule and I would say a good chunk of my clients want a slow mule and then the majority of the clients are just one-off muling experiences, they just want the glory for one day.”
Going above and beyond: Some clients even want mules to go the extra mile and snap photos of what’s in front of them during the run so they can send their friends and family ‘updates’ along the way.
The going rate: Wahyu Wicaksono, a 17 year old Strava mule from Indonesia, told Channel News Asia that all his clients pay upfront and he charges 10,000 rupiah (about 96 cents) per kilometre for running at a, “Pace 4” (one kilometre in four minutes). For a more chill run at, “Pace 8” (one kilometre in eight minutes), the fee is 5000 rupiah (46 cents) per kilometre. Wahyu advertises his business on X, but after some sleuthing I found mules on Fiverr that were also ready to run for me. One runner advertised, “Do you want to impress your friends and get kudos on Strava? Just can’t find the time to train? Get in your miles without the effort.”
You can get “$1 per mile, under 9:30 per mile for five miles,” for $7.85, “2 per mile under 8:30 per mile for 5 miles,” for $15.70 or, “3 per mile under 8:00 per mile for five miles,” for $23.55. Not bad for some “kudos”.
#GetMoneyBitch: Veljko told his followers, “If I’m being honest I’m willing to do anything for the right price.”
TikTok = TornTok: TikTok user NayJustLiving posted a video saying, “I don’t know how I got on this side of TikTok,” same girl same, “but can someone please explain to me why someone would want a Strava mule?” She’s got a fair point. People are definitely confused at why someone would go through all the trouble of getting fake stats. One user commented, “World’s gone mad.” Another said, “I think it’s the equivalent of guys lying about their height on dating apps— totally a vanity stat that they’re trying to get away with.”
Not a bad side hustle: Some people are on the side of the mules, acknowledging it’s a great side hustle in this messed economy. A comment under Veljko’s video said, “Never had so much respect for someone else’s side hustle.” Another asked, “I’m unemployed and run everyday. How do you obtain clientele? I would love to do this.”
It all comes down to popularity: It’s not surprising that Strava stats seemingly equate to popularity, especially as the rise of running communities has changed the landscape of fitness. Strava operates like any social media platform which can already be a breeding ground for comparison. Then you add another layer of features like leaderboards and challenges, where athletes can compare their performances with friends and rivals which fosters and exacerbates competition among users. Running has even become a key part of someones appeal, that people are hitting up run clubs instead of dating apps. The better your Strava stats are, the better your chances of not ending up alone are.
Is it okay that people use Strava mules? There’s nothing technically wrong with using a Strava mule — no one gets hurt, the mule gets to make some cash and you get to claim the glory. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I find it hella odd. Hiring a Strava mule is definitely not very demure or very mindful. Why do we care so much about how other people view our fitness journeys? And what does it mean that our Strava stats have become part of our social currency? In a world where likes and shares have become the measure of our worth, it’s no wonder some people are resorting to such extreme measures to keep up appearances.
[From Pedestrian TV via Buzzfeed]
I have friends that post their Strava stats or whatever to their Instagram stories every day, but I’ve never actually considered that some people take it so seriously that they’re faking it for status. Honestly, I have no problem with these “mules” (there has to be a better word, though, right?) making money off the backs of someone who would even consider doing this. Make that side hustle and get some extra exercise in at the same time. That’s like living the dream for a college-age kid! (And for me, lol, because getting paid to run five-miles and take some pictures sounds awesome.)
The one thing I do side-eye, though, are the men who pay Strava mules to take pictures of scenery they’re running by to send to their wives. I mean, that just screams “I want my wife to think I am one place when in fact, I am somewhere else.” I hope the Strava mules are charging double to include that service. There’s no way all of those dudes are on the up-and-up with that request.
Photos credit: RUN 4 FFWPU, Andrew Tanglao and Mart Production on Pexels and via Instagram
I saw a headline about this yesterday and assumed it was to do with runners carrying drugs around for people so yeah, ‘mules’ is misleading.
No shame for the runners taking cash to do this, but if you’re someone doing the paying I suggest you take a long look in the mirror and maybe spend your money on some therapy instead to ask yourself why you feel this matters so much to you.
The fake lives of the instagram generation have hit a new low. Does anyone value reality? People need to stop caring so much about what other people think of them and instead worry about what and whom they actually are.
I use Strava — just sort of a workout diary to share with friends. I mean, for the Strava Mules, go get that hustle money. But for those silly posers needing to fake it? That’s just silly.
agreed-i mean i’m glad people can make money from this, i guess? the comment from the unemployed person who runs every day struck me. i hope they can earn some cash doing this. but altogether this has got to be the dumbest thing i’ve ever heard of.
I know that if I’m running, I can eat WAY more than if I’m not running. So if I were a wife with a Strava-using husband, I’d start paying attention to his food intake and waistline, lol!
I am waiting for Strava / the mule to get entangled in a trial because the defendant has the perfect alibi, how could he have committed the crime when he was running at the time of the murder and look, in addition to his Stava stats, he even has photos to prove it? Yes, he was running a little faster than usual that day, but it’s because of a new energy drink he started drinking.