Jog on! Lazy Strava users are paying ‘mules’ to run for them on the app to gain ‘kudos’ and social media clout – with athletes in London charging 40p a mile to complete marathon routes
- Are you a Strava mule or have you paid for one? Send an email to katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
Lazy runners on Strava are reportedly paying “donkeys” to run their routes for them in order to earn “kudos” on the fitness app.
The popular app allows users to share their progress with others while tracking their running routes and times.
Users can give virtual “kudos” to their Strava friends when they share details about their latest run, bike ride or swim.
But some entrepreneurs are reportedly offering their services as “mules,” running training sessions or races for others to make a profit. Those paying for the service can then pretend the user’s athletic exploits are their own, earning “kudos” on the app to look good in front of their peers.
A Strava spokesperson said people participating in the trend are “violating the terms of service” and will be suspended from the app if caught.
Are you a Strava mule or have you paid for one? Send an email to katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
Lazy runners on Strava are reportedly paying ‘mules’ to run their routes for them (Stock Photo)
One ‘mule’ identified by The Telegraph gave Gil’s name and claimed he was a 45-year-old Belgian citizen living in the UK.
Gil, a runner and cycling coach, says he sends data from completed runs, which participants can then upload to their own Strava accounts.
Explaining why someone might use his services, he said, “Social pressure, FOMO [fear of missing out]dream of a life you can’t have… brag about your qualifications, tell your wife you went running while you were in the pub.’
Meanwhile, a runner, who appears to live in the US, is promoting his own “mule” services on the social media platform TikTok.
The runner claimed he’s been a Strava ‘mule’ for over a year, saying: “So basically someone is paying me to run a race using their Strava account on my phone.”
A runner, who apparently lives in the US, is promoting his own ‘mule’ services on the social media platform TikTok
The runner claimed that some people gave him access to their Strava accounts, while others physically gave him their phone or smartwatch
The user claimed that some people gave him access to their Strava account, while others gave him their phone or smartwatch to go running with.
Another social media account, apparently based in London, claimed to have a “global network of athletes” who charged 40p per mile for running and 16p per mile for cycling, according to The Telegraph.
This month, the account reported on a mule bike ride that covered more than 100 miles.
A Strava spokesperson said: “Part of the magic of the platform comes from the authenticity of our global community when uploading an activity, giving kudos or joining a club.
‘As required in our Terms of Service, Strava athletes agree to create only one account for personal use and not to share their account or Strava credentials with others.’
The spokesperson added: “Accounts found to be in violation of the Terms of Service, for example by sharing account information or misrepresenting the athlete and/or activity, will be suspended from the platform.”