BIG KIDS GO TO CAMP (Strava)
WHAT IS CAMP STRAVA?
This year Strava, an activity/sport tracking platform, hosted their 3rd annual Camp Strava event. “Camp” is what Strava deems to be their defined partner event for the connected fitness industry, bringing together thought leaders, content creators, brands, and devices that drive human movement across the globe. It felt like the ultimate influencer trip for athletes and industry professionals and I was soaking in every single bit!
The world of sport and an active lifestyle has blessed me beyond measure over the last 30 years but never did I think when I start getting into cycling that I’d find myself rubbing shoulders and sharing laughs at big kid summer camp with some of the world’s fastest athletes and coolest influencers. Let’s be clear, I didn’t expect to ever be here, but never once did I question whether or not I belonged there.
I left Camp Strava extremely impressed at how non “corporate” the week of events felt. Nothing about the structure, schedule, or community gave off that often too familiar feeling of a fabricated networking event. I was intentional to let the team at Strava know that the energy was warm and genuine from start to finish at every level. I’m already looking forward to going back next year, God willing, and can’t speak highly enough on the connections I was blessed to form over just a few short days. Many “faces” became paceline pals, selfie bombers, rider leaders, hike encouragers, dinner mates, corn-hole teammates, garden dancefloor partners, and most importantly…newfound friends with a shared passion for movement and sport.
STRAVA UPDATES
One of the most notable parts of our time in the beautiful hills of Los Angeles was getting to hear directly from the executive leaders at Strava on new product development for their user experience and the exciting unreleased features. The long awaited and ferociously requested Dark Mode was released in beta for those attending the event and it was a big hit! I loved getting to hear from each member of their leadership team, including their CEO, Mike Martin, and Chief Business Officer, Zipporah Allen, who were present at all of the festivities. It’s refreshingly nice to meet the faces behind the apps and tools you use in your daily life and this was no exception.
PANELISTS AND FIRESIDE CHATS
I was most inspired by the many featured panelists on the second day of Camp and was caught off guard at the caliber of athletes I was sharing spaces with. I mean this with zero disrespect, I simply didn’t know how accomplished my fellow campers were. My single favorite moment of my time in LA was during the She’s Got Game” panel as the entire room filled with hundreds of attendees rose to their feet in celebration and honor of Alysia Montaño recently being awarded her Bronze medal from the 2012 Olympics Games after a doping case (for another athlete) was finally closed. She was moved to tears, as were many of us, as it was the first time she’d been in a public setting since being awarded her Olympic medal. Words don’t do the moment justice and I’ll never forget how special it was to witness.
The video is up on my Instagram here if you want to check it out.
Not only is she an Olympian, Alysia Montaño is an advocate for maternal and paternal rights within sports, a founder, and best of all, an awesome mom. Montaño shared the stage with the US women’s national team star and 2x world champion, Tobin Heath, World Record holder and Olympian, Coleen Quigley, and Justine Brown, VP of Creative Development at Togethxr.
To say it was star studded is an understatement.
Following the amazing ladies was a panel conversation I found unexpectedly enlightening around the topics of wearable tech and health technology. This panel, hosted by Des Yap, founder of DesFit, brought together Kelly Hancox, a SR. Director at Garmin, Jonathan Bensamoun, Founder/CEO of Fi (a smart tech pet company), and Dorothy Kilroy, who absolutely blew my mind with what she shared about Oura Ring and health data. The conversation had me on the edge of my seat as these incredible four individuals discussed device powered inspiration and I felt like I truly learned more about myself and the wearable tech industry. This was unexpectedly delightful.
The third panel of the day was a special one because my cycling club’s Founder, Curran J, was featured beside other well known club leaders to talk about community with the running and cycling spaces. Our cycling club, Kings/Queens Rule Together, has seen exponential growth to hundreds of members in just a couple of years much due to Curran’s commit to documenting the journey and creating spaces for others to grow.
Last but certainly not least the day ended with a charming fireside chat between Olympic Track medalist Gabby Thomas, and Nick Thompson, the CEO of The Atlantic. It was riveting to see these two chatter between themselves about everything from Gabby’s mom preferring PHDs to olympic medals, and the highs and lows of running, to the strange intimidation tactics Gabby has experiences before major races from her well accomplished competitors. I was blown away by the poise, grace, and eloquence, Gabby displayed throughout her conversation with Nick as she prepares for her 2nd Olympic games this coming summer in Paris. It almost felt like I was spying on a private conversation full of golden nuggets that no one was supposed to hear between a prolific writer and one of the fastest women in the world. Absolutely stunning.
TO WRAP IT UP
Above all, Camp Strava was simply put, FUN. The vibes were high from start to finish and the garden parties, trash talking at corn hole, forging instant friendships over breakfast and late night snack runs put it over the top.
To wrap it all up, I was truly honored to be invited as a guest and fingers crossed I’ll be see everyone (old and new) again in 2025.