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6 essential tips for snagging a Strava CR

How to finally get your name on the leaderboard

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Many people are increasingly invested in their online presence, and runners are no different. Runners’ online platform of choice is Strava, with millions of users uploading runs, rides and other activities every day. If you’ve had your eye on a a certain CR but just haven’t been able to lock it down, here are six ways to ensure that the crown becomes yours.

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Scouting out the location

 

This is key. You’re going to want to know exactly where the segment you’re hunting begins and ends. Start too early, and you’re losing valuable energy, start too late and you’re too slow.

Start a few metres early and go a few metres long

You want to be sure you’ve completed the entire segment, so always err on the side of caution. Make sure you start just a couple of metres ahead of the segment and finish a few metres after. This won’t change your effort level much, but it will ensure that you get your hard-earned trophy.

Photo: Lenny Maughan/Strava

Make sure you’re feeling good

 

If you’re really going after a Strava CR, don’t do it on a day when training is supposed to be easy or when your legs are feeling trashed. Remember that real life personal bests are cooler than virtual crowns.

Segment hunt at the beginning of a run

This should go without saying, but don’t wait until the very end of your run to segment hunt. If you’re really trying to secure a crown, put the effort in at the beginning.

Use a tail wind

If you’re looking to get really into this, then take a look at the wind direction that day to know if it’s advantageous or not. A tailwind means, all systems are go. A headwind means save it for another day.

If you still didn’t get it, flag everyone ahead of you

Because they must have been on a bike.

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