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Feisty Women's Performance · June 1 · 1 hr 9 min

Is Strava sabotaging your mental game? with Dr. Hayley Russell

Ever compare yourself to others on Strava? Feel yourself pushed to do more to hit a "streak" or online badge? This episode's for you. Sport psychology professor Dr. Hayley Russell dives into the upsides and pitfalls of fitness‑tracking apps like Strava. She explores how self‑tracking can boost motivation, community, and self‑awareness — but can also fuel comparison, pressure, and body‑image concerns. What can you do to make the most of your online fitness tracking? Balance function over appearance: Use data to celebrate what your body can do, not how it looks. Set intentional goals: Focus on consistency and health‑supporting habits rather than perfection or daily “streaks.” Curate your feed: Mute or unfollow accounts that trigger negative social comparison; follow supportive communities instead. Take digital breaks when needed: Recognize signs of obsessive tracking and give yourself permission to step away without guilt. Leverage community features: Join or create niche groups (e.g., postpartum athletes, larger‑body runners) to find relatable peers and reduce isolation. Protect privacy: Adjust route‑sharing settings to hide start/end points and consider the safety implications of public activity logs. If you found this conversation valuable, hit Subscribe so you never miss an episode, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media for extra resources and behind‑the‑scenes content. Watch the episode on YouTube FeistyFest Info: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/feistyfest-feisty-media-1943243299#about-this-trip Courses and Coaching: https://feisty.learnworlds.com/ Women's Mechanic Camp in Tucson: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/women-s-bike-mechanic-camp-tucson-az-feisty-media-24985624#about-this-trip Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter: https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/ Follow us on Instagram: @feisty_womens_performance Support our Partners: Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first order Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/0GAByR Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Orca: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

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Ever compare yourself to others on Strava? Feel yourself pushed to do more to hit a "streak" or online badge? This episode's for you.

Sport psychology professor Dr. Hayley Russell dives into the upsides and pitfalls of fitness‑tracking apps like Strava.

She explores how self‑tracking can boost motivation, community, and self‑awareness — but can also fuel comparison, pressure, and body‑image concerns.

What can you do to make the most of your online fitness tracking?

  • Balance function over appearance: Use data to celebrate what your body can do, not how it looks.
  • Set intentional goals: Focus on consistency and health‑supporting habits rather than perfection or daily “streaks.”
  • Curate your feed: Mute or unfollow accounts that trigger negative social comparison; follow supportive communities instead.
  • Take digital breaks when needed: Recognize signs of obsessive tracking and give yourself permission to step away without guilt.
  • Leverage community features: Join or create niche groups (e.g., postpartum athletes, larger‑body runners) to find relatable peers and reduce isolation.
  • Protect privacy: Adjust route‑sharing settings to hide start/end points and consider the safety implications of public activity logs.

If you found this conversation valuable, hit Subscribe so you never miss an episode, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media for extra resources and behind‑the‑scenes content.

Watch the episode on YouTube

FeistyFest Info: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/feistyfest-feisty-media-1943243299#about-this-trip

Courses and Coaching: https://feisty.learnworlds.com/

Women's Mechanic Camp in Tucson: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/women-s-bike-mechanic-camp-tucson-az-feisty-media-24985624#about-this-trip

Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:

https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feisty_womens_performance

Support our Partners:

Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first order

Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/0GAByR

Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/

Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Orca: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

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