Strava Price Hikes Unleash Fury

Good morning everyone!

This past weekend I was able to go for a beauty outdoor ride. It was unseasonably warm here in Boulder, and I was reminded why I love riding the bike! I'll do my best to remember that ride when the snow hits tomorrow, and I'm back on the trainer for the next two weeks 😂

In this edition we've got,

• A breakdown of Strava's disastrous price increases 💥

• Injured? We've got tips to help you come back stronger 🦾

• What the heck is Beta-alanine? Find out the supplements you actually need ⚡

• Plus: Netflix's very own triathlete 📽️

Thank you for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, Canadian Olympic triathlete, current long course racer, and now, a newsletter writer.

Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking or running? Fire this off to them. Did someone forward this to you? Join for free.

ONE BIG THING 

Protests and Cancellations Erupt as Strava Hikes Prices

What is it: After ten years of consistent pricing, popular fitness tracking/workout/flexing app, Strava, recently started rolling out its own inflation-induced price increase. The Verge has reported that after early confusion, it was eventually revealed users will be charged different prices based on region, and whether they are subscribed monthly or yearly.

• The results have been what can best be described as a total disaster.

Why it matters: Like a suspected ebiker stealing a KOM, the inconsistency of the price changes had the Strava community in an uproar. Many denounced the secretive way in which the changes were introduced. 

• Many users simply had no prior notice, email or otherwise, that their price was being changed.

When users on the r/Strava Reddit forum became aware of the changes, they compared their various price discrepancies and poor communication. As a result, a significant movement of users have begun posting their canceled subscriptions in protest. 

Tempo's take: In our current moment of high inflation, price increases just seem to be the cost of doing business. But it's clear the expensive, inconsistent, and sneaky nature of Strava's price hike has hit a nerve with its users. 

Since 1985, through good, bad, and ugly economic conditions, the price of a Costco Hotdog has been $1.50. And given Strava had not increased their price since 2010, it appeared as though they were following the "hotdog" model. But given these recent changes, that is clearly not the case. 

• As an aside, this will certainly live on as a business school case study of how not to roll out a price increase 💀

NEWS

🍝 Italy, per favore: World Triathlon just dropped the latest editions to its World Championship Series Calendar, with Cagliari, Italy, on May 27th-28th, and Montreal, Canada on June 24th-25th. The series that will crown the 2023 World Champions now features seven events including the Grand Final in Pontevedra, Spain. [World Triathlon]

🌟 Small race, big hitter: Registration is still open for the Greens Beach Triathlon this coming weekend. Located just north of Launceston, Australia, the race weekend includes a sprint distance triathlon, ocean swim, and youth aquathlon. And rumor has it Olympian Jake Birtwhistle will be hitting the start line. Good luck! 

🐆 Racing the Zimbabwe: This weekend the Mt. Pleasant pool in Harare will play host to youth and junior selection races. The athletes will be vying for places in next month's South African youth/junior Championships. Later this spring, the athletes will be looking forward to the premier event on the Zimbabwe race calendar, the Troutbeck African Cup. [newsday.co.za]

🤝 Foundation folks: The USA Triathlon Foundation has announced the 90 ambassadors that will represent the foundation in 2023. The ambassadors include some of the top age group athletes in the nation and bring a diverse set of experiences and backgrounds. The Triathlon Foundation Ambassador Team helps support and promote the virtues of triathlon, and to open pathways for all to swim, bike, and run. [Team USA]

TRAINING THOUGHT

The Grief of an Injury, and How to Bounce Back 

Triathletes and injuries are...a little too friendly. Unfortunately, in the course of pursuing a big win, personal best, or even an easy run on the trail, injuries are always a possibility. 

And when the ability to enjoy a chosen pursuit is taken away, emotions like anger and sadness often occur, which can leave athletes with a sense of grief. 

This New York Times article describes the grief athletes experience while injured, and gives a few tips on how to overcome an emotionally difficult recovery period. Here are a few key takeaways 👇

✔️ Track your recovery: 

• Like following a training plan, following a list of recovery tasks will provide needed structure.

• A recovery list can contain actions that will stop (training), start (external focus, like reading more), and continue (physio exercises).

• By accomplishing these tasks, athletes have a better internal locus of control, and will be more confident and empowered.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Seek community:

• Having a community of fellow athletes that can relate to the struggle of injury can help navigate the grief.

• Being able to speak candidly with others helps to understand, process, and eventually help cope with the onslaught of emotions.

🤗 Be flexible:

• While recovering from injury, being open to change can create new, and positive experiences. 

• For example, oft-injured Olympic Steeplechaser Colleen Quigley used swimming and biking in her rehab. Now she wants to compete at the Olympics in Triathlon!

Do you have a story about being injured? What did you do to get through it? Reply and we we may include it in the newsletter.

FAVOURITES

😯 PTO motivation: The PTO just dropped an incredible documentary from the huge 2022 Triathlon season. With compelling race recaps, exclusive interviews, and loads of BTS footage this will definitely light a fire for the upcoming season. [PTO - YouTube]

📽️ Scottish success: Lesley Paterson, a triathlete and former World Cross Triathlon Champion has been enjoying recent success with her screenplay adaptation of a World War I novel, "All Quiet on the Western Front." The Netflix-produced German-language film is already receiving accolades including 15 BAFTA nominations, and an award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Chapeau Lesley! [BBC]

💊 Making sense of supplements: Is it worth supplementing with Creatine? Beta-alanine? Scooby snacks? It's hard to understand which supplements are actually worth your time and money. Thankfully, Talkin' SPORT SCIENCE has put together a great thread on Twitter that includes evidence-based videos detailing the nitty gritty of popular endurance sports supplements.  [Talkin' SPORT SCIENCE]

EXCLUSIVE TEMPO INTERVIEWS

• Scott Tindal on eating properly for Ironman training.

• Always stay present: An interview with triathlete Martín Ulloa.

• Why triathlete Tom Bishop said, "F&%k it!"

COMMUNITY QUESTION

Do you have a burning question about triathlon or Ironman? Want to share a racing tip? Let us know and it could be featured in the newsletter. 

Are you racing this weekend? Or any epic training sessions? We'd love to hear about them! Send us your photos or a race recap, and we will feature them in next Tuesday's edition!

LATEST EDITIONS

• Ironman Alaska goes bust, and what causes cramping? it might surprise you.

• Winning at Pucon, and winning at Ironman nutrition.

• Ironman World Championships; split. And can you have the perfect nap?