Bayes went back and ran an extra couple of miles to make sure the numbers he would later input matched his normal pace.
GPS tracking, particularly the popular app Strava, has drastically changed how athletes approach cross-country, even at the high school level. As it has in many sports, technology has changed athletes’ training habits — and cross-country has perhaps experienced one of the larger shifts.
“We use Strava as much as the kids use Snapchat, Instagram, etc.” Holy Cross Coach Carlos Pal said in an email.
In a poll sent to coaches across the area, 20 out of 23 said their athletes have used Strava. The app has become massively popular across the country; in 2022, Strava announced it surpassed 100 million registered users.
The free option of the app allows runners to track their exercises and view stats such as time, distance, pace, and heart rate. What used to be logged by hand can now be synced through a Bluetooth system that gives runners instant feedback.
Various running apps have become popular, as competitors such as Nike Run Club, MapMyRun and Apple Fitness Plus are all centered around GPS tracking. But Strava has remained the leader in the space because of its extensive features.
Strava has a live run tracking feature, which allows community members to follow a peer’s run as it occurs. A paid subscription offers users even more advanced stats and features.
Many local teams use the tracking system to monitor progress in the offseason, befriend fellow runners and challenge teammates.
“We’ve formed connections with other runners in the DMV by commenting on people’s Stravas,” William Strong, a St. Albans runner, said.
The app can also help teams scout their competition. Last year, Gonzaga Coach John Ausema was alerted on the team bus that Pierre Attiogbe, one of St. Albans’ top runners, who was considered a lock to make national-level competitions, tripped and fell during a race, which led to him not qualifying. Ausema found out quicker than usual, because one of the Gonzaga runners followed Attiogbe, which gave him access to the times and live meet feature.
Athletes are also able to replicate the workouts of other runners.
While many endorse the app, plenty of coaches and athletes see detractions and have concerns about its use.
“It’s hard to make sure your kids are doing what you, as a coach, want them to do and not getting carried away by what Strava is showing them,” Georgetown Day Coach Anthony Belber said. “It’s like: ‘I want to keep up with the Joneses. I want to do what somebody else is doing.’ ”
“Sometimes it can be beneficial … but other times it can be, maybe a bad thing, mentally,” Strong said.
At an age where doctors say athletes are the most vulnerable to mental health issues, stacking up one’s performances against other athletes has caused friction among teams.
Some athletes have moved away from Strava because of the pressure they feel it puts on them. Bayes revealed that his best times come when he puts away his watch and paces himself according to how his body feels. The checking of his pace during a run can lead to the yo-yo effect, where he speeds up to maintain his pace, then has to slow down again because of the energy exerted.
“I had someone last year say, ‘Strava is ruining our team,’ ” St. Albans Coach Jim Ehrenhaft said.
Players mentioned how the need to record their data can lead to recovery runs turning into high-paced, intense sprints. Kroetch has seen his players run an intense three miles the day before a state meet, which is not something most in the running world would advise. It’s why some coaches, such as Desmond Dunham at St. John’s, have banned their athletes from using the app.
Despite coaches’ warnings, Strava is still deeply ingrained in runners’ routines across the country. At most practices, you’re likely to see some sort of GPS tracking watch on the wrists of runners. Whether that’s a good thing depends on who you ask.