Of all the weird things to come out of COVID-19, I never expected to become a runner.
Too muchpandemic sourdoughhad me feeling a little sluggish.
So I did Couch to 5K, then eventually sucked it up and joined a neighborhood running group.
Not to be cliche, but that was a game-changer for me.
I’ve grown to love my running family.
I also signed up for the popular fitness app Strava.
Then there’s the social aspect of the app.
At first glance, it looks a lot like Facebook.
Strava users have profile pages and their run maps and other workouts are posted to a feed.
But experts say those similarities to Facebook should give runners pause before handing over their personal information.
Keep reading for CNET’s guide to running safely, online and on the streets.
Who’s following you?
Runners, and not just women in big cities, continue to be attacked, assaulted and worse.
The thought of my favorite apps and other tech making things easier for the bad guys is alarming.
“(Like Facebook) they don’t proactively protect, they react when people are mad enough.”
Strava’s security and privacy problems have been well documented for years.
They could even use this feature to identify complete strangers.
Apple users can also use an iOS feature that lets themhide their email address.
He does acknowledge that smartwatches can be helpful for beginners looking to ensure they don’t overdo it.
An early riser, Fay says he wakes up with a “noisy mind.”
Running helps him plan his day and figure out exactly what he needs to get done.
There’s no music or audio books, he says.
It’s almost like a form of meditation.
“That’s why I don’t have any technology,” Fay says.
“I’m not an elitist or a purist.
My personal enjoyment of running is about going out running.”
