A “Strava Mule” Has Come Forward To Confess To His Secret Business And We Can’t Believe This Is Actually Real

The Rise of the Strava Mule: How Chasing Endorphins Turned Into a Surprising Side Hustle…

In 2024, chasing endorphins has skyrocketed to become one of the world’s most popular fitness trends. Whether you’re lacing up your thick-soled running shoes or donning a utility vest, the goal is simple: run for kilometers on end. But in today’s world, the act of running is no longer just about personal achievement—it’s about sharing every step of the journey on social media.

From posting kilometer splits on Instagram stories to logging every run on Strava, the activity isn’t complete without a social share. This desire for public recognition has led to the rise of a surprising new side hustle: the Strava Mule.

Strava, the popular activity tracking app, allows users to share their fitness achievements with friends who can then give “Kudos” as a form of celebration and support. But now, some runners are outsourcing their efforts. Enter the Strava Mule, a surrogate who runs on behalf of a paying customer, with the customer’s Strava account logged into the Mule’s phone. The customer gets the coveted results to share on social media, while the Mule earns money for their time and effort.

This unusual gig was brought to light by Runner’s World earlier this month, and it quickly went viral after TikTok creator Veljko shared his experience as a Strava Mule over the past year. His video has garnered over 500,000 views, sparking conversations about the lengths people will go for social clout on Strava.

While some viewers questioned the authenticity of Veljko’s confession, others expressed curiosity about how they could get involved in this unique side hustle. Comment sections across Instagram and TikTok lit up with people both intrigued and skeptical, with some even calling the trend “Black Mirror coded.”

“This is like Mike Ross but for running,” one commenter quipped, referencing the infamous character from Suits who faked his way through life. The comment received over 1,300 likes, highlighting just how captivated the internet is by this phenomenon.

As discussions continue, it’s unclear whether the Strava Mule trend will expand beyond South East Asia and into other regions like America. But one thing is certain: in the quest for social validation, trust no one—not even your Strava friends. After all, those impressive PBs might not even be theirs.

Would you consider hiring a Strava Mule, or do you suspect one of your mutuals already has? The world of fitness and social media just got a lot more interesting.