Learn More About Custom Research
Create a Free Account
Close modal icon

Want More Insights?

A Free Account unlocks access to hundreds of insights on the best content, ads, partnerships, and campaigns to reach your audience.

CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT →

Want custom insights to inform your strategy?

RightMetric offers on-demand marketing research. Whether it’s identifying content whitespace, creating your social media strategy, or planning paid media; get customized, impactful competitor & audience insights — quickly and affordably.

Get custom insights →

“Quickly gives us an idea of content that will resonate with our audiences and the most efficient channels to deliver it on”

Gabriel Authier

Global Brand Manager

“Continuously informs our social and advertising strategies”

Jaime Parson

Director of Marketing Insights

“Pivotal in improving our client's media strategies”

Gemma Philpott

Assc. Director of Strategy

“Mind blowing! Helped surface a lot of great insights”

Chris Mikulin

Co-founder

“Strategic insight that helps my team move fast without hesitation”

Martin Brueckner

Global Head Spots Communications

“Lots of actionable insights. Very Impactful.”

TJ Walker

Founder & CEO
Scroll For More

“Quickly gives us an idea of content that will resonate with our audiences and the most efficient channels to deliver it on”

Gabriel Authier

Global Brand Manager

“Continuously informs our social and advertising strategies”

Jaime Parson

Director of Marketing Insights

“Pivotal in improving our client's media strategies”

Gemma Philpott

Assc. Director of Strategy

“Mind blowing! Helped surface a lot of great insights”

Chris Mikulin

Co-founder

“Strategic insight that helps my team move fast without hesitation”

Martin Brueckner

Global Head Spots Communications

“Lots of actionable insights. Very Impactful.”

TJ Walker

Founder & CEO
Scroll For More

Creating an Owned Audience With Branded Running Apps

July 1, 2020
Sport & Outdoor

Key Takeaways

Focus Allocation — Run Tracking Apps: Almost every leading running apparel brand owns or is affiliated with a major run tracking app. Strava & Pacer Health are the top fitness tracking apps that remain independent.

Tactics — Loyalty & Brand Building With Apps: Over 1 million North Americans use branded run tracking apps every month on Android Alone. Leading run apparel brands are leveraging these apps to strengthen their relationship with a dedicated user base.

Tactics — Driving eCommerce With Apps: Adidas’ Runtastic blog and social accounts not only build brand, but feature strong CTAs to ‘Shop Adidas’ by visiting Adidas’ eCommerce site. Using run tracking apps and their associated sites, blogs, and social accounts to drive traffic to eCommerce is a tactic replicated by several other major running apparel brands as well.

Social Content — At-Home Bodyweight Workout Videos: The top performing Instagram posts for Runtastic are carousel videos with at-home bodyweight workout plans, typically delivered by an influencer/brand ambassador. This content type also tends to perform best on Instagram for other leading run apparel brands.

Several leading running apparel brands have acquired or developed popular run tracking apps.

Running Apps - Monthly Active Users
*MAU is Google Play Store Only (North America)

In total, the top run tracking apps serve over 1 million highly engaged North American runners on Android that use their app at least once per month. 

This figure does not include iOS.

Running Apps - Monthly Active Users
*MAU is Google Play Store Only (North America)

Under Armour’s Map My Run App has consistently remained the most popular branded tracking app amongst runners, only second to Strava.

Under Armour's Map My Run
*MAU is Google Play Store Only (North America)

Pacer and Strava are the two largest run tracking apps that are not owned by running apparel brands.

Pacer and Strava Running Apps

Adidas’ Runtastic app has its own blog and social accounts (@adidasruntastic) that are separate from the @adidasrunning account. Beyond brand building, the Runtastic blog also drives users to Adidas’ eCommerce site.

Adidas - Runtastic App

The top articles on the Runtastic blog in July focused on strength training and at-home workouts for beginners:

Runtastic - Top Articles
15 Best Exercises To Do At Home For Stronger Glutes and a Bigger Butt | Best 6 Bodyweight Bicep Exercises >> With a Pull Up Bar or Resistance Band | 28-Day Workout for Beginners (at home without equipment!) | Make Your Own Resistance Band Workout with These Exercises & Tips

The top performing Instagram posts for Runtastic are carousel videos with at-home bodyweight workout plans, typically delivered by an influencer/brand ambassador.

Runtastic - Top Performing Instagram Posts
Post #1 | Post #2 | Post #3 | Post #4


Make your digital strategy bulletproof.

Get insights like these, customized for your audience and competitors.

Learn about Research-AS-A-SERVICE →

Is the #1 on-demand audience & competitor research service for marketing strategists.

Learn about RESEARCH-ON-DEMAND →

Latest Research

See More →