Strands Blog

Many people asked us for some Strands.com badges and I’m happy to announce that they are finally here.

Below you’ll find a selection of different badges, which you can easily place on your blogs, websites, or other online profiles to show that you’re on Strands.

Just use the source code to easily integrate them. The only thing you need to do is to replace YOUR_USERNAME with your own username on Strands, then the badges will directly link to your Strands.com profile.

In case of any questions or problems, please feel free to email us at feedback@strands.com, send a Strands message to @Strands, or just send a tweet to @Strands.

Select a badge	And just copy and paste the code Don’t forget to change YOUR_USERNAME to your real Strands.com username!
	<a href="http://www.strands.com/YOUR_USERNAME" target="_blank" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training"><img src="http://www.strands.com/images/badges/us_strands_badge_01.png" alt="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" border="0" /></a>
	<a href="http://www.strands.com/YOUR_USERNAME" target="_blank" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training"><img src="http://www.strands.com/images/badges/us_strands_badge_02.png" alt="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" border="0" /></a>
	<a href="http://www.strands.com/YOUR_USERNAME" target="_blank" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training"><img src="http://www.strands.com/images/badges/us_strands_badge_03.png" alt="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" border="0" /></a>
	<a href="http://www.strands.com/YOUR_USERNAME" target="_blank" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training"><img src="http://www.strands.com/images/badges/us_strands_badge_04.png" alt="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" title="I am on Strands.com – Follow my training" border="0" /></a>

Strands.com will host the inaugural edition of the Strands 5k in Corvallis on October 24th. The race will feature a community 5k, a children’s race, post-race party and a prize purse totaling $13,000. Supporting sponsors of the race include Emery & Sons Construction, Eufora, and Marrakesh Salon.

All race proceeds benefit Childhelp, an organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. Childhelp’s mission is to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children through advocacy, prevention, treatment, and community outreach. Find more ways to get involved or information on how to donate directly through the Childhelp.org website.

Prize money is only available to U.S. Citizens and will be distributed as follows for the men’s and women’s open field:

• 1st place–$3,000
• 2nd place–$1,500
• 3rd place–$750
• 4th place–$600
• 5th place–$400
• 6th place–$250

The 5k race will begin at 9:00 a.m. PST on October 24. The children’s race will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by an awards ceremony and post-race party outside Strands headquarters at Central Park in Corvallis.

Online registration is $15.00 and race day registration is $20.00. For more information and a race registration link, visit the race website at Strands5k.com, call the race hotline at (541) 740-5306, or email us at strands5k@strands.com.

Version 2.6 is the first ever full-featured training log for iPhone! It allows runners, cyclists, and active people to add to their training log from categories like exercise, nutrition, injuries, therapy, gear, and more.  And, using the built-in GPS, athletes can use their iPhone 3G or 3GS to map routes and record workouts… but that’s not all!

In the latest version we have added some extra goodies that many people have been asking for…

Route Replay lets users pause their current workout to play a satellite video reply of their progress, or wait until they are finished and view video of their final route.  Along with the video replay, Strands for iPhone will simultaneously display the overall distance and current progress along the route.

iPod and playlist integration so athletes can listen to tunes while working out!  Before or during a workout, tap the playlist button from Strands Chrono to access iPod controls and add tracks to a playlist.  Add tracks by artist, song or album, or add a playlist you’ve created with iTunes on your computer.

Voice Feedback by distance and/or time so that users of the app can hear how fast and how far they have gone without even looking at the iPhone.

Automatic calorie calculation for both calories burned during each workout, and for calories consumed when adding nutritional information to the training log.

Sharing to Facebook & Twitter allows users to optionally share to Facebook and Twitter for their friends on those networks to see.

In the latest version we also introduces 2 modes: Strands Chrono, and Strands Social.  Within Strands Chrono an athlete can add to their training log, view their workout history, and find short-term weather forecasts for their area.  Strands Social allows users of the app to follow how their friends are training, leave comments, and interact with people and groups among other community-based features.

If you haven’t already, download Strands for iPhone from the App Store today and tell us what you think.  We’re always listening and would love to hear about your favorite features and suggestions!

Today we are excited to announce our partnership with La Vuelta a España, the Tour of Spain, to provide the most innovative coverage ever seen by the cycling event.  Along with the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, La Vuelta is one of the three prestigious Grand Tours of Europe.  Stretching 2,046 miles, the 21 day stage race will conclude in the capital city of Madrid on September 20th.

At Strands.com/LaVuelta, users can follow each stage’s GPS route LIVE, receive minute-by-minute situation updates, and listen to an exclusive broadcast of Radio Vuelta, the internal radio of the competition.  Additionally, all cyclists competing in the tour have personal profiles on Strands, where fans can chat and comment on each stage’s performance.

Through our partnership with La Vuelta, we will also be hosting several contests on Strands.com.  A total of 21 Golden Jerseys signed by the final winner of La Vuelta, and one official bicycle of Team Euskaltel will be given away!

For full contest details and information about the event visit Strands.com/LaVuelta.

Curious how fast you can run a mile?  How about a half-marathon or 100k?  With the Race Prediction Widget on Strands.com it is now possible!

Based on your current training and previous performances, we are now able to accurately predict your next race performance.  The more detailed workouts you add to your training log, the more accurate the predictions will be.  In addition to current training and previous performance, determining factors include weight, age, gender, location, and shoes.

To show off your your race predictions to your followers, simply visit your profile on Strands and personalize your sidebar to display the widget.

Find your next race in the Events section of Strands and click ‘registered’ to show what you are training for.  As the event approaches, your trainings will be logged toward that event, and you can challenge yourself to beat the prediction.

Last week we announced our partnership with the Spanish National Track & Field Federation for the 2009 Track & Field Championships, and this week we are pleased to announce the winners of awards presented by Strands.

Awards were given to the Best Overall Male and Female Athletes of the Championships, and were received by Reyes Estévez and Mayte Martínez respectively.

Estévez is a 1,500M runner who won the 1998 European Championships in Budapest, bronze medals at the 1997 and 1999 World Championships, and silver medals at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships and 2002 European Championships.  Martínez is an achieved 800M runner, winning silver medals in the 2002 and 2005 European Indoor and Outdoor Championships; and bronze medals in the 2003 and 2007 World Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Also, awards for the Top Male and Female Athletes Participating in the Championships with the most followers on Strands were received by Carles Castillejo and Marta Esteban.   Castillejo and Esteban both competed in the 5,000M this weekend, finishing 3rd and 13th respectively.

Awards were presented by World and European Marathon Champions Abel Antón and Martin Fiz, along with European and Olympic 1,500M Champion Fermín Cacho.

Today we are excited to announce our partnership with the Spanish National Track & Field Federation for the celebration of the 2009 Track & Field Championships, which will be held during the 1st and 2nd of August in the Olympic Stadium of Barcelona.

Through the partnership Strands will be present during the event with banners, booths for both athletes and attendees, and spots on both the JumboTron and the National DTT Sports TV Network: Teledeporte. 

Additionally, Strands will be hosting the Official Post-Championship Party, which will include awards for the Best Athlete of the Championships and the Most Popular Athlete on Strands.com; as well as the announcement and introduction of Team Strands Spain – a team of post-collegiate, professional middle and distance runners.

To follow all the events throughout the Track & Field Championships, log into your Strands account and check out the event profile at Strands.com/Barcelona09 to see pictures, videos, and meet the athletes.