So I read recently that some Strava users are paying other people to do their runs for them
Logistically this can either be achieved by someone taking out another user's physical device, such as their phone or smart watch, or just using their logon in Strava on their own device.
Obviously for this to be realistic, the mule would need to be in the same region as the person paying them.
The rates are not that good - $0.25 for a slow run or up to $1.25 for a faster pace, say at 4m/km which is pretty specialised.
Mules simply advertise on social media and then make private arrangements for people to pay them to fake their runs.
Double or treble muling is a thing too, and if you can do a treble mule at a fast pace that's in the region of $35 an hour which isn't too bad, but I don't think there's too much demand for this!
Why do this....?
I've heard a few arguments, mainly based around people doing busy and wanting the Kudos for the runs, it's about maintaining a social presence.
It's also possible that this is an easy way to show improvement - you get mules to run deliberately slower so that you can then beat that time spectacularly next run, although I can't see much point in making yourself seem initially worse in the first place!
Maybe one response to this reddit thread has it: affairs!
You go off on the naughty for a couple of hours while getting someone else to post a run for you, then you can't be doing the dirty as there is evidence of your running on Strava!
It's not for me!
I honestly detest this sort of thing for any reason. I quite like my running stats, but they are all mine, and that's the whole point of it!
If you're faking it you're really just cheating yourself!
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I can't see any reason for me to do that. There's so many people on there that you are bound to get some edge cases. The internet encourages that.