Getting fitter, stronger and faster isn’t necessarily about logging more hours on the road, in the pool or wherever you like to move – it’s about having the right trackers and tools to support real progress.

We love how Strava continues to evolve its features to support everyone’s fitness journey, whether you’re just starting out or chasing a new personal best. Here are three app tools we’ve tried, tested and recommend for enhancing your workouts with smart analysis.

You may have had a few recent runs and rides that felt solid – but how good were they, really? Athlete Intelligence looks at your last 30 days of activity and creates easy-to-digest, personalised summaries. You’ll get insights into heart rate, pace and elevation, all useful for spotting patterns, progress and areas to work on. What we like most is that this AI doesn’t compare you to others, instead putting your personal progress front and centre.

For anyone who likes to race, pace matters – and we love how Pace Zone Analysis gives real meaning to those numbers. Add your latest race result to your profile and Strava builds custom pace zones for you. Next time you sync a workout, you’ll see exactly how much time you spent in each zone – whether it’s intervals or a steady long run. Use Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) to factor in elevation and terrain, helping you to understand if you’re hitting the right intensity across fast bursts and recovery stretches.

Love consistency? Maybe it’s the same 5K loop every week, the same ride after work – but sometimes it’s good to bring a little competition into the mix! Strava’s Matched Activities lets you compare your latest effort with previous ones, showing pace trends, personal bests and new records. It’s a great motivator to up your pace and isn’t just for runs – it works for cycling, walking and handbike sessions. App Store tip: Add private notes to your workouts so you remember what made that session feel harder (perhaps the eye-watering pollen count or breaking in new shoes!).