The Follow a Route feature lets you attach a Strava route to a Runna workout and view it on your Apple Watch while you run. Whether you’re exploring new trails or navigating an unfamiliar course on race day, our Follow a Route feature helps you stay on track - literally!
Please note: Follow a Route is only supported when recording through your iPhone or iOS app. If you record using an Android device, Garmin, Suunto, or another smartwatch, the route will not appear.
What You'll Need (Requirements)
Before you start, double-check the following:
Your Apple Watch is running watchOS 11 or later
The Runna Apple Watch app is installed
Your Apple Watch is connected to the Runna app on your phone
Your Strava account is Premium and connected to Runna
You’ve found a public Strava route you want to follow (we only support public routes right now)
How To Follow a Route During a Workout on Apple Watch
1. Connect your Strava account (if needed)
To connect Runna with Strava:
Open the Runna app on your iPhone.
Go to the Plan Tab and tap Connected Apps.
Connect (or reconnect) Strava if needed.
2. Add a Route to your workout (on iPhone)
To add a public Strava route to your Runna workout:
In Runna phone app, choose the planned or instant workout you want to run
Tap Add Route
Select one of your public Strava routes from the list
Routes can be attached to all activity types, including Instant Workouts and Races.
3. Start the workout (on Apple Watch)
Open the Runna app on your Apple Watch
Select the workout (it should now include the route)
Tap Start Workout
4. View the map during your run
While you’re in the workout, turn the Digital Crown upwards to scroll and reveal the map.
Tips to Follow a Route on Apple Watch
Charge your watch before you go: GPS and maps use more battery than a standard run
Test before a big day: try Follow a Route on a short walk or run before a long run or race
How to Use the Map During Your Workout
Turning touch controls on/off
To interact with the map (to pan or zoom the map), you first need to enable touch gestures by tapping the pointing finger icon on screen.
Why touch control exists:
It helps prevent accidental map movement if you’re running in rain, sweaty, or brushing the screen.
It also avoids clashing with Runna’s horizontal swipes (e.g., switching to Controls or Workout Details screens).
To disable it, simply tap the icon again.
Touch interaction disabled:
Touch interaction enabled:
Can I use the map without adding a route?
Yes. Even without a route attached, you can still view a map during your run if
"Show Map" is enabled and your watch is on watchOS 11 or later.
To enable Show Map:
On your Apple Watch, open the Runna app
Swipe left and scroll to Maps & Navigation
Toggle Show Map to On
How to Follow a Route Offline
If you’re offline, you can download a map in Apple Maps and still follow a route with Runna on both Apple Watch and the Runna phone app.
To use follow a route and use maps offline:
Download an offline map in Apple Maps on your iPhone (for the area you’ll be running in)
In your iPhone’s Apple Maps settings, make sure the offline map syncs to your Apple Watch (if you plan to run with your Watch)
Enable Location Services for both Apple Maps and Runna
While you’re still connected to the internet, open Runna once to make sure the route downloads before you head out:
If you’re running with your Apple Watch: open the Runna Watch app while online
If you’re running with your phone: open the Runna phone app while online
Reminder: Make sure you’ve added your route to a planned or instant workout in Runna (tap Add Route) before you start.
Runna uses Apple Maps, so once the offline map (and your public Strava route) is downloaded, everything runs locally. This means that you'll still be able to see your route, your live location, and an “Off track” indicator if you deviate!
FAQs
Why can’t I see my Strava route in the Runna app?
Try these checks:
Route privacy: confirm the Strava route is Public
Reconnect Strava: disconnect and reconnect in Runna (via Connected Apps)
Update everything: ensure Runna is updated and your watch is on watchOS 11+
Scrolling the Digital Crown doesn’t show the map, what should I do?
Confirm you’re on watchOS 11 or later
Test your Digital Crown in another app to confirm it’s working on other apps
Close and reopen Runna on your watch (or restart the watch if needed)
My offline maps aren’t loading on the watch.
Ensure the offline map is fully downloaded on iPhone and synced to Apple Watch (via Apple Maps settings)
Check Location Services are enabled for both Apple Maps and Runna
Restart both your iPhone and Apple Watch to refresh syncing
The route won’t load / I’m getting an error.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection when the route first loads onto the watch
Confirm you’re signed into the correct Strava account
Remove and re-add the route to the workout in Runna
My watch is lagging or crashing during the run
Install any pending watchOS, iOS, and Runna app updates
Check available watch storage (low storage can cause performance issues)
If it continues, collect any logs available and contact Runna Support with details of:
watch model + watchOS version
Runna app version
when the crash happens (start, mid-run, opening map, etc.)
Need more support?
Reach out to out team via the in-app support tab and we'll do our best to help!