notes

I'm not stoked for the Strava MCP connector.

Pinterest has proclaimed this is the year of sports. Not just sports fashion but a lifestyle.

Pinterest Summer 2026 Trend Report shows that sports are moving from a spectator moment to an entire aesthetic, vibe and identity, according to a new analysis of search habits from over 600 million monthly active users¹ worldwide on Pinterest.

Sports and fashion have gone hand in hand since the dawn of sports specific garments when John Redfern designed some of the first activewear. BUT! Pinterest believes this goes beyond simple clothing but permeating into how people will be partying, eating, wearing make-up, everything. It is the year of sport influence.

Will sportswear manufacturers be able to meet the trends this year? To do so, they’ll need to think beyond streetwear influence and think about the small everyday details of a person’s lives. I will say that this “trend” feels like a very 90s British style which I often associate with Sporty Spice, football jerseys, and track jackets.

This can be seen in running with Satisfy and other fashion forward brands. The clothing is just the tip of the iceberg though. While I don’t think running will have the impact that say basketball will have on sports lifestyle, it’s insular and cult-like dedication doesn’t make it any less impactful to the individuals within it.

Wait, is running the cool subculture of mainstream sportswear?

Man in a white cap, grey running vest, and the Nike Radical Airflow shirt running up a hill.

Radical Airflow is your microclimate

Nike’s ACG (All Conditions Gear) has officially released RADICAL AIRFLOW LONG SLEEVES this week, June 4, 2026. First announced last year on August 24, 2025, this garment was built for heat. Built for cooling the heat of a trail runner.

And it’s sold out. At least the first drop. This garment has been run through the cycle for tests and development. It marks ACG’s and, of course, Nike’s promise of highly functional, performance-driven products for the outdoor athlete.

Will I be picking this up? Not likely. I’m a heavy, hairy middle aged man. It does remind me of a shirt I bought at a flea market once as a teenager. Mesh with a collar. My nipples poked through. Don’t recommend.

Also, a collection dropped in China. A cap, bucket hat, short sleeve, and tank top. When will these come stateside? Who knows! Probably someone at Nike.

Strava MCP means AI in your data

Oh boy, STRAVA MCP (Model Context Protocol)! First, let’s start with what is an MCP? It is a standard way for AI to talk to external tools, databases, etc.

And now Strava has one. I saw this across my feed and everyone was stoked on it. I don’t know if it’s AI enthusiasts or the need to be first, but I saw a lot of hype for this.

I don’t feel great which may be influenced by my total rejection of AI overlords fucking up the planet for a few bucks in their pocket.

For the everyday Joe who doesn’t care about that, ask yourself, who has access to what data?

The language on Strava’s website sounds like this is for your data only (with a subscription) AND not all the data on the site. But is that the case? I’m happy for people who are building their own dashboards to track whatever it is they are tracking. But if you’re using OpenAI or Claude, does that data just get pulled into their models? I would suspect so. You’re feeding the beast!

Just, you know, buyer beware. Or maybe more accurately, AI slave beware! (I have to use it in my day job so my horse isn’t too high)

The Strava MCP Connector is a remote MCP server that gives subscribers conversational access to their own activity data through AI assistants. It also provides, for the first time, access to subscription features, like training analytics, outside the Strava app/site.

Screenshot from Strava knowledge base. It states: Starting June 1, 2026, Strava will begin rolling out an official MCP as part of the Strava subscription, built with security and quality guardrails. It's the supported path for athletes who want to interact with their Strava data through AI. The Strava MCP Connector is a remote MCP server that gives subscribers conversational access to their own activity data through AI assistants. It also provides, for the first time, access to subscription features, like training analytics, outside the Strava app/site. Athletes connect via OAuth and can ask natural-language questions about their activities, fitness trends, and training load — answered from live Strava data, not a static export.

Can’t stop talking about Rachel Entrekin

Our last story, RACHEL ENTREKIN has extended her partnership with the Canadian brand NORDA through 2029. This came after Rachel crossed the finish to be the first woman to win the Cocodona 250 AND break the overall course record by more than 2.5 hours. All while wearing the unreleased Norda 055. Congratulations, RACHEL!

This is exciting news as sponsorships and eyeballs on the sport of ultra running are just going to help grow the sport and create better performances.

I will say, I am worried about money not coming in from companies because they don’t know how to partner with women. Well, scared about the right amount of money coming in, especially for women.

However, the money should be spent. With the clear impact women are having as endurance athletes, this sport is primed to set itself apart from the more conventional ones. Combine that with the spending power of women everywhere, and there’s a lot of potential to being ultra marathons to the forefront.