About PaceMates
PaceMates is a community platform for runners in Ireland. We help you find people to run with, discover local clubs and parkruns, follow training plans, and stay connected in a way that fits real life — not just fixed club schedules.
What PaceMates is
PaceMates is a local running hub for Ireland that brings together runners, clubs, groups, parkruns, and events in one place. Instead of juggling apps and group chats, you get a single home for everything: who's running near you, what's on this week, and how it fits with your training.
We focus on real people and real communities — not global leaderboards or anonymous feeds. Every feature is built to answer a simple question: "Who can I run with, near me, at my pace, at a time that works?"
Why we're building it
Traditional clubs and big group runs are fantastic, but not everyone can bend their life around fixed training times. Shift work, childcare, commuting, and other sports often get in the way. That can leave runners stuck between going it alone or not going at all.
PaceMates is designed for those runners:
- We let you follow structured training plans at your own pace.
- We help you meet new running mates with similar abilities and goals.
- We make it easy to arrange runs at times that actually work for you, while still feeling part of a wider community.
At the same time, we give clubs, groups, and parkrun organisers modern tools to reach and support their communities without giving up control to a generic social network.
How PaceMates works
Discover what's near you
Browse runners, clubs, groups, runs, parkruns, and events, all sorted by real distance from your home area. Filters for pace, distance, time of day, and type of run help you quickly find things that fit.
Join runs and parkruns
See upcoming sessions, RSVP with a tap, and check "who's going" before you commit. For parkruns, we show community listings with clear links to official sites so you always have the latest information.
Follow training plans that fit your life
Choose a plan that matches your goals, track weekly progress, and swap sessions onto days that work. When you RSVP to a parkrun or run, you can swap it into that day's training so everything stays aligned.
Connect with runners and communities
Join formal clubs (including Athletics Ireland–affiliated clubs, brand clubs, and independent clubs) or more casual groups like workplace or park meetups. Use built‑in messaging to coordinate without drowning in endless chats.
Support from partners, not spam
Local partners can offer relevant discounts and promotions through a simple, transparent ad system. You see running‑related offers that are actually useful, not random display ads.
A supportive space for every runner
We want PaceMates to feel like a supportive group, even when you're not part of a big club:
- You can start small — a single run, one training plan, or just following a few runners in your area.
- You choose your visibility: appear in "Who's going" lists, keep some runs private, or keep things low‑key while you build confidence.
- You can move between solo runs, small groups, and organised clubs as your life and goals change.
Whether you're training for your first 5K, chasing a marathon PB, or just trying to get out the door twice a week, there should always be someone — and somewhere — that fits.
Safety, privacy, and respect
We take safety and privacy seriously:
- Location safety – We never store your exact home start or end points; we only keep privacy‑trimmed routes.
- Visibility controls – You choose if you appear in "Who's going" and how much of your activity is visible to others.
- Moderation tools – Reporting, blocking, and admin review are built in from day one.
- Clear independence – parkruns and Athletics Ireland clubs are shown as community listings with clear disclaimers and links; their official channels are always the authority for event details.
Who PaceMates is for
- Runners who can't always make big‑club training times but still want structure and company.
- Club members and parkrun regulars who want an easier way to see what's on and who's going.
- Organisers who need better tools to manage their community without building their own app.
- Local partners and race organisers who care about the Irish running scene and want a focused, transparent way to support it.
If any of that sounds like you, we'd love you to join and help shape what PaceMates becomes next.