Safety Guidelines

PaceMates is built to help runners connect, train, and join local communities in a way that feels safe, respectful, and in control. This page explains how we think about safety, what we do to protect you, and what we expect from everyone who uses the platform.

These guidelines sit alongside our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you ever feel unsafe or unsure, please stop and contact us or local authorities as appropriate.

1. General responsibilities

You are always responsible for your own safety when using PaceMates, meeting other runners, or attending runs, groups, clubs, parkruns, and events listed on the platform.

PaceMates does not organise or supervise most activities listed on the platform, and we cannot guarantee the behaviour, identity, or fitness of any runner or organiser.

Always use your own judgment, follow local laws and public health guidance, and seek medical advice before starting or changing a training programme.

2. Meeting people and joining runs

When meeting other runners or attending runs, especially for the first time:

• Meet in public, well‑lit places. Use busy parks, clubhouses, or public spaces for meeting points. Avoid isolated or private locations, especially when you are meeting someone new.
• Tell someone where you're going. Share your plan (time, location, route) with a friend or family member and, if possible, share your live location via your phone.
• Consider starting in a group. For your first time with new people, consider choosing a club session, parkrun, or larger group run instead of a 1‑to‑1 meetup.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off — a message, a route, a person, or a situation — you are never obliged to attend. Leave the situation if you can do so safely.
• Arrange your own transport. Especially at first, avoid accepting lifts from people you don't know well. Plan your own way to and from a run.
• Respect personal boundaries. Do not pressure anyone to run faster, further, or in locations they're not comfortable with. No one should feel obliged to share phone numbers, social accounts, or personal details.

3. Route and environmental safety

Running carries inherent risks. Reduce them by planning ahead:

• Choose suitable routes. Stick to pavements, designated paths, and well‑known routes where possible. Be especially careful near roads, water, or unlit trails.
• Wear visible clothing. Use bright or reflective gear in low light and consider a head torch or chest light when running in the dark.
• Follow traffic laws. Cross at safe points, obey signals, and avoid distractions like loud music near roads.
• Adapt to weather and conditions. Check forecasts, avoid extreme heat, ice, or storms where possible, and wear appropriate layers.
• Hydration and health. Take water and fuel when appropriate, and do not push through severe pain, dizziness, or other worrying symptoms. Seek medical help if needed.
• Know the limits of GPS. Map lines are approximations, not safety guarantees. Paths may change, be closed, or be unsuitable. Use your judgment on the ground.

4. Privacy and location safety

We design PaceMates to reduce location risks, but how you use it also matters.

What we do:

• We do not store raw GPS home start/end points; we only save privacy‑trimmed route data and aggregated segments for popular routes.
• You can control whether you appear in "Who's going" lists and who can see your runs and profile information.
• We display clear disclaimers for community listings (parkruns, clubs) and link out to official sites so you can confirm details independently.

What you should do:

• Review your privacy settings. Decide whether you want to appear in "Who's going", who can see your activities, and what profile information you share.
• Avoid sharing precise home/work locations. Consider starting your public runs a short distance away from your home or workplace, and avoid posting highly detailed photos that reveal exact addresses.
• Think before sharing contact details. Use in‑app messaging until you are comfortable; don't feel pressured to share phone numbers or social media.
• Be cautious with photos of others. Don't post identifiable images of other people without their consent, especially children or vulnerable individuals.

5. Respectful behaviour and community standards

We want PaceMates to feel welcoming and inclusive. The following is never allowed:

• Harassment, bullying, or threats.
• Discrimination or hate speech based on gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
• Unwanted sexual comments, advances, or behaviour.
• Sharing or requesting explicit content.
• Stalking or repeated unwanted contact after someone has asked you to stop.
• Impersonation, fake profiles, or misrepresenting your identity.
• Encouraging dangerous behaviour (e.g. extreme over‑training, ignoring medical advice, or reckless route choices).

We may warn, restrict, suspend, or ban accounts that violate these guidelines.

6. Organisers, clubs, groups, and parkruns

If you organise a club, group run, event, or community listing on PaceMates:

• Be clear about responsibility. Make it clear whether the run is officially organised by a club/parkrun/event, or an informal meet‑up. Do not present informal meet‑ups as officially supervised when they are not.
• Communicate risks honestly. Describe distance, pace, terrain, and any known hazards. Make sure people know if a run involves roads, dark sections, or technical trails.
• Set expectations up front. Clarify whether there is a back‑marker, whether people can drop down a pace, and what happens if someone needs to turn back.
• Look after new and slower runners. Make efforts to include and support people, avoid dropping them unexpectedly, and be open to feedback about pace and difficulty.
• Respect parkrun and Athletics Ireland independence. If you claim or manage a parkrun or Athletics Ireland club listing, you must comply with their rules, codes of conduct, and branding policies. Our listings are community‑maintained; official websites and communications remain the authoritative source of information.

7. Blocking, reporting, and moderation

If you feel uncomfortable or encounter problematic behaviour, you have options:

• Block another user to stop them from contacting you and to hide their content where possible.
• Report users, runs, groups, clubs, events, or messages that break these guidelines or make you feel unsafe.
• Mute threads if you need a quieter experience without blocking someone.

What we do:

• Review reports and take action where appropriate, which may include warnings, temporary suspensions, permanent bans, or, in serious cases, contacting relevant services or authorities where we are legally obliged to do so.
• Maintain internal audit logs for key moderation actions to ensure consistency and accountability.

We cannot guarantee we will see everything, so your reports are an important part of keeping the community safe.

8. Young people and vulnerable users

PaceMates is designed for adults. If you are a parent, guardian, or coach:

• Do not use PaceMates as a primary communication channel with children unless you have appropriate consent and safeguarding measures in place.
• Never arrange unsupervised 1‑to‑1 runs with minors you do not know in real life in a structured, approved context.
• Follow the safeguarding policies of any club, school, or governing body you operate under.

We may remove content or accounts where we believe there are safeguarding risks.

9. Health and medical disclaimer

PaceMates does not provide medical advice. Training plans, sessions, and community content are general guidance and should not replace professional advice from a doctor, physiotherapist, or qualified coach.

• Consult your doctor before starting a new training programme, especially if you have existing medical conditions.
• Stop running and seek medical attention if you experience chest pain, severe shortness of breath, dizziness, or any other worrying symptoms.
• Adjust or skip sessions when you are ill, injured, or excessively fatigued.

10. If something goes wrong

If you are in immediate danger or witness a crime, contact emergency services first.

Afterwards, or for non‑emergency issues:

• Use the in‑app Report tools on the relevant profile, message, or listing.
• Block the user if you no longer wish to hear from them.
• Contact us via the support email listed in the app or on our website, including as much detail as you feel comfortable sharing (links, screenshots, dates, and a description).

We will review the situation and take action where appropriate within the limits of what we can see and verify.

11. Changes to these guidelines

We may update these Safety Guidelines as PaceMates grows, new features are added, or laws and best practices change. When we make significant changes, we will update the page and, where appropriate, notify users in‑app or by email.

If you have suggestions on how we can make PaceMates safer or more inclusive, we'd love to hear them. Safety is a shared effort between the platform, organisers, and every runner who chooses to be part of this community.