Newsroom
Why everyone is searching for run club apps
Searches for run club apps are climbing, so here is what a tracking app does, what it cannot do, and what you actually need to run with us.
If you are comparing tools before you start running, here is the straight answer: a run club app tracks your distance and pace, but it is not a club. A real run club is people, a start time and a place to meet, and at Hills Run Club that takes your phone and a free HRC+ registration.
Why so many people are searching for a run club app
More people are curious about running with others, and many start by looking for an app. Google search data shows Australian searches for the Nike Run Club app hit 1,900 in August, up 1,018% on the same month a year earlier.
The name says “club”, so it is easy to assume an app and a club are the same thing. They are not. One lives on your phone. The other is a group of real people who meet in the same place and cheer each other on.
What a tracking app does well
Tracking apps are useful, and plenty of our members use one. They are good at the things a phone can measure.
- Recording how far you ran and how long it took.
- Showing your pace so you can see progress over weeks.
- Keeping a history of your runs in one place.
- Offering training plans if you want a goal to work towards.
If you are choosing one, our guide to the best running apps for beginners is a good place to start.
What an app cannot replace
An app can tell you your pace. It cannot tell you someone is waiting for you at the start line.
- People. An app does not say hello, wait for you at the turnaround or share a coffee afterwards.
- A reason to show up. Knowing others will be there is often what gets you out of bed.
- A set time and place. A club run happens at a fixed start, so you do not have to plan it alone.
- Belonging. No notification replaces being part of a group that knows your name.
Tracking app or club run: a quick comparison
| Question | Tracking app | Hills Run Club run |
|---|---|---|
| Records your distance and pace | Yes | Not its job, but you can use your own app alongside it |
| Gives you people to run with | No | Yes |
| Has a set time and meeting place | No | Yes |
| Coffee and a chat afterwards | No | Yes, on the Thursday Morning Run |
| What you need | A phone and the app | A phone and a free HRC+ account |
What you need to run with Hills Run Club
Running with the club is free. You make a free HRC+ account and register for each run there. Every run is registered in HRC+, so we know you are coming and can look after you.
Your phone is how you register, find the details and, if you like, track your run with any app you already use. You do not need a watch, a subscription or special kit to take part.
Where and when the club runs
- Thursday Morning Run: every Thursday, meet 5:45am for a 6:00am start at Glenhaven Oval, 78 Glenhaven Road, Glenhaven. Choose 2.5 km or 5 km (one or two 2.5 km laps), with coffee and a sweet treat afterwards.
- Tuesday Night Run: every second Tuesday, meet 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start at Castle Hill Showground, Castle Hill, under the lights. Choose 3 km or 6 km (one or two 3 km laps).
One lap is a full run, and walkers are welcome. See the next dates on the runs page.
How to get started this week
- Make your free HRC+ account.
- Pick a run that suits your week and register for it in HRC+.
- Charge your phone and bring water.
- Start your tracking app if you like, then enjoy the run.
Nervous about a first run? Read how to join a running club and what your first run is like.
It usually means a phone app that tracks your runs, such as the Nike Run Club app. It records your distance and pace, but it does not replace a group of people who meet to run together.
No. You need your phone and a free HRC+ account to register for each run. A tracking app is optional.
No. Running with the club is free, and so is HRC+.
Yes. Many runners track their own run on their phone while they run with the group.
Sign in to your free HRC+ account and register for the run you want. Every run is registered there.
Yes, walkers are welcome. Pick the shorter or longer option and go at your own pace.
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