Good morning and happy Thursday. I’ve got something a little different for you today; an insight into the websites I’ve recently found useful as a runner. Back in 2017, I published a Top 10 Websites for Runners blog. A couple of the websites no longer exist or are no longer updated, and I’ve been spending quite a lot of time on the internet these last few weeks, so I thought I’d update my original post.

I haven’t included what I know are already well-known running websites such as Runners World, Women’s Running, and Strava. My updated list contains some websites I’m sure most runners will have already heard of and a few not quite so well-known websites. The websites are listed in a completely random order, I tried to think of a slightly more logical way of listing the websites but failed.

So, here is my updated top 10 websites for runners:

1. Athletes for Yoga

I’m going to start with a website I should most definitely visit more frequently; Athletes for Yoga. Athletes for Yoga – previously Jasyoga – is home to the only athlete-led, on-demand yoga video platform and app, coach training, and global community of athletes using yoga to achieve their goals. The team behind Athletes for Yoga aim to help users use yoga, for real. According to the website that means putting yoga into the context of each user’s sport and goals with functional strength, strategic injury prevention, and optimised recovery to make each user a more balanced, resilient, and powerful athlete.

Jasyoga Video, the only yoga for athlete’s resource of its kind was launched in 2015. The platform and app feature specific use videos including recovery, cross-training, balance, running, cycling, and more; with each collection including even more niche topics such as marathon training.

Once I’ve rediscovered my running mojo, I’m going to be restarting my monthly subscription to Athletes for Yoga.

2. DC Rainmaker 

DC Rainmaker is a website by Ray Maker that contains a wealth of information including product reviews, buyers’ guides, how-to guides and tips, and race reports. Ray started blogging in 2007 and in 2015 left his day-job and became what he described as a ‘professional blogger, or perhaps professional writer, maybe even a professional athlete.’ I think he manages to do an impressive job of combining all three roles.

Whenever I’m thinking about purchasing a new piece of running-related technology, I’ll always check out DC Rainmaker. The product reviews Ray writes are incredibly detailed, easy to follow, and, most importantly, unbiased. This in-depth review of the Fitbit Charge 4 convinced me to part with almost £150 of my hard-earned cash on Monday. I said his reviews were good.

3. ReRun Clothing 

**Update March 2023 – The ReRun Clothing website has now closed down so I’ve removed the links to the site**

I felt like a real hypocrite when I checked out the ReRun Clothing website immediately after buying a Fitbit and spotted this message:

Feel free to browse, but before you buy ask yourself “do I really need it?”

I told myself my Fitbit purchase was allowed as it’s my birthday in May and my Garmin 235 is on its last legs. I also wanted something to track my sleep. Excuses, excuses…

ReRun Clothing is described as a Community Interest Company aimed at prolonging the life of running clothes and equipment. The company was founded by and is run by Dan Lawson an ultra-runner and his wife and family. According to ReRun Clothing, extending the life of clothes by just nine months of active use would reduce carbon, water, and waste footprints by around 20-30% each. I remember how busy the ReRun Clothing drop off point at the National Running Show was. If like me, you dropped off your unwanted running gear in Birmingham, they may well be on sale right now.

4. Running 101 

Founder of Running 101 Mathew created the website as a place to stay connected with running. An injury left Matthew feeling unsettled, unsatisfied, and a little lost being unable to run, Running101 was born. Since then, Running101 has become a space for runners of all abilities to learn something new, be a part of the community, and most importantly has allowed Matthew to give something back to this sport he loves.

On the Running 101 blog, you’ll find running tips, training advice, an extensive list of gear reviews, and a whole lot more. Matthew aims to post two to three times each week and there are currently over ninety different articles available to read.

Recent articles include:

• Pre-workout for runners: should you take it?
• When do you start to enjoy running?
• The importance of a proper running warmup

If you haven’t already checked out the Running 101 website please do, I think it’s a useful running resource.

5. Marathon Investigation 

I’m sure that the Marathon Investigation blog featured as a ‘rave’ in one of my Rants and raves posts a few years ago. It remains one of my favourite websites. The Marathon Investigation website and blog were started by Derek Murphy in 2015. I did a spot of research, Derek apparently became interested in investigating suspected marathon cheats after reading posts about Mike Rossi on LetsRun.com.

Marathon Investigation investigates and exposes suspected cheats at marathon, triathlon, and ultra-distance running events. Although the website has apparently attracted some criticism within the running community, I personally think what Derek does is great and support the site whenever I can.

Recent articles include:

• Keeping our Distance – Virtual Races can Fill a Void
• Marathon Investigation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Bib Muling, and Course Cutting: Boston Entrant Has Two Bogus Qualifying Times

COVID-19 means that races are on hold for the moment and Derek has quite rightly pointed out that race cheating is not on anyone’s mind right now. Until things get back to normal and races can resume, Derek is going to work on stories that shine a spotlight on those that are a positive force in the running community.

6. Racecheck 

Racecheck was founded by two siblings; Alex and Katerina who are passionate about triathlon. According to the Racecheck website, they had one mission in mind; to create a tribe of endurance athletes to share their experiences and help one another discover extraordinary events around the world. The Racecheck website and app – I didn’t actually realise there’s an app, sorry! – are described as bringing the global endurance community together, offering event search, registration, sharing of experiences, and the connection of participants; all in one welcoming community.

I can’t talk about Racecheck without mentioning the Visorclub. Visorclub is a club within the Racecheck community; members earn their places by posting race reviews and in doing so entering into a monthly draw. New members are awarded a distinctive Racecheck visor, and the chance to pick up lots of race perks and VIP treatments. I’m not at all biased but Team White is the best.

7. VeloViewer

I can’t remember who introduced me to VeloViewer, but it’s now one of my favourite Strava data crunching and infographic producing websites. VeloViewer was built by and is maintained by Ben Lowe. VeloViewer connects to Strava and pulls across a user’s activities, segments, and routes to produce dashboards, charts, 3D graphics, filterable lists, leader boards, motivational goals along with up-to-date leader board positions on all of the segments covered.

My favourite element – I’m not sure that’s the technical term! – of the VeloViewer website is the yearly VeloViewer infographic. This allows athletes to view their rides, runs, and swims and to share their achievements. All you need to do to produce your own yearly infographic is connect VeloViewer to your Strava account. My 2019 infographic gave me the kick up the arse I so desperately needed as it highlighted just how consistently inconsistent my training was last year. And I wonder why I don’t seem to be getting any fitter!

8. ilovetorun.org 

**Update March 2025 – The ilovetorun.org website has been offline for a few weeks, so I’ve removed the links to the site**

I have no idea why ilovetorun didn’t feature in my original top 10 websites for runners post; it’s been one of my favourite running websites for ages.

ilovetorun is all about running, for a good cause. According to ilovetorun they respect fit runners and overweight runners. They respect fast runners and slow runners. They respect people who run five miles and people who run 25 miles. They respect people who run in groups and solo runners. They respect walkers, joggers, and sprinters. They respect female runners and male runners, young runners, and old runners. They respect everyone.

The people behind ilovetorun believe in the power of humour and that it’s okay to poke a little fun at the sport we all love. I’ve spent many happy hours laughing at e-bibs produced by other runners and have even attempted to produce my own. The most recent e-bibs are definitely what I’d describe as topical.

[Source]

9. Racertrips 

**Update September 2020 – The Racertips website has been unavailable for several weeks so I’ve removed the links to the site**

The Racertrips website describes itself as a community for travelling marathoners, half marathoners, and runners of all distances. Racertrips is all about finding and helping other runners find the best places to stay, prime places to eat, and top things to do when travelling to destination races.

The website contains marathon travel guides for Chicago, San Francisco, New York City, Washington DC, and Boston, with a travel guide for London coming soon. When I discovered I’d got a place in the Chicago Marathon, I looked at the Chicago travel guide and checked out the hotel and restaurant listings.

Recent articles have included:

• Travel accessories you shouldn’t leave home without
• Why you need to see Chicago by kayak

While on the subject of Chicago, although I’m now planning on deferring my entry to 2021, I’ll be sure to check out Racertrips and the Marathon FAQs.

10. FixMyRun 

And last but not least, is a website called FixMyRun. I’d describe myself as a somewhat injury-prone runner so the headline – Suffering from pain when you move? – grabbed my attention. At times my dodgy right knee has been painful when I’m sat down.

According to the website, the experts at FixMyRun will work with individuals to establish the cause of their pain and deliver a rehabilitation programme that suits the individual. Their unique methodology will help to improve your movement allowing you to exist pain and injury-free.

The founders of FixMyRun Alex and Joe offer a “learn to run in six weeks” programme. The six weeks will help to correct running technique and provide muscular reprogramming for correction of movement patterns that lead to injury. Whatever your starting point, Alex and Joe work with you to achieve your goals and give you the best platform for going forwards. The programme is simple and fun and will help you get mobile and fitter, improve your speed, and prevent injury. This definitely sounds like something that would be beneficial.

And finally, this Running Coach Advice from FixMyRun amid the Pandemic blog contains some useful information. It definitely left me with a few things to think about.

I hope that some of the websites and running-related resources I’ve summarised will be useful to some of you. I also hope that my slightly longer than originally planned post hasn’t bored you all to tears. I’m off to play with my Fitbit Charge 4, and no, I don’t think I’ll be reviewing it.

What are your favourite running websites? Did I miss out any really useful running websites?

Which website do you use for unbiased product reviews? I love and trust DC Rainmaker and was a little surprised the site didn’t feature on the first page of results when I searched for reviews of the Fitbit Charge 4.

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