The running app inspired by Sir Mo Farah and a desire to 'break down barriers'
The URUNN app, created by Sir Mo and Manchester Marathon winner Adam Clarke, was launched in London's Cheapside earlier this week
It’s not often you get to run with a four time Olympic champion, a former Manchester Marathon winner, and the second fastest British female marathon runner in history.
But, incredibly, that’s what Michelle and I did on Thursday night.
The runners in question were none other than Sir Mo Farah, Adam Clarke and Charlotte Purdue - not a bad triumvirate to share 5k on the streets of London with.
The occasion was the launch of URUNN, a new app which offers ultra-personalised running plans. It is the brainchild of co-founders, Sir Mo and Clarke, who say the app will help runners “to break away from cookie-cutter training”.
Purdue, along with Hyrox World Championship qualifier Rory Knight, is one of the coaches who will offer expert advice to users.
The app also features built-in artificial intelligence in the form of ‘Stride AI,’ which will work to support runners and answer their training questions.
In a LinkedIn post last month, Clarke summed up the idea behind the app.
“We believe running is more than just a sport - it’s a global movement,” he said. “It breaks down barriers. It unites people across backgrounds and borders.”
He added: “Above all, it empowers each of us to become the best version of ourselves.
“We’re proud to be building something that supports this mission - making world-class coaching, community, and consistency accessible to every runner, everywhere.”
Thursday’s run was attended by runners from across the country, attracted by news of the app and the chance to run with an Olympic idol.
Sir Mo, for anyone who has been hiding under a stone for the past 15 years, was the star of the London Olympics in 2012 where he won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.
Incredibly, he repeated the feat four years later at Rio 2016, the highlights of a career that also saw him capture six world titles and go on to become the fastest British marathoner in history with a time of two hours, five minutes and 11 seconds.
Clarke was one of his training partners, helping to push him to faster times. He won the Manchester Marathon in 2024 in two hours and 16 minutes, and has a 5k PB of 13:39.
Purdue, meanwhile, has a marathon PB of two hours 22 minutes, set at the Berlin Marathon last year. That time is the third fastest ever recorded by a British runner, behind only Paula Radcliffe’s dual efforts in 2002 and 2003, making her the second fastest Brit in marathon history.
It’s certainly not your average coaching line-up, and Clarke has promised there will be more elite coaches joining the app as it continues to develop.
There have been plenty of running apps launched on the market, with none yet reaching ‘if it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen’ levels.
URUNN promises that with its app your growth as a runner is “limitless” - what remains to be seen is whether theirs is but they certainly started with a bang.
Sir Mo Farah: ‘What inspired me to get back up and win in Rio’
After the 5k run, Thursday’s night’s launch continued with a Q&A session. One question to Sir Mo Farah was about his thoughts during the 2016 Olympics at Rio when he fell during the men's 10,000m final.
Incredibly, Sir Mo got to his feet and out-sprinted Kenya's Paul Tanui to take gold.
This was what he had to say about that awe-inspiring moment and what spurred him on…
A final goodbye to a parkrun legend:
Last weekend, we said a final parkrun goodbye to Bob Emmerson, the Grandfather of Northampton parkrun.
On what is set to become an annual ‘Bob Day’ event, runners wore green and donned cravats to mimic Bob’s famous running outfit.
Bob ran an incredible 537 parkruns in total, mostly at his beloved Racecourse where he first attended parkrun number four in Northampton.
Last Saturday, his son ‘Young Bob’ scanned his father’s token one last time.
We may have lost a legend but the spirit of Bob lives on in Northampton parkrun.
RIP Bob 💔
Further reading:
Rest in Peace, Bob: Goodbye to the King of Northampton parkrun
“I’m just an old jogger now”.
Bob Emmerson’s face would light up when he spoke about running.
This was a man who kept every single pair of his old trainers, souvenirs of miles and hours spent doing the thing he loved.
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