Want to earn points for all those kilometres you put in? Want to redeem those points for serious discounts off running related products? How about entering some fun challenges where you can win running gear like shoes, sports watches, T-Shirts, protein bars, and other amazing prizes. Don’t miss this, read on to check out this must-have running app where you can win stuff.
Introducing a great free app which is highly recommended by us for runners, Running Heroes.
We’ve been using this app for a number of years now, and it’s developed into an amazing resource for runners, and a lot of fun.
In this post, we’ll give you a full rundown on what it is, how to use it, how it will benefit you, and why you should download it
Let’s take a look!
What Is Running Heroes?
Back in 2014, Running Heroes was born as a new start-up in France.
The idea was to build a running community where participants had a way to get rewarded for all those kilometres clocked up running each week.
You can also get rewarded for other sporting activities such as swimming or biking.
Running Heroes is a way to connect runners with great products and services from some of the world’s biggest sporting brands. It also encourages people to get active by offering some great incentives for activity.
By connecting your preferred running tracker apps such as Runkeeper, Nike+ Run Club, Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, Running by Runtastic, Suunto and others to Running Heroes, you will earn points every time you log a run.
These points then get converted to coins, which you can then use to get exclusive discounts from some of the biggest brands in running. For example, you can redeem 120 coins for 20% off a New Balance purchase.
Additionally, there are many great challenges that you can participate in for free, giving you the opportunity to win some amazing prizes.
After a hugely successful launch in France, Running Heroes opened in Australia/New Zealand followed by the UK, Brazil and Romania. According to their website, Running Heroes is now the largest community of runners in Australia.
Running Heroes operates under the umbrella entity of Sports Heroes which, apart from Running Heroes started in 2014, also incorporates Cycling Heroes started in 2016 and Swimming Heroes started in 2019.
Why Use It?
You’re going to smash out all those k’s anyway, right? Why not get rewarded for all that effort. Especially when it costs nothing but a bit of sweat to participate.
It’s great fun competing in the various challenges, which may be as simple as completing a 4 km run for example, and building up your points for discounts on products you are probably buying anyway.
It also doesn’t take any effort to use the app. Once you have downloaded the app, set it up and connected your running log app, it will seamlessly sync your running data.
Jump on the app every week and select which new challenges you want to participate in, and see your progress as you clock up those kilometres.
The challenges have great variety too, which may be as simple as a 4 km run or 30 mins of activity for example. There are easy ones and others with more challenging degrees of difficulty.
They also create exciting Virtual Runs that you can also compete in.
As we know, running has many rewards in terms of fitness, health, weight management, mental health and sleep etc. Running Heroes conceptualised the app as a way to reward the efforts of runners who are actively pursuing their health and fitness.
Take a look at our 5 Best Benefits Of Running, one read of that should convince you to lace up those running shoes.
It’s a no-brainer really, jump on it and join the fun.
How To Use It
Head over to the Android or Apple app stores, and download the Running Heroes app.
Follow the guided set-up process and connect the running app or sports-watch which you use to log your runs and other sporting activities.
All the most popular apps are compatible including, Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, TomTom, Map My Run from Under Armour, Runkeeper, Suunto, Nike+ Run Club, Runtastic by Adidas plus many more. You can also connect to Apple Health.
Having successfully connected your app to Running Heroes, all your workouts will be automatically synced.
Let’s now take a look at the buttons across the bottom of the app, and what each one does.
Dashboard Button
In the Dashboard section of the app, you will see your total accumulated Points and Coins and progress of any ongoing challenges you have entered in. You will also see all your logged activities such as running, walking, cycling etc.
When completing a challenge, there will often be a ‘See if I won button’, this is a fun way to check for instant prizes. You can also re-join the challenge here for another prize chance.
TIP : At the top right is your profile pic, click on this to see a handy record of your accumulated points, steps, distance, and workouts. You can see your monthly total or year to date. This is a fun way to see how well you are doing!
Need to change your profile information or pic? You can do that here as well.
At the top left is a ‘plus’ button. Here you can manually add a workout. If your app or sports-watch didn’t work, or you forgot to use it, you can still add the workout details here.
Challenges Button
Click on the Challenges button, and you will find all the available challenges that you can enter. It will also show which challenges you have already entered, which ones you have completed, and how many times.
There are always fantastic prizes offered in these challenges.
Products such as running shoes, sports watches, T-Shirts and sportswear, meal kits, supplements, headsets, the list goes on.
For example, clicking on the Challenges button today, I was able to enter challenges to win Asics shoes, Step One underwear and even the ever desirable bright orange Running Heroes T-shirts. (I’ve already won one, but I’m greedy, I want another one)
The Running Heroes team does an amazing job of sourcing some awesome prizes.
Challenge variety is also great, with many types of challenges for you to choose from. Subsequently, you will always find something to suit your running ability or goals.
TIP : The secret is in the word—Challenge. Look at it as a personal challenge. An opportunity to extend yourself, improve your running, go farther than you ever have before, do things you never thought of. This is a wonderful chance to have fun with your running, and, get better at it.
Rewards Button
Next, we have Rewards. Here you will see your accumulated Coins.
The points you have earned are converted into coins, 5 points earns you 1 coin.
You can then use your coins to take advantage of some great offers listed under the rewards tab.
There are many great brands represented here, and Running Heroes negotiate some pretty impressive deals for you.
Brands such as Swisse, Under Armour, Suunto, SIS, Brooks, Sportitude, Emma & Toms, Booking.com, New Balance, Steigen, Running Warehouse, are all here plus many more. Redeem your reward coins for percentage discounts, dollars off or cashback from these great brands.
Points earned will depend on the type of activity you are doing.
- Walking will net you 5 points for every 1 km or 1000 steps.
- Running is 10 points for every 1 km.
- Cycling is 2,5 points for every 1 km.
- Swimming is 40 points for every 1 km.
- Skiing is 5 points for every 1 km.
TIP : If you’re in Australia and you live in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide or Brisbane, you can join a Running Heroes Run Club for just one coin. Running Heroes organise regular group runs for runners of all levels to enjoy, and a social get together after with coffee. A lot of fun and a great way to meet new running friends.
Magazine Button
The Magazine tab contains a collection of running related articles.
Firstly, there are the Latest Articles. Here you’ll find interesting articles about running, including –
- Workouts.
- Running related products and gear.
- Interviews with prominent runners.
- Stories about runners challenging themselves.
- Many other great articles.
Following Latest Articles, we have Collections. Running Heroes have grouped their past articles into sections, including –
- Lifestyle.
- Nutrition.
- Wellness and motivation.
- Fitness.
- Running for beginners.
- Running Stories.
- Running Injuries.
Everyone should find some interesting and informative reading here.
More Button
This section is where you will find –
- Your profile. You can add or change your profile pic, amend your details, change your password or delete your account entirely.
- Settings. Here you will find your connected apps, notification settings, ability to make your account private, light or dark mode, units of measure, and links to their privacy policies.
- Your redeemed reward codes which you can use for discount etc when buying products.
- Help section.
- Community. There is a leaderboard here showing which states are covering the most kilometres per athlete. This will vary in each country.
Privacy
But what about privacy, I hear you ask.
Since Running Heroes are collecting quite a bit of data about your sporting activities plus a few personal details, it’s reasonable to want to know what they do with this information.
Apart from collecting your sporting activities, they will ask for your name, email address, city, DOB and gender.
As with all services of this type, they have quite an extensive Privacy Policy on the website. Click on the link to read more.
Wrapping It Up
Keen runners can end up with quite a few running related apps on their smartphones. Tracking apps such as Polar, Garmin and others, your Apple Health app, there are many more. Do you really need to add yet another running app?
I have watched Running Heroes develop over the years and what you have now is a very polished and worthwhile app. The Running Heroes app delivers real benefits to runners. Benefits such as –
- Great motivation to lace up and get your workout done.
- Impressive prizes to be won.
- Discounts on running related products.
- Challenges that will have you trying new things, and extending yourself further than you might have otherwise.
- It’s all free.
- Great running information presented in the magazine section.
- It’s a lot of fun.
All these great benefits are for doing something you are already doing. That alone makes downloading this app a must-have for all runners.
So jump onto this awesome running app for your smartphone and give it a try, it’s a lot of fun.
Are you already using the Running Heroes app? Let us know in the comments section how you’ve found it, whether you’ve won any prizes and what rewards you have taken advantage of. We’d love to hear from you.
Our rating for this app –
Happy running
Steve
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Running Heroes free?
Yes. Running Heroes is free to download and Challenges are free to enter. You only pay for product when using your points for discounts on items you order.
Do I have to be an experienced runner to use it?
No. Running Heroes is for all runners. There are challenges for everyone, from beginner to experienced.
Can Running Heroes be used as a motivational tool?
Yes. Entering challenges can help you extend your running by trying to complete the conditions of each challenge. You’ll find yourself going farther, faster, and doing things you might not have otherwise tried.
Is Running Heroes another social media app?
No. You can’t follow other runners in the app, but you can meet people in run club events organised in some capital cities by Running Heroes.
Is Running Heroes only for runners?
No. There is also Cycling Heroes and Swimming Heroes.
Can I get rewarded for doing exercises other than running in Running Heroes?
Yes. You can be awarded points for many other activities, such as walking or cycling, that are recorded by your sports-watch or tracking app.
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