Runner’s Rings Featured in Run&Dojo! The Story Behind an App That Turns Running Routes into Growth Rings
Runner’s Rings has been featured in an interview by the Japanese running media platform Run&Dojo. The article explores the story behind an app that turns running routes into growth rings, created by a runner who had no programming experience and an AI development partner. We share the interview and reflect on why preserving our running journeys matters.
Today, we have some exciting news for Runner’s Rings.
Our app has been featured in an interview by Run&Dojo, a Japanese running media platform.
And this was more than a simple app introduction.
It was an interview about the story behind Runner’s Rings.
■ The interview
The article is part of Run&Dojo's series, which introduces projects by speaking directly with their creators.
Its Japanese title translates roughly as:
“The Roads You Run Become Growth Rings: How Someone Who Couldn’t Code Built a Running App with AI.”
We were delighted by the way the title captured the idea behind Runner’s Rings.
■ What is Runner’s Rings?
Runner’s Rings is a web app that visualizes the roads and places we have run.
Many running apps focus on familiar numbers:
Distance.
Pace.
Time.
Heart rate.
Those numbers are valuable.
But running is also about places.
A familiar neighborhood.
A new road discovered during a weekend run.
A route explored while traveling.
A town visited for the first time.
We wanted to preserve those experiences on a map.
■ Why growth rings?
A tree develops growth rings as it ages.
Each ring represents part of its life.
We wanted to create something similar for runners.
As we continue running and exploring new places, our personal map gradually grows.
Over time, those routes become a visual history of our running journey.
That is the idea behind the name Runner’s Rings.
■ Building an app without a programming background
Another important part of the interview is the unusual development process.
Runner’s Rings was not started by an experienced software engineer.
It began with an idea from someone who loves running.
The next question was:
Could that idea become a real app with the help of AI?
Our AI development partner, Chappy, became part of the answer.
■ Creating Runner’s Rings with Chappy
The development process involves constant collaboration.
We discuss ideas.
Define features.
Create and review code.
Test the app.
Find problems.
Make corrections.
And repeat.
Sometimes things work immediately.
Often they do not.
AI does not magically remove every difficulty from software development.
But it can help someone with a strong idea take practical steps toward building it.
■ AI is a partner, not the purpose
The most important part of Runner’s Rings is not that it was built with AI.
The important part is why it exists.
What experience do we want to give runners?
What should the app remember?
How can it make running more enjoyable?
AI helps with development, but the direction comes from a human desire to preserve running journeys.
■ Running is not only about speed
We want Runner’s Rings to be enjoyable for many kinds of runners.
Competitive marathoners.
Casual joggers.
People who run for health.
Travelers who enjoy exploring new places.
People who simply want to discover another road.
Every runner leaves behind a unique collection of routes.
That collection is worth remembering.
■ A global running community
Runner’s Rings is also being developed with international runners in mind.
Roads and running cultures differ around the world.
But the enjoyment of running connects people across countries.
Imagine runners everywhere gradually building their own maps of the places they have explored.
That is part of the future we hope to create.
■ What the interview meant to us
Most development days are focused on practical questions.
What should we build next?
What needs fixing?
How can the app become easier to use?
But an interview offers a chance to return to the beginning.
Why did we start?
What made the idea exciting?
What do we hope Runner’s Rings will become?
Being asked those questions was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the project.
■ Thank you, Run&Dojo
A big thank you to Run&Dojo and interviewer Kazuma for featuring Runner’s Rings.
We are grateful for the opportunity to share the story behind the app.
Runner’s Rings is still growing, and we hope more runners will discover and enjoy it.
■ Read the original interview
Run&Dojo — Developer Interview
“The Roads You Run Become Growth Rings: How Someone Who Couldn't Code Built a Running App with AI.”
https://rundojo.sharesweat.com/dojo/p-runnersrings-01
The original article is in Japanese.
■ What comes next
This interview is a memorable milestone, but Runner’s Rings is still a work in progress.
We will continue improving the app, adding new features, and exploring new ways to celebrate running.
Above all, we want runners to enjoy looking back on the places they have traveled on foot.
Every road has a story.
Every run becomes part of a life.
Runner’s Rings – Rings Journal
Map the life you run.
Developer: @atsuoebarun
AI Development Partner: Chappy