Safety
How Run Love Sprint protects its users.
This page describes the safety measures built into Run Love Sprint today, the ones we are working on next, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Last reviewed: July 2026
01 · The intent system
Mate, Date, Sprint.
Every connection on RLS carries a signal. A Mate is a running partner. A Date is interest in something more than running. A Sprint is our version of a Super Like, used when there is a clear pull.
The intent is set before you connect, by both people. You see what someone is looking for, and you choose whether to accept. There is no ambiguity about what the other person is open to.
The connection is mutual by design. Nobody can message you on RLS unless you have both accepted the connection. There is no open inbox, no cold DMs, and no anonymous contact.
02 · What is built today
Live in the product now.
Real-identity registration
One account per person. You register as yourself, with your real first name and a recent photo that clearly shows your face. Every account is tied to a verified email address, either via the confirmation link we send at signup or through Sign in with Google. Fake profiles, impersonation, and business or group accounts are removed when found.
Mutual matching before messaging
No one can message you unless you have accepted the connection. The same goes for them. Either side can withdraw at any time.
Gender-restricted public runs
Organisers can scope a public run to a single gender. A women-only Saturday morning run in Battersea Park, for example, is visible only to women in the Runs feed and is hidden from everyone else. The same capability supports men-only runs in the same way. Sexuality-restricted runs follow the same pattern, for example a gay man’s social run can be set to only be visible to other gay men.
In-app reporting with active moderation
Reports from the app, or from hello@runlovesprint.com, land directly in our admin console. We read every report. The team investigates, contacts the people involved where appropriate, and removes accounts that are harming other users. Outcomes range from warning, to suspension, to permanent removal.
Block
You can block any user from their profile view. Once blocked, that user can no longer see your profile, your runs, your groups, or anything connected to you across Discover. They cannot contact you. We do not notify them that you have blocked them.
03 · Roadmap
What we are working on next.
The following items are in the pipeline to extend the safety capabilities above. Each will move into section 02 as it ships.
Photo verification: live capture and face match
In the coming months. The verification will use the device camera to confirm the person creating an account is a real, live human in front of the lens, not a photo, screenshot, or deepfake. Face match will then verify that the live capture is the same person as the profile photo on the account. The same verification standard used by major UK platforms for age and identity confirmation.
Enhanced reporting workflows
In progressFaster categorisation in the admin console, clearer feedback to reporters that their report has been actioned, and tighter follow-up after a removal.
Public log of safety changes
When a new safety feature ships, we will list it here with the date it shipped.
04 · If something goes wrong
How to report. What we will do.
In the app
Open the menu on any profile, run, or message and choose Report. Tell us what happened in your own words.
By email
Detail your experience to us at hello@runlovesprint.com, outlining what happened and any other users involved. A real person at RLS reviews every email and responds at our earliest convenience.
Our commitment
Every report flags our admin console. We see it. We investigate, actively, and we reach out where we need more context. If we find that a user is harassing, threatening, intimidating, or otherwise causing harm to other runners on the platform, we remove them. We cannot always share the full outcome of an investigation, as UK GDPR limits what we can disclose about another user's account, but we will confirm to you that we have actioned it.
05 · Our policies in full
Written down, not just claimed.
The documents below set out in full how we keep this community safe. They are honest about our size and they only commit us to things we actually do.
Safeguarding Adults Policy
Who protects our users, how concerns are raised, and when we escalate to the police or a borough safeguarding team.
Moderation & Reporting Policy
What is not acceptable, our 24 and 48 hour response commitments, the actions we take, and how to appeal.
Community Code of Conduct
The standards every member signs up to, in plain English. Read it at /code-of-conduct or download the PDF.
Official Run Safety Framework
How runs organised and led by RLS itself are checked, paced and recorded.