What is AfterRun?
AfterRun is a lightweight, low-admin results tool for informal running events where results are optional. It helps organisers prepare simple private results after timed runners opt in and record normally.
Frequently asked questions
Answers for organisers and timed runners using AfterRun for informal running events with optional results.
AfterRun is delayed, private-first, and consent-based, not live timing or a public Strava leaderboard.
Quick overview
Who is AfterRun for?
AfterRun is for organisers of small or informal running events who want optional results without turning the event into a formal race setup.
Is timing optional?
Yes. Timing is optional. Timed runners opt in to results, while untimed runners can still take part socially.
Can untimed runners still join?
Yes. Untimed runners can join socially without connecting with Strava and without appearing in results.
What problem does AfterRun solve?
AfterRun helps organisers offer optional results without chips, barcodes, scanners, finish funnels, manual stopwatch timing, live timing infrastructure, or lots of finish-line admin.
How delayed results work
Is AfterRun live timing?
No. AfterRun is delayed, not live. It checks for event activities after the organiser's deadline and keeps results private for review.
When does AfterRun check Strava?
AfterRun checks at the organiser's upload deadline and then checks once more one hour later.
What is the first check?
The first check happens at the upload deadline. It looks for activities from timed runners who opted in and connected with Strava for the event.
What is the second check?
The second check happens one hour later. It gives normal Strava sync delays a little extra time without turning AfterRun into constant polling.
Why does AfterRun check twice?
Two checks keep the workflow calm and delayed while still giving runners time for normal upload or sync delays.
What happens if a runner uploads late?
If the activity appears before the second check, it can still be considered. If it is not available by then, the row may stay missing until the organiser decides what to do.
For timed runners
What does a timed runner need to do?
A timed runner opts in, connects with Strava, records the run normally on their own watch or phone, and lets the activity sync to Strava as normal.
Do runners upload anything directly to AfterRun?
No. Timed runners record and sync through Strava as normal. There is no separate AfterRun activity upload.
Can runners use their own watch or phone?
Yes. Timed runners use their own watch or phone, just as they normally would.
When should runners start and stop their watch?
Timed runners should start recording at the organiser's group start signal and stop at the agreed finish point. They should avoid pausing during the run.
What happens if a runner forgets to upload to Strava?
If AfterRun cannot find a suitable synced activity by the checks, the runner's row may stay missing until the organiser reviews it.
Does a timed runner need a chip, barcode, bib, or scanner?
No. A timed runner records with their own device and lets the activity sync to Strava. No chip, barcode, bib, or scanner is needed for AfterRun.
For organisers
What does the organiser do?
The organiser prepares the event, invites timed runners, sets the upload deadline, reviews results after the checks, resolves unclear rows, and decides what is ready.
Does the organiser control the final results?
Yes. AfterRun is review-first. The organiser decides what should be accepted, held for review, or handled privately outside the runner flow.
Do I need volunteers at the finish?
AfterRun is designed to keep finish-line admin low. It does not require a chip setup, scanners, or a formal finish process.
Can I keep results private?
Yes. Results are private by default and are meant to be reviewed before anything is shared.
Is AfterRun suitable for a small group test or informal club run?
Yes. That is the intended shape: informal running events where some people want optional results and others may simply join socially.
Strava, visibility, and consent
Why does AfterRun use Strava?
Many runners already record activities with Strava. AfterRun uses that existing recording habit so timed runners do not need a new timing device or separate upload.
Does AfterRun scrape public Strava leaderboards?
No. AfterRun does not scrape public Strava leaderboards or public activity pages. It uses consent-based access for timed runners who opt in for an event.
What Strava access does AfterRun need?
AfterRun uses the minimum Strava access needed for the result check. It is designed around reading a consenting timed runner's activities for the event.
Do activities need to be visible on Strava?
For automatic matching in the current version, the event activity needs to be visible enough for AfterRun to read it, such as Followers or Everyone.
What happens if an activity is set to Only You?
Activities set to Only You or private do not auto-match in this version and may need private organiser review.
Is AfterRun part of Strava?
No. AfterRun is standalone and is not part of Strava. Runners still record and sync in Strava as normal.
Results, statuses, and rankings
What results does AfterRun show?
AfterRun results are minimal: runner name, position, time, status, source, and optional category or club where relevant.
What does “Matched” mean?
Matched means the result has been accepted for the draft results. In the current review build, matched results are shown only in private organiser views.
What does “Needs review” mean?
Needs review means AfterRun found something the organiser should check before ranking the result. It is not an accusation or an error.
What does “Missing” mean?
Missing means no suitable activity has been found for that timed runner yet.
Does AfterRun provide public manual result entry?
The current review build does not provide public, self-service, runner-entered, or live organiser manual-entry UI.
Which runners get positions?
Only matched results receive numeric positions. Needs review, missing, and removed rows stay out of rankings until the organiser resolves them.
Why do some rows not have a position?
Needs review, missing, and removed rows are not ranked. They stay out of the ranked results until the organiser resolves them.
Are results public?
No. AfterRun is private and review-first by default. It is not a public leaderboard product.
Review cases
Why might a result need review?
A result needs review when AfterRun finds something close or unclear that the organiser should check before ranking.
What if the activity starts outside the expected window?
The row should be flagged for organiser review because the activity started outside the expected window.
What if the activity distance is too short or too long?
The row should be flagged for organiser review because the distance was outside the expected range.
What if more than one activity could match?
AfterRun should not guess. The row should be marked needs review so the organiser can decide.
What if the runner recorded the wrong activity type?
The organiser should review it before accepting the result.
What if elapsed time and moving time are different?
A significant difference should be reviewed. It may reflect pauses, stopped time, device behaviour, or Strava calculation behaviour.
Does AfterRun use elapsed time or moving time?
AfterRun uses elapsed time as the result basis. Moving time is not used for ranking.
What happens when Strava matching is not enough?
The row stays private for organiser review. Any future exception handling or correction must remain organiser-controlled and private, not public or runner-entered.
Privacy and data
What data does AfterRun show?
AfterRun shows minimal result information only, such as runner name, time, position, status, source, and optional category or club.
Does AfterRun show maps or GPS traces?
No. AfterRun does not show maps or GPS traces.
Does AfterRun show heart rate, cadence, power, or calories?
No. AfterRun does not show heart rate, cadence, power, calories, or unnecessary analytics.
Does AfterRun store full Strava activity details?
AfterRun is designed to avoid storing full Strava activity details as event results. The normal result view stays minimal.
Are results public by default?
No. Results are private and review-first by default.
Can runners request deletion?
Yes. Runners can contact AfterRun to request deletion. See the data deletion page for details.
Where can I read the privacy information?
Read the privacy page, data deletion page, or support page.
What AfterRun is not
Is AfterRun a formal race timing system?
No. AfterRun is a lightweight optional-results tool for informal running events.
Is AfterRun chip timing?
No. AfterRun does not use chip timing.
Is AfterRun live timing?
No. AfterRun checks later and is not live timing.
Is AfterRun a public Strava leaderboard scraper?
No. AfterRun does not scrape public Strava leaderboards or public activity pages.
Is AfterRun a full race registration platform?
No. AfterRun is focused on optional delayed results, not full event registration.
Is AfterRun a manual stopwatch app?
No. Timed runners record on their own watch or phone and sync to Strava as normal.
Is AfterRun a parkrun clone?
No. AfterRun is a standalone optional-results tool for informal running events.
Is AfterRun part of Strava?
No. AfterRun is standalone and is not part of Strava.