RunFlex
Asking for what you want
The coach reads your ask in plain words, so you can put several wishes in one sentence. This page covers what it can act on today, and what it says when it cannot.
Every route is measured after it is drawn. When a wish was not met, a note marked ! sits above the drafts and says so. Read it before you pick.
How do I set the distance?
Give it in kilometres or miles, or as a time: "8k", "40 minutes easy". Times are turned into a distance using the pace for your Run or Walk setting. If the best draft still lands well off your number, the note reads These come out shorter than you asked (or longer) and gives the closest it found.
A run to a named place is the exception. The coach routes you the full way there, even if that is further than the distance you gave.
Can I choose the shape of the route?
A loop is the default. You can ask for an out-and-back, or name where you want to finish, such as "ending at the station". To finish at home, add your address in Profile, then Settings, then Home, and say "run home".
If a shape will not work, you are told: I couldn't find a clean loop here, with out-and-backs instead, or I couldn't find “…” anywhere when a place name matches nothing nearby.
Can I ask for trails or a particular surface?
Yes, including trail, gravel, towpath and grass. Each card shows its measured split, such as "62% road · 38% trail". Grass is measured as the share of the route inside parks and green space. When the best option falls short you will see a line like Only 40% of the first route is on trail, and where there is no surface data it says I can't measure surfaces in this area yet.
Can I ask for hills, or for flat?
Ask for flat or for hilly ("avoid hills" counts as flat). Drafts are ranked by measured climb. If nothing nearby fits, the note reads Nothing near you is truly flat and puts the closest option first.
Can I run past a park or along a river?
Yes. The card names what the route actually reaches, after Passes or Through. If none is close enough, the coach shows the nearest and asks you to tap one. If a route only skirts a park you wanted to go through, it says so.
Can I stop for water or a coffee on the way?
Ask for a water tap or a public toilet along the way, or somewhere for a coffee. Each card names the places it passes. If no draft passes one, the note says so, and it tells you separately when it had no data to check.
Can I avoid a particular place?
On the deck, tap Refine, then tap a marker on the map or hold anywhere to drop a pin. Choose Include or Avoid, then Apply. This is still being worked on, so know its limits:
- Avoid drops any draft that comes within about 200 m of that spot. The new drafts are built afresh, so they can be quite different from the old ones.
- Include asks the coach to take you past the spot. Unlike Avoid, it is not enforced on the map, so check that the new route does go past it.
For lighting after dark, see Well-lit routes.
Still stuck? Write to support@runflex.app.