Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Pacer is a running partner matching service operated from the United Kingdom. We help runners find compatible training partners nearby. If you have questions about this policy, contact us at runningwithpacer@gmail.com.

2. What we collect

When you join our waitlist, we collect:

• Your email address
• The date and time of your submission

When you use the app (once launched), we will additionally collect:

• Your phone number (for account verification)
• Your running profile — pace range, typical distance, preferred times, and running goals
• An approximate location zone (not your exact address — a neighbourhood-level zone only)
• Optional: activity data from Strava or Garmin if you choose to connect them, for pace verification only

3. What we do not collect

• Your exact home address or precise GPS coordinates
• Live location tracking during runs
• Any data from your Strava or Garmin beyond what is needed to verify your pace range
• Your followers, social connections, or social media activity
• Anything we don't need

4. How we use your data

We use your information to:

• Notify you when Pacer launches in your area (waitlist only)
• Match you with compatible runners nearby
• Verify your pace range when you connect Strava or Garmin
• Enable the safe return feature to alert your nominated contact if you don't check in
• Improve the product and fix issues

We do not use your data for advertising. We do not sell your data to third parties. We do not use your running data to infer anything beyond what is needed for matching.

5. How we share your data

We share limited information with other users only when both parties have mutually expressed interest (double opt-in). Before a match is confirmed, other users only see your pace band and general area — not your name, phone number, or exact location.

We use the following third-party services to operate Pacer:

• Formspree — to process waitlist signups. Their privacy policy is at formspree.io/legal/privacy-policy
• Strava API / Garmin Connect — read-only access to verify pace, only if you choose to connect
• Twilio — to send SMS alerts for the safe return feature

6. Data retention

Waitlist emails are held until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them. In the app, chat threads are automatically deleted 24 hours after a run. You can delete your account and all associated data at any time from the app settings — deletion is immediate and permanent.

7. Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data at any time. You also have the right to object to processing, to data portability, and to lodge a complaint with the ICO (ico.org.uk).

To exercise any of these rights, email us at runningwithpacer@gmail.com.

8. Security

All data is transmitted over HTTPS. We store location data as approximate zones, not precise coordinates, minimising the impact of any potential breach. We follow industry-standard practices for data security and will notify affected users promptly if a breach occurs.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the product evolves. We will notify waitlist subscribers of any material changes by email before they take effect. The current version is always available at this URL.