THE CONTEXT

Storylines that change based on your choices while running

Runtales makes running more enjoyable by turning it into an interactive audio story. Instead of just listening to music, runners follow a story where they play the main character. As they run, they make choices that change what happens next — helping them stay entertained and motivated throughout the run.

Why Running?

One of the easiest ways to keep up your fitness level is to run. It has several benefits and is simpler for a wider audience to adopt:

THE PROBLEM

Runners lose interest

Most running apps focus on metrics like distance and speed, but they don’t make running feel enjoyable. Neuroscience suggests people tend to stop doing things that feel boring or repetitive. In fact, many avoid exercise simply because it’s not fun.

Digging Deeper

What real runners told us

Running feels like a chore, Same music, Same route, No engagement. There's a clear gap in the market for a fitness solution that not only tracks running but also makes it fun and engaging.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Designing for Inconsistent Runners

Through user interviews, we discovered three distinct types of runners, All three types of runners are essential to our app, but our primary focus is on inconsistent runners.

competitor analysis

Challenges in current running apps

Most running apps track your activity and offer basic plans, but their content gets repetitive, doesn’t feel personal, and doesn’t let you interact much. This often makes it hard for people to stay interested or keep using them.

IDEAS

Shaping the experience through user choices

We ran card-sorting and prioritization to decide which decisions matter most during the run — so users feel in control without being distracted.

A lightbulb moment

We realized how choice based interactions keep people hooked

People don’t just enjoy stories — they get emotionally invested when they can make decisions that shape the outcome. That’s what keeps them coming back.

We studied interactive formats like Bandersnatch and Minecraft Story Mode, where every choice matters. These weren’t just stories — they were experiences shaped by the user. This insight changed our entire direction.

From Idea to Interface

We translated the insight into screens

We mapped the core interactions and built a mid-fidelity prototype to test how the story and running could work together. Focus was on minimal distraction, maximum immersion.

THE SOLUTION

The Future of Running

We built a running app that works entirely through your earbuds. As you run, the story unfolds in your ears, and when a decision comes up, you just tap left or right to choose what happens next. These left and right taps match your running path.

Each run becomes part of a story that only moves forward if you do. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger. The next one unlocks only when you run again, making it a far superior solution for runner consistency and eliminating boredom.

THE APP UI

A quick start that learns about you

The onboarding flow asks just enough to tailor the experience—your running habits, story preferences, and goals. Every screen is light and spaced out so the user moves through it without friction.

Pick a story. Choose your route. Start running.

From the home screen, users select a mystery story. A short explainer screen shows how decisions work. They then set a simple to–from route and begin. No clutter—just what they need to start moving.

Friends, clubs, and friendly competition

In the community tab, users can compete in friend groups and join public running clubs. The challenge section lets them send personal dares to friends or join trending ones adding a social loop.

RECOGNITION

Winner — MIT Ideathon 2025 (Hack-MIT)

Runtales was recognized for originality and execution, winning the 2025 MIT Ideathon. Judges appreciated how design, tech, and storytelling blended.