Jaha – An App For Finding a Running Partner!

UPDATED: This app is no longer available.

This post is sponsored by Jaha. All opinions and writing are 100% my own. For more information on the disclosure policy of 30 Something Mother Runner, please click HERE. 

Some of us like to run alone, and some of us prefer to run with a partner. I’m sort of a mix of both– I like my “alone” time, but I will gladly welcome company on a long run. It can, however, be challenging to find a running partner or motivational fitness buddy when you need one. That’s where the Jaha app comes in– it’s like tinder for running/sports enthusiasts.

What is Jaha and How Does it Work?

Jaha (named for the Zulu word for “chase”) is a location-based application for iOS that helps you find a local running partner. Not into running? Jaha can connect you with a new partner for tennis, golf, strength training or whichever sport you choose. Having a partner can definitely help you stay accountable during training or as a beginning runner or fitness enthusiast.

There are people of varying abilities, ages, geographic locations, etc., so you have a number of options to use when searching for the perfect workout partner. There is also an integrated activity tracker, so you count steps, log fitness activities, and see your progress compared to others in challenges. You can log even more information if you use the compatible Soul Fitness Band.

Signing Up

Signing up with Jaha is very easy, you can log in with Facebook and then verify any additional details. You can customize your own settings for distance measurement (for activity tracking), input weight, and other statistics. On the Settings page, you will want to craft a brief bio about yourself (200 characters), to make it easier to connect with the right running/fitness partner. You can also add up to four different pictures.

Finding a Local Fitness Partner

After you have your profile all set, click on the Explore button on the bottom of the screen to start finding fitness friends. You can swipe left if you’re not interested in the profile you see and swipe right if you are. If both of you swipe right, then you are connected! You can then go ahead and start chatting or start a challenge with your new running/fitness partner.

Challenges and Messaging

Once you have made some fitness friends you can start a chat to message them– just click on the plus sign in the top righthand corner of the Explore screen. If you have more than one fitness friend, you will see a list and you can select whom you would like to message. It looks a lot like iMessage, and it’s very easy to use. 🙂

Challenges are helpful if you need a little kick in the butt to get moving! You can issue a challenge to a running/fitness partner by clicking on the Challenge tab and then the red button in the top left-hand corner. Decide who you want to challenge and what type of challenge you would like to start, i.e. time, distance, etc.

You can give your challenge a name and select a start and date, and then you’re good to go!Return to the Challenge page to see your progress. You can also talk “smack” to your challengers by posting on the message board. 🙂

Fitness/Activity Tracker

If you don’t have a wearable fitness tracker, the Jaha app allows you to use your iPhone as your tracker. When you’ve connected your iPhone, you can track steps, distance traveled, and other fitness activities (data can be viewed on the Stats page). If you enable Location Services, you will also be able to view a map of the route you traveled on your run/walk.

Overall Impressions

I think Jaha makes a great addition to the field of running and fitness apps. I love that it solved one problem we all have at one time or another: finding someone to work out with! As more and more individuals sign up for the app, there should be no shortage of compatible running partners.

Since I live in a less populated area, I had fewer choices for possible matches, but I would imagine if you lived in a more urban area, you would have a lot more options. I think it’s also a function of the newness of the app– as people hear about it and join up, the number of possible matches increases. So, what are you waiting for? You can sign up by downloading the app from the iTunes Store.