Molorun: a running app for people starting from zero

Molorun is a running app for people starting from zero. I designed and built it on my own. It takes you from a first one-minute run to running for over an hour, without ever asking for your pace or your distance.

Most running apps are made for people who already run. They open with maps, pace charts and distance goals, and a beginner feels behind before the first step. I wanted an app that feels kind on day one.

Everything: product idea, the training plan structure, UX and UI design, the mascot and icons, the React Native build and the Google Play release.

The home screen answers one question: what do I do today? A run day, a rest day or a day off each get their own clear state. After a session the card turns green and tells you when the next one is.

Every session is intervals of running and walking. The first one is five rounds of one minute running and one minute walking. The screen shows a big countdown and what comes next. There is no GPS, no pace and no distance, so there is nothing to compare yourself to.

The plan has 99 sessions across 16 levels, all measured in time. After each session you say how it felt. If it was too hard, or something hurt, the app repeats the session instead of pushing you forward.

Beginners need more than a running plan. The app also has short strength routines with a move guide, free walks from 10 to 60 minutes, and rest days that are part of the plan, not a failure.

Three soft colours and black. Blue is Molo and running, pink is walking, gold is for wins. Everything else stays white and quiet, so the colour always means something.

Chubby, a heavy friendly display face, for names and big moments. Nunito for everything you read. Round letters to match a round cat.

I drew a full icon set for the app: thick round strokes with small curls, on a 24 pixel grid, each sitting in a soft tinted tile. There are no emoji anywhere in the interface.

Two big eyes and whiskers on Molo blue, with no letter and no wordmark. It is the cat looking back at you from the home screen.

React Native and TypeScript for the app, Supabase for accounts and sync, and Figma for the design. Android first: Molorun is in closed testing on Google Play, with the public launch next.