Common questions
Am I ready for this?
Do I have to be fast? Can I walk?
You set your own pace, and you can walk. You do not have to be fast: everything you cover counts toward the world total, whether or not you clear a cutoff. The cutoffs are a separate challenge, for runners who want to chase them.
Is the cutoff realistic for a beginner?
The first cutoff asks for 10 km, about 6 miles, inside the hour, so it is a real running target, and each hour after it asks for a faster average pace. Most people run for about an hour and stop, and that is a full run in itself.
How much harder do the later hours get?
Each hour asks for a faster average pace than the one before, and it climbs fast. The second hour is a hard target, the third is for elite runners only, and the hours after that are beyond anyone. That is how the race ends. Most people never need to think past the first hour or two.
What happens if I miss a cutoff? Am I out? Is it embarrassing?
Your lap ends for this year's event, and it stays private: nothing public marks it, and everything you ran still counts toward the world total. You can keep watching the wave as it moves on around the world.
Cost, account, and privacy
Is it really free?
Yes. Globe Lap is free, with nothing to buy and no upgrade.
Do I need an account?
No. You can run fully anonymously, with nothing to sign up for. If you want more, you can add a nickname, or keep your run history across devices with an account. It is your choice how much you attach.
Is my location safe?
Your GPS trace is used to verify your distance and draw your own run, nothing else. It is linked to your account only if you choose to have one; otherwise only to an anonymous ID. Either way, you can delete your data at any time.
Phone and GPS
Do I need signal the whole time, or does it work offline?
You need a connection beforehand so the app can load your event and wave. During the run itself you can be offline: your distance is measured and saved on your phone, and syncs when you are back online. Indoor runs are the exception: your steps are still saved offline, but the distance on screen only updates while you are connected.
If GPS drops or my phone dies, do I lose progress?
If GPS is lost, your distance pauses while the hourly clock keeps running, so move to open sky if you can. The clock is the same for everyone, and the distance you already banked stays with you.
Should I bring a charger?
No. Charging your phone beforehand should be enough; the app is designed to be light on battery. Do check the Race day list in Settings once: if your phone restricts background power, the run can stop while the screen is off.
Timing and starting
What is 9:00 in my time zone, and how is my zone decided?
Your time zone comes from your location, and you can change it in Settings until it locks before the event. Your wave opens at 9:00 in the morning, local time.
What is a wave?
Everyone in your time zone starting together at 9:00 is one wave. The event is the chain of waves setting off around the planet, hour after hour.
Does it start on its own at 9:00, or do I press go?
It starts on its own. A countdown brings you to the moment, and your run begins the instant your wave opens.
If I am a few minutes late, am I locked out?
No, you can still join. The clock has been running since your wave opened at 9:00, so the time already passed counts against the cutoffs, but you are welcome to jump in and run.
During the run
Will I know if I am on pace?
The run screen shows your distance next to the next cutoff, so you can see where you stand. It says nothing out loud on its own, though a notification can still alert you when a cutoff is close. Turn on spoken cues in Settings if you want a cutoff called out; the choice of pace is yours.
Can I pause for traffic, water, or a bathroom?
Of course. Stop whenever you need to: traffic, water, a breather. The hourly clock keeps running in the background, but your distance stays banked, and unless you are chasing the later cutoffs there is no hurry.
Can I see the world total while running?
Yes. The shared world total is on the run screen, and you can show or hide it so your own run stays the focus.
Can I see other runners near me?
The app does not show individual runners. If you are running with friends or a local group, you are all in the same 9:00 wave together; in the app, what connects everyone is the shared world total.
Logistics
What do I need?
Just your phone and this app. That's it.
Where do I run, a set route or anywhere?
Anywhere outdoors. There is no set route. A treadmill works too: turn on the experimental indoor mode before your run starts, and your steps measure the distance instead of GPS.
Are the weekly practice runs required?
No, they are optional. They use the same format as the main event, a low-stakes chance to check that your phone and GPS work and to learn how the event flows.
What is the point? Is there a prize?
There is no prize. It is for the shared achievement of connecting people across the planet and encouraging an active life.
After your run
Do I get a personal summary?
Yes. When your run ends you get a summary of what you covered.
Can I export or share my run?
Yes. When your run ends you can export the run file: GPX for an outdoor run, TCX for a treadmill run. Send it to another app through your phone's share sheet, save it to a folder, or save it and then pick it on Strava's upload page in the browser. Sharing your run is separate: that makes a photo or stats image for social apps.
Will I hear about next year if I don't have an account?
The next date is announced in the app and on globelap.com; no account needed.