Announcing the launch of Race Ready, an innovative app providing medical advice for runners, raising awareness of how to train and race safely. The app, developed in partnership with World Athletics and key figures from the London and Brighton Marathons, is the result of years of work to improve race medicine, inspired by the sudden death of our co-founder Matthew Good, during a charity half-marathon.
The late Matthew Good running in the Jane Tomlinson Run for All Hull 10k
The Matthew Good Foundation was established in memory of Matthew Good, who tragically passed away in 2011 while raising money for charity by running the Humber Half Marathon. Despite being a young man with no underlying medical conditions, Matthew’s passing highlighted the risks even healthy runners face during endurance events.
Although the benefits of running greatly outweigh the risks, many runners encounter medical issues when training and racing. A study published by the National Library of Medicine (USA) found that in a typical 10km race, around 6 in 1,000 runners require medical attention. Some face serious, potentially life-threatening conditions like heatstroke and hyponatremia (low blood sodium). With thousands of mass-participation running events held worldwide each year, tragic losses of amateur runners and athletes still occur.
Matthew’s sudden loss was caused by hyponatremia, and it had a profound impact on his family, friends, and colleagues at his Hessle-based family business, John Good Group, where he worked as a Director. To continue his legacy, they formed the Foundation, a project Matthew had originally envisioned with his brother, Tim when planning for the company’s future.
Since its inception, the Foundation has been deeply involved in race medicine, funding initiatives that improve runner safety by supporting academic research and providing resources for race organisers. A key achievement was its role in the creation of the International Institute of Race Medicine (IIRM), now part of the World Academy for Endurance Medicine.
The Race Ready app is the latest innovation in the Foundation’s commitment to race medicine. Developed to provide evidence-based medical advice for runners, the app helps users understand potential health risks and make informed decisions about their training and participation in events.
Uniquely, the app gamifies advice and resources, making information easy to absorb and empowering runners to take control of their health and safety, reducing the risk of medical emergencies during races.
The project has been led by Dr. Amy Boalch, also known online as the Marathon Medic. Describing the need to get more information directly into the hands of runners.
“As a doctor and running coach, I understand the importance of being well-prepared for races, not just in terms of physical training but also in understanding the medical risks involved. Race Ready addresses a crucial gap in the running community by providing accessible, personalised information that can help raise awareness of medical issues. I hope this app will become an essential tool for runners at all levels, enabling them to enjoy their sport safely and confidently.”
Amy Boalch – Project Lead, Race Ready
In addition to its core educational resources on topics such as nutrition, hydration, and illness prevention, the Race Ready app also provides race location weather updates and checklists to ensure runners are fully prepared ahead of their event.
The development of Race Ready has been a collaborative effort by leading experts in race medicine, including Dr. Paulo Emilio of World Athletics, Professor Courtney Kipps, Assistant Medical Director of the London Marathon, and Professor Rob Galloway, Medical Director of the Brighton Marathon. The team has integrated best practices established in partnership with the World Academy for Endurance Medicine.
“Race Ready is not just an app; it’s a continuation of Matt’s legacy. Our Foundation’s involvement in race medicine has always been about making a real difference, and this app is a testament to that. It’s a way to honour Matthew by ensuring that runners everywhere have the tools they need to stay safe and healthy. I believe he would be proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Tim Good – Chairman, Matthew Good Foundation
The Race Ready app is now available for download on both iOS and Android platforms. Runners can access the app via the App Store or Google Play. It is completely free to download and use all features. For more information and to start using Race Ready, visit the Race Ready website at raceready.run.
