Linus Dietz

Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Computer Science Education

The Experience of Running: Recommending Routes Using Sensory Mapping in Urban Environments

1 minute read

Most apps that have a running route recommendation feature suggest routes based on distance, surface, elevation, and popularity, disregarding other factors that influence the psychological experience of running.

In a mixed-method study combining interviews with runners and a large-scale online survey, we captured what aspects influence the running experience. Analyzing the answers, we were able to group them into performance and achievement, environmental quality, and mental and social connectedness. These insights led to the creation of the Experience of Running Scale designed to measure how a run feels. Clustering the responses also revealed two major groups of runners’ needs in terms of urban running routes. Sometimes, runners are drawn to scenic paths, which are lush, peaceful, and rich with natural beauty. Others thrive on the energy of urban routes, where the city pulses with life.

Interestingly, these preferences often line up with our personalities. Runners who score higher on neuroticism tend to seek the quiet solitude of nature, while extroverts are more likely to enjoy the buzz of city streets. Using this data, we built a personalized routing engine that accounts for environmental factors like sound, smell, surface type, and traffic to recommend routes that better match what we need.

In a routing engine prototype for London running routes, we mapped the perceivable environment using open data from platforms like Flickr, OpenStreetMap, and local crime reports to be able to recommend these two types of routes. While most runners we asked about their route preferences preferred scenic routes for their calm and beauty, situations like running in the dark flipped this tendency towards the more crowded urban routes as safety concerns trumped serenity.

We hope that by making it easier to plan routes tailored to individual needs and preferences, we can lower the barriers to going out, encouraging people to exercise with greater joy and confidence.

Hänsel, K., Aiello, L. M., Quercia, D., Schifanella, R., Varga, K. Z., Dietz, L. W., & Constantinides, M. (2025). The experience of running: Recommending routes using sensory mapping in urban environments. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies.

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