Find your peoplebefore race weekend.
Connect with runners attending the same race. Share lodging, split costs, train together, and make friends before race day.
Strava-verified runners
Every member manually confirmed as a real runner
Race registration verified
Bib number confirmed before joining a pod
How MaraPals works
From solo traveler to race crew in three steps.
Choose your race
We currently support CIM, Chicago, and NYC — chosen to concentrate runners and maximize your chances of finding a great match.
Join or create a Pod
Browse pods by gender, age, budget, and housing preference. Don't see one you like? Start your own in two minutes.
Meet your race crew
Chat with your pod, coordinate logistics, split the Airbnb or hotel, and arrive at the start line with people you actually know.
Races we support
We're starting focused — three great races, one community.
Built on trust, built for runners
Sharing a room with a stranger is a big ask. MaraPals takes it seriously — every person on the platform is manually verified before they can join a pod.
Strava-verified real runner
We manually check every member's Strava profile to confirm they're an active runner — not just someone who created an account.
Race registration confirmed
Before joining a pod, runners submit their bib number or registration confirmation. We verify they're actually registered for that race.
Race roommate matching
Find runners who want to split an Airbnb or hotel near the start line.
Group chat for your pod
Coordinate logistics, plan dinners, and get to know your crew before race day.
What a Race Pod looks like
Women Running CIM Together
1 spot leftLooking for 1–2 more women to share an Airbnb near the start. We're all chasing PRs and want a fun, supportive race weekend.
This is an example — real pods are created by runners like you.
How Race Pods work
These examples show what pods look like — real ones are created by runners like you.
Women Running CIM Together
1 spot leftLooking for 1–2 more women to share an Airbnb near the start. We're all chasing PRs and want a fun, supportive race weekend.
This is an example — real pods are created by runners like you.
Chicago Marathon — Hotel Split
1 spot leftFriendly mixed group splitting a hotel near the start. Deep dish pizza, the Magnificent Mile, and 26.2 miles of crowd energy.
This is an example — real pods are created by runners like you.
NYC Marathon — Brooklyn Airbnb
2 spots leftAirbnb in Park Slope, 4 blocks from the Verrazano Bridge start. Looking for two more runners who want the full NYC experience.
This is an example — real pods are created by runners like you.
No real pods yet — be among the first to start one.
Create a Race PodEvery runner is manually verified
Sharing lodging and travel plans with someone you just met online requires trust. We take that seriously. Before anyone can join a Race Pod, we confirm two things manually.
Verified via Strava
We manually check each member's Strava profile to confirm they're a real, active runner with a real running history — not just an account someone created to join a pod.
Race registration confirmed
Before joining a pod for a specific race, runners submit their bib number or registration confirmation. We verify they're actually signed up for that race before approving their pod membership.
Verification is manual and takes up to 24 hours. We think it's worth the wait.
Why join early?
The best communities are built by the first people who show up. Here's what it means to be a founding runner on MaraPals.
Shape the product
Early members get direct input on what MaraPals builds. Your feedback will define how this community grows.
Find your people first
The first runners to join have the best shot at finding compatible pod members before spots fill up.
Concentrated community
We're starting with three races on purpose — to build real liquidity where real connections actually form.
Ready to find your race crew?
Create a free account, pick your race, and be among the first runners to build a pod.