MERC Founder
Raihan Uddin built MERC from the belief that running should be for everyone — not just the fast, the fit, or the privileged. MERC is the result of that conviction: a community-first social running app that exists to serve every background, every postcode, and every ability level.
MERC began with a simple frustration: running clubs in the UK were overwhelmingly exclusionary. Too fast, too homogeneous, and too intimidating for the very communities that would benefit most from getting outside and moving.
Raihan’s vision was different. He wanted a club where a beginner could stand next to a seasoned runner and both feel equally welcome. Where your postcode didn’t determine whether sport was accessible to you. Where a Leader from your own community could lead you through a session, in a place you knew, at a pace that worked for you.
That vision became MERC — a social running app structured from day one to put community first. Every group is run by its own Leader, with the tools to bring people together, track attendance with barcode check-in, and grow.
Today MERC is live on iOS and Android, with groups running in Southend-on-Sea, London, Birmingham and beyond. The roadmap is clear: a MERC group in every UK city, and eventually in every major city in the world.
“I didn’t just want to build another running club. I wanted to build something that proved sport could belong to everyone — every community, every background, every speed. MERC is the proof that it can.”— Raihan Uddin, Founder, MERC
Raihan Uddin recognised that health is the most important thing we have — and that the communities who need it most are the ones most excluded from sport. The idea for MERC was born: an inclusive running club that belongs to everyone, regardless of background, ability or speed. The vision was clear. Someone needed to make it happen.
The first MERC sessions began on the streets of Southend-on-Sea — a community-led initiative bringing together runners of all backgrounds, abilities and ages under one identity. The movement had started.
MERC was formally established on 4 September 2024 — setting the foundation, identity and values for everything that followed, and laying the groundwork for national expansion.
Work begins on the MERC app — bringing live leaderboards, barcode check-in and group chat into one place for every group.
Active expansion across UK cities. The MERC app brings groups, leaderboards and barcode check-in to runners and organisations alike. London and Birmingham groups in active development. Every city in the world to follow.
No minimum pace. No fitness tests. No exclusion. Every session is designed for all abilities, with Leaders who lead from the back to ensure nobody gets left behind.
MERC reflects its purpose: representation at every level, from members to Leaders. Every group reflects the community it serves.
Leaderboards, barcode check-in and group chat in a single app — simple for everyday runners, powerful for clubs and companies.
Physical activity is a health intervention. Every MERC session is designed to improve cardiovascular health, mental wellbeing and social connection simultaneously.
Every group is run by its own Leader, empowering people to build their own community — so MERC scales without losing its community-first identity.
MERC is UK-born but globally minded. The long-term vision: a MERC group in every major city in the world, unified by one app and one set of values.
MERC was built on the belief that sport belongs to everyone. Create a free account, start your own group, and take your place in a community that will go global.
