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Frequently Asked Questions

RunnerSource.net FAQs

  • RunnerSource.net is committed to providing a smooth experience for all our users — whether you’re a newsletter subscriber, a donor, or just visiting. Below we’ve compiled answers to frequently asked questions, organized by topic.

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Subscribing to the Newsletter​

  • How long is my subscription good for?​ Our current plan is to allow one year per subscriber to receive newsletters in most cases, but we need donations to keep the services alive.​

  • I subscribed but can't find my newsletter?  If on the weekend, wait for Monday and check your inbox.  Otherwise, check the spelling of your email used and try again if needed.

  • How do I subscribe to the RunnerSource newsletter?
    To subscribe, simply visit our Subscribe page on RunnerSource.net and fill out the sign-up form with your name and email. You may be asked for a Subscriber Code – if you’ve been given an invite or code (for example, from a coach or event), enter it in the form. (Don’t have a code? It might not be required for all users; if you’re unsure, contact us for assistance.) Once you submit the form, you’re all set! You should start receiving our newsletters on the next scheduled delivery day. (Note: We ask for your birth month/year and Country during signup to ensure compliance with youth privacy laws, but we do not store this information long-term at runnersource.net.)

  • When are the newsletters sent, and what content can I expect?
    RunnerSource newsletters are sent out Monday through Friday (with Monday’s edition covering any important news from the weekend). Each newsletter contains a roundup of breaking news and trending advice in the world of endurance running, tailored especially for cross country and track coaches and athletes. You can expect expert tips on training, nutrition, and health, as well as highlights from top running sources across the internet (e.g. popular YouTube channels, podcasts, articles by experienced coaches and athletes). We use a blend of advanced AI and human editorial oversight to curate the most relevant content, so you get a quick, informative digest of what’s happening in the running community without having to search for it yourself at runnersource.net.

  • What’s the difference between subscribing to the newsletter and receiving general email alerts?
    When you subscribe to the RunnerSource newsletter, you’ll receive the daily/weekly newsletter emails full of running content. By default, you may also receive occasional service-related emails from us – for example, important announcements about the RunnerSource platform, updates on new features, or administrative notices. Think of the newsletter as the content you signed up for (the running news and tips), whereas general email alerts are infrequent and relate to things like site updates or your account. If you create a RunnerSource account (for example, when making a donation or managing preferences) but don’t explicitly subscribe to the newsletter, you might still get those account or service emails, but you won’t get the content-rich newsletters. In short: the newsletter subscription delivers regular running content to your inbox, while general emails are just occasional notifications to keep you informed about your account or our website. (You can manage both types of communications – see Managing Email Preferences below – to ensure you’re only getting what you want.)

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Managing Email Preferences

  • How do I unsubscribe from the newsletter?
    Every RunnerSource newsletter email includes an “Unsubscribe” link in the footer. If you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, simply click that link at the bottom of any newsletter issue, and you will be automatically taken off the mailing list. We include this option in every email to make opting out easy (in compliance with email regulations). There’s no need to log in to unsubscribe via the email link. Once you’ve unsubscribed, you should stop receiving the daily newsletters within a cycle or two. (If you change your mind later, you can always re-subscribe via our website.)

  • How do I opt out of general service notifications or other emails without affecting the newsletter?
    If you want to stop receiving general emails (such as occasional service announcements) but still keep your newsletter subscription active, you can do so by adjusting your email preferences. The quickest way is to log in to your RunnerSource account on our website and navigate to your account settings or profile area. In your settings, look for email preferences or notifications – here you can uncheck or disable general announcements or non-newsletter emails. Save your changes, and you’ll be opted out of those general notifications going forward. You will continue to receive the RunnerSource newsletter, but we won’t send you other non-essential emails. (For example, some users only want the daily running content and not any update emails – that’s totally fine! Just update your preferences as described. If you have any trouble finding these settings, contact our support and we can assist.)

  • How to change email addresses for newsletter subscriptions? Note that the Log In option is for general communication, so you will want to unsubscribe via the link at the bottom of the newsletter and fill the Subscribe form again with the new email address.

 

Recurring Donation Management

  • How do I start a recurring donation?
    Thank you for considering support! To set up a recurring donation, head over to our Donate page on RunnerSource.net. You’ll be presented with donation options – choose the frequency that works for you (for example, select “Monthly” if you’d like to give a set amount every month, or “Yearly” for an annual contribution)runnersource.net. Next, enter or select the amount you wish to donate. You can pick a suggested amount (like $5, $10, etc.) or enter a custom amount. Once you’ve selected a frequency and amount, proceed with the checkout process by entering your payment information. If you’re not already logged in, you can donate as a guest; you’ll receive a receipt via email. (Donations are completely voluntary and not required to access our runnersource.net—but they are greatly appreciated, as they help keep RunnerSource running.) After completing the process, if you used your RunnerSource account to donate, you’ll be able to see your recurring donation details in your account dashboard. If you donated as a guest, see “My donation isn’t visible…” below for how to manage it.

  • How can I cancel my recurring donation or update my donation details?
    You’re always in control of your support. To cancel a recurring donation, log in to RunnerSource and click on “My Donations” (you can find this in the menu or header once you’re logged in). In the My Donations section, you should see your active donation subscriptions listed. Select the recurring donation you want to cancel – there will be an option to cancel it or stop future payments. Confirm the cancellation, and you will not be charged going forward. If you don’t see a cancel button or run into any issue, you can always email us and we will cancel it for you, effective immediately.

  • To modify a recurring donation (for example, to change the amount or frequency), the system may require cancelling the current plan and starting a new one with the desired settings. Currently, our donation platform doesn’t support directly editing the amount on an active recurring donation through the interface. The recommended approach is: cancel your existing recurring donation (as described above), then initiate a new donation with the new amount or frequency you prefer. This way, you ensure the changes take effect correctly. (If that process is inconvenient, contact our support team — we can assist in making changes or ensure your old plan is stopped once a new one is set up.)

  • My donation isn’t visible under “My Donations” – what should I do?
    If you log in to your account and don’t see a donation you made, it’s likely because the donation was made as a guest checkout (i.e. you weren’t logged in when you donated, so the donation isn’t linked to your account). Don’t worry, your donation still went through! To view or manage that donation, you have a couple of options:

    • Activate an account for that donation: When you donated as a guest, our system recognized your email but didn’t have a password tied to it. You can gain access by creating a password for that email. Simply go to the Log In page and use the “Forgot Password” feature with the same email address you used for the donation. This will send a link to set a password and activate your account. Once you set a password and log in, the system should recognize any donations made with that email. (See Account Access & Troubleshooting below for more on account activation.)

    • Contact us to link or lookup your donation: If the above method isn’t working or you’re not sure which email you used, send us an email (see Contact & Support below) with your name, the email used at the time of donation, and the date/amount of the donation. We can locate your donation on our end and help you gain access to it.

    • In some cases, people accidentally donate using a different email than their main account (for example, a work email instead of their personal one tied to the newsletter). If that happens, the donation will show up under the “My Donations” area only when logged in with that specific email. You might need to log out and log back in with the other address to see it. If managing two accounts is troublesome, let us know — we can assist in consolidating your records or transferring a donation to a preferred email, if appropriate.

 

Why Donations Matter

  • Why are donations needed, and how does RunnerSource use donated funds?
    RunnerSource.net is free to use – you don’t have to pay to receive our newsletters or access content. Donations are completely optional, and not donating won’t limit your access in any wayrunnersource.net. That said, we rely on the generosity of our community to keep the lights on. Donations directly fund the behind-the-scenes costs that make RunnerSource possible: things like our website hosting, email distribution service, and the technology that curates and generates the newsletter content (including AI tools and data processing). In short, your donations cover essential technology and operating fees. By contributing, you’re helping us maintain the daily service and even work toward new features.

  • Every bit of support helps ensure we can continue delivering high-quality running news and advice to coaches and athletes. We have big plans for the future – for example, we’d love to implement features like scientifically backed “confidence scores” for the advice we share (so you know if a tip is supported by research)runnersource.net. Those developments require resources. Community donations make it possible for us to not only cover current expenses but also invest in improvements that benefit everyone. So while donating is never required, it truly matters and is greatly appreciated. You’re helping keep RunnerSource available and evolving for the entire running community.

  • In summary: Donations help fund the service, but they’re a voluntary show of support. If you find value in what we do and want to help us sustain it, that’s what the donate button is for. Thank you!

 

Content Responsibility & Disclaimers

  • Where does the newsletter content come from?
    All the content in our newsletters is curated from external sources – we scan the running world for the most popular, trending, or insightful pieces of content each day. This includes interviews on running podcasts, training videos from coaches and athletes on YouTube, articles and blog posts on running websites, and more. Our team (with the help of AI tools) summarizes and highlights the key points from these sources, packaging them into an easy-to-read newsletter formatrunnersource.net. We always credit the original source of any article, video, or podcast we feature. You’ll typically see the source mentioned or linked in the newsletter item, so you know exactly where the information came from. RunnerSource itself isn’t creating medical or training advice out of thin air – we’re curating and summarizing advice from trusted voices in the endurance community, and doing so under fair use principles to share the knowledge more broadly.

  • Is the advice in RunnerSource newsletters professionally verified?
    Think of RunnerSource as a news aggregator and curator for running content. We strive for accuracy and usefulness, but the information we provide is not a substitute for professional advicerunnersource.net. We do not independently test or scientifically verify every tip or claim in the content we summarize – at least, not yet. (One of our future goals is to cross-reference more of the training and health advice with scientific studies and provide “confidence scores” or credibility indicators for yourunnersource.net, but this is a work-in-progress that depends on resources and funding.)

  • What this means is: use your own judgment and consult professionals when needed. Our newsletter is for informational and educational purposes, meant to keep you up-to-date on what coaches, athletes, and experts are sayingrunnersource.net. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or coaching advice tailored to you as an individualrunnersource.net. For any serious training plan changes, injury issues, or health decisions, you should consider reaching out to a qualified coach or healthcare professional. We encourage readers to treat our summaries as a starting point — if something interests you or could apply to your situation, click through to the original source to get more details, context, and nuance, and consider seeking expert guidance.

  • In short, we do our best to provide accurate summaries and helpful insights (and we’ll correct any factual errors we discover), but RunnerSource cannot guarantee that every piece of third-party content we feature is 100% correct or right for you. Always double-check critical information. We include this disclaimer to make sure our readers stay informed and safe: enjoy the curated content, but please run smart – when in doubt, check the original source or ask a coach/doctor.

  • Rest assured, as we grow we are continually exploring ways to increase the reliability of the info we share — such as collaborating with experts or adding editorial notes when something is anecdotal vs. evidence-based. Our mission is to give you trustworthy highlights, and your well-being is important to us.

 

Account Access & Troubleshooting

  • How do I sign in to my RunnerSource account?
    If you’ve created an account with RunnerSource (for example, during the donation process or by registering on the site), you can sign in by clicking the “Log In” link on our website. Enter the email and password you used when setting up the account. If your credentials are correct, you’ll be logged in and can access member areas like My Donations or your profile settings.

  • If you haven’t set a password yet or forgot it, don’t worry – just click “Forgot Password?” on the login screen. Then enter the email address you used when you signed up or donated. Our system will send you an email with a link to set a new password (or to activate your account if it was never activated). Follow that link, choose a secure password, and you’ll be able to log in normally going forward.

  • I signed up or donated as a “guest” and never created a password. How do I activate my account now?
    This is a common situation, and it’s easy to fix. When you first subscribed to the newsletter or made a donation, if you didn’t go through an account creation step, our system still recognizes your email and keeps a record – it just doesn’t have a password on file for you yet.  You may have received an initial account activation email, that could be one option to enable your account. To activate your account now, use the password reset trick: go to Log In -> Forgot Password -> enter your email. You should receive an email from RunnerSource prompting you to set a password and activate the account. Once you set a password and log in, your email becomes a fully active account (and any existing newsletter subscription or donation associated with that email will be accessible under that login).

  • If you don’t see the reset email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder just in case. The email will come from RunnerSource (noreply@runnersource.net). If you absolutely can’t find it or are having trouble, reach out to us at our support email, and we can manually send an activation link or assist with the process.

  • I use one email for the newsletter and a different email for donations – can I combine them or switch?
    Currently, our system treats each email address as a separate account. This means if you subscribed to the newsletter with one email, and then later donated using another email, you’ll end up with two different sets of records (one tied to each email). We understand it can be inconvenient to manage multiple accounts. While we don’t have an automatic merging feature on the user side yet, there are a couple of things you can do:

  • Pick one email to use going forward: The simplest solution is to choose either your personal email or your other email as your primary, and use that for all RunnerSource activities. For example, you might update your newsletter subscription to the same email you used for donations (or vice versa). You can unsubscribe one and re-subscribe with the preferred address, or contact us to help switch your newsletter to the other email.

  • Contact us for assistance: If you already have donations under one email and your newsletter on another and you’d like them unified, send us an email explaining the situation. We can likely transfer your newsletter subscription to the email that has your donation account, or otherwise align things so you only need to log in to one account. (We may ask a few verification questions for security.)

  • For now, to switch accounts in the website interface, you’ll have to log out and then log back in with the other email address. We know it’s a bit clunky; in the future, we hope to offer a smoother solution. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re happy to help you consolidate or manage your accounts so that RunnerSource is convenient for you.

  • I’m having trouble accessing my account (login issues, activation problems, etc.). What should I do?
    First, double-check that you’re using the correct email address (sometimes typos or the wrong email can slip in). If you’re sure the email is right, try the Forgot Password process to reset your password – this resolves most login issues. If you don’t receive a reset email, it might be that the email isn’t registered in our system (for instance, if you used a different email originally). Try any other email you might have used with RunnerSource.

  • If you’re still stuck, please contact us at support@runnersource.net. Provide as much detail as you can about the issue: e.g., “I donated on Sept 5 with email john@example.com, but I can’t log in with that email” or “I never got an activation email when I signed up.” We will assist you in getting access. Account access issues are usually resolved quickly once we identify the correct email and get you a working login link.

 

Contact & Support

  • How do I contact RunnerSource support, and when can I expect a response?
    For any questions or issues, the best (and currently only) way to reach us is via email. You can email our support team at support@runnersource.net, info@runnersource.net for general inquiries, or legal@runnersource.net for policy and terms & conditions. We do not have a customer support phone line or live chat at this time, so email is the way to go. We strive to be responsive and will usually get back to you within 1-2 business days (often sooner). Our team is small, but we care about our users – if you’re reaching out, it’s important. Whether you have a problem with the website, a question about your subscription, or feedback to share, just send us a note and we’ll do our best to help.

  • When emailing, it helps to include some key information so we can assist you faster. See the next question for details to include for certain issues.

  • What details should I provide when emailing support about a donation or account issue?
    Providing specific details in your support email will greatly speed up the process of helping you. Here’s what to include, especially for donation-related issues (like needing to cancel a donation, not seeing a donation in your account, or requesting a refund):

  • Your Name and Email: Give us the full name and email address used when you made the donation (or the one associated with your RunnerSource account).

  • Date and Amount of Donation: Let us know roughly when you donated and how much. For example, “$20 on August 15, 2025.”

  • Transaction ID or Last 4 Digits of Card: If you have the receipt email, it may contain a transaction ID or confirmation code – include that if possible. If not, providing the last four digits of the credit card used (and card type, e.g. Visa) can help us locate the transaction in our system.

  • Description of the Issue: Briefly explain what you need help with. For example, “I need to cancel my recurring donation,” or “I donated but it’s not showing up in my account,” or “I’d like a refund because I was charged twice,” etc. The more context, the better.

  • Here’s an example of a helpful support email:

  • Subject: Donation Help – Cancellation Request
    Body: “Hello RunnerSource team, I’d like to cancel my recurring donation. I donated using the name Jane Doe and email jane.doe@example.com. The monthly donation of $5 was set up on March 10, 2025. The last four digits of my card are 1234. Can you confirm cancellation? Thanks! – Jane”

  • Including details like those above will allow us to quickly find your record and take action. For newsletter or account access issues, similarly provide your email and a description (“I’m not receiving the newsletter”, “I can’t log in to my account under john@example.com”, etc.). We may reply asking for a bit more info if needed, but we’ll keep it straightforward.

  • Remember, we’re here to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out – whether it’s a technical glitch, a question about how something works, or a concern about your donations or emails, just send us an email and we’ll do our best to resolve it.

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We hope this FAQ has been helpful. RunnerSource.net values each member of our community – subscribers, donors, and casual readers alike. Our goal is to make sure you have an excellent experience keeping up with running news and insights. If your question wasn’t answered here, or if you need personalized assistance, please contact us (info@runnersource.net) and we’ll happily help.

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