Inclusive Running Club

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Why I Built Kita

An athlete finished a 5km run and looked around to see if anyone was watching.

THE PROBLEM

We were. But by next week, the only proof lived in a coach's memory and a group chat that had already moved on. These weren't casual jogs. These were hard-won kilometres by people who'd been told, in a hundred small ways, that sport wasn't really for them.

Then a caregiver asked: “How's she doing at running?” Not therapy. Not behaviour. Just running — the way any parent asks about their kid's sport.A Caregiver, after practice

THE GAP

I didn't have a good answer. Not because I didn't know. Because nothing I had could show her.

So I built it.

kita

Kita means “we” in Malay and Indonesian — specifically the inclusive form that includes the listener. Not “us and them.” Just “us.”

WHAT IT STANDS FOR

Dignity first

Athletes are athletes. Not clients, not participants, not “special.” The language, design, and celebrations all reflect that.

Privacy by design

Medical info, coaching notes, and mood ratings are never public. Caregivers have veto power over what gets shared.

Sensory safety

No flashing animations. No overwhelming sounds. Celebrations that feel warm, not startling.

Free and open source

MIT licensed. No premium tier. No investor pressure. Built for clubs that need it, by someone who runs one.

Originally published on Medium. Read the original essay →

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