This week, fitness app developer MapMyFitness announced a partnership with retailer Brooks Running Company to create an online community, The Happy Run Group. This new social group is based around a three-year program aimed at engaging competition among runners, offering prizes and building community.

Last year, MapMyFitness raised $9 million from Austin Ventures. The company also has partnerships with Aetna CarePass and NetPulseOne.

The partnership encourages the sharing of running experiences on a variety of social networks including MapMyFitness. After each run, the user can rate his or her workout with options like "Crushed Goals," "Kicked Butt," and "Finished with a Smile." When the user is at his or her desktop, the Run Happy Group also offers other features, like a Run Happy Instagram feed and motivational content from Brooks Running Company.

Through the online Run Happy portal, runners can find a local group, view featured running events, or participate in discussion forums. Runners can also choose to participate in challenges, one of which will be a six week competition among MapMyRun members to log the most points in order to win prizes like pairs of shoes or tickets to Las Vegas to compete in the Rock 'n' Roll marathon or half-marathon.

MapMyFitness and Brooks Running Company also expect that  local retailers that sell Brooks products will be involved in the program. The Run Happy Group makes it easier for local stores to access more information about when and where runners are using Brooks shoes and how the shoes are being used.

Already a prominent hashtag on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram, "run happy" is closely associated with the Brooks Running Company brand.