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Several videos on social media claim people are joining their local running club because it’s easier to meet people online than virtually.
“Dating apps are trash. We all want the magical moment of meeting someone in person in real life,” TikTok user @lifeofmariely said.
“I think, I know, running clubs are new dating apps,” she added.
Meanwhile, others are taking the run club dating idea up a notch and asking viewers if people would consider adopting the show “The Bachelor” and creating a run club version to meet potential candidates in person.
“Not a bad idea at all,” one user said.
“So basically online dating in real life, but with sweat and getting winded,” another user said.
However, other users aren’t fond of the idea and prefer run clubs to remain for exercising purposes.
“Or we make run club back about running again,” a user said.
“Or maybe we leave chasing after a man back in 2023,” another user said.
Popular dating app Tinder acknowledges that people are turning to running clubs and other ways to meet people in real life as the weather heats up.
Dr. Jess O’Reilly, Sexologist and Tinder relationship expert told The Brandon Gonez Show that “This trend is gaining so much traction, so we’re definitely paying attention in Toronto. It’s especially relevant in Toronto (and Canada, more generally) since the warm weather is fleeting.”
“When daters are ready to take things off Tinder and meet IRL, run clubs are a healthy, social and cost-effective way to take a relationship or friendship to the next level,” she added.
However, she said Tinder remains one of the most popular tools for young singles to connect.
“In fact, the app’s 2023 Future of Dating Report found that a majority of people under 30 are using dating apps and over half (55%) of young singles have been in a serious relationship with someone they met on Tinder,” she said.
Many online users continue to post videos of themselves at local run clubs and encourage people to stop going to networking events and delete their dating apps.
