There’s a new way of dating in Toronto and it requires a good pair of running shoes and a strong stamina.
Lately, running clubs have been all the rage in the city and not because of physical activity, but as a new form of dating. Currently, there are about 55 run clubs that are available to join in the city and many of them are also free.
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Since the trend is only going upwards, Now Toronto decided to reach out to Tinder to find out its take on the new dating option.
“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,” Tinder relationship expert Dr. Jessica O’Reilly said in a statement on Monday.
“We’re also hearing that run-clubs are low-pressure and becoming more diverse — you don’t have to be prepping for a marathon to take part,” she continued.
Despite the rise in running club recruitment, O’Reilly said Tinder still remains a popular tool for young singles and the main point of it is to meet a partner, delete the app and then tell your friends about it.
“The app’s 2023 Future of Dating Report found that a majority of people under 30 are using dating apps and over half (55 per cent) of young singles have been in a serious relationship with someone they met on Tinder. And for those who haven’t dated someone from Tinder themselves, nearly 40 per cent of people know someone who has,” O’Reilly said.
When it comes to in-person events this summer, the relationship expert says Tinder is currently working on opportunities for people to connect beyond the app. Recently, she said the dating app has partnered with Runna to launch a singles run club in the United Kingdom.
