White tablecloths, candle lit dinners and little black dresses are being traded for Lycra and running shoes as singletons are ditching the dinner date for a more active first date.
Those looking for love are finding new ways to enjoy first dates, fancy restaurants are out and gym dates are in.
Millenials and Gen Z, who find dinner dates ‘boring’ are instead finding alternative ways to meet romantic interests, in fact the trend is so popular that Tinder – the biggest dating app in the world – are launching running clubs for singletons to meet up.
Working with running coaching app, Runna, Tinder have launched SoleMates Run Clubs, a series of free runs starting in London this week.
Responding to the growing popularity of activity-based dating and with ‘running’ trending as one of the top Tinder profile tagged Interests, singles across the UK’s capital will be able to get feet and hearts racing at one of Tinder and Runna’s SoleMates sessions.
Millenials and Gen Z, who find dinner dates ‘boring’ are instead finding alternative ways to meet romantic interests, in fact the trend is so popular that Tinder – the biggest dating app in the world – are launching running clubs for singletons to meet up
![Responding to the growing popularity of activity-based dating and with 'running' trending as one of the top Tinder profile tagged Interests, singles across the UK's capital will be able to get feet and hearts racing at one of Tinder and Runna's SoleMates sessions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/11/16/85977849-13517671-Responding_to_the_growing_popularity_of_activity_based_dating_an-a-5_1718119338815.jpg)
Responding to the growing popularity of activity-based dating and with ‘running’ trending as one of the top Tinder profile tagged Interests, singles across the UK’s capital will be able to get feet and hearts racing at one of Tinder and Runna’s SoleMates sessions
Designed to bring singles together for a fun dating experience, SoleMates Run Clubs will take place across three weeks in June and July at different central London locations.
Each session will consist of a 5k run led by Runna kept at a casual, chatty pace to help attendees either meet new, like-minded people, or flirt with a Tinder match over a shared interest.
The capital’s Tinder users will be the first in the know, with the SoleMates Run Clubs being promoted in the app via a ‘Swipe Card’ taking users directly to the booking facility.
Suitable for a range of abilities, SoleMates Run Clubs welcomes all runners, from those who have never been running before to those who do so every week.
Those attending the runs solo without a Tinder match will be paired with like-minded runners based on previous running experience to ensure potential Tinder matches have the chance to chat as they run and explore personalities as well as pace.
At the finish line, runners will be hosted at a post-run social where they’ll have the opportunity to get to know the people they ran with that little bit better.
Laura Wilkinson-Rae, Senior Communications Director from Tinder told FEMAIL: ‘With the nights getting longer, and many young singles ditching the classic dinner date, the SoleMates Run Clubs allow young singles to enjoy an IRL date with a difference. What is guaranteed is that heart rates will rise.’
![According to Badoo, young people are snubbing typical date spots for crafting classes, gym sessions or even 'dawn dates', where singletons meet up for coffee before work. Stock](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/11/16/54570803-13517671-According_to_Badoo_young_people_are_snubbing_typical_date_spots_-a-3_1718118395298.jpg)
According to Badoo, young people are snubbing typical date spots for crafting classes, gym sessions or even ‘dawn dates’, where singletons meet up for coffee before work. Stock
Ben Parker, Co-Founder and Head Coach at Runna added: ‘It’s been incredible to see the love for running spread across London, with so many amazing new run clubs, enriching local communities.
‘With our passion for running, we are thrilled to be teaming up with Tinder for the SoleMates Run Clubs and can’t wait to welcome runners down to the event and hopefully help build some great new connections’.
Many singletons are looking for alternative ways to enjoy dating.
Sasha, 42, from East Sussex told the Guardian that she took a date swimming as a first date – adding she would ‘never go out for dinner with anyone, it’s too awkward’.
The rising cost of living may have something to do with the fall in dinner dates.
A survey by the dating site Match suggests 40 per cent of those it polled saying the cost of living crisis meant they were going on fewer dates.
Elsewhere, the Ain’t Got A Clue podcast predicted the rise of ‘all female run clubs’ because they are ‘becoming the new Hinge’.
According to Badoo, young people are snubbing typical dating spots for crafting classes, gym sessions or even ‘dawn dates’ – where singletons meet up for coffee or breakfast before starting work.
Tina Wilson, who founded dating app Wingman, says a surge in online dating following the pandemic means Gen Z singletons are ‘cutting to the chase’, when it comes to meeting potential partners.
The London-based relationship expert has also noticed a spike in health-conscious users whittling down their pool of potential partners based on their drinking or smoking habits.
Dating guru James Preece also noted a rise in younger clients who are focused on their health – ditching wine bars and swanky restaurants for pottery classes or yoga sessions.
‘This is something I’ve definitely noticed this with my younger clients,’ he said. ‘Many of them are very health and body conscious, so they drink less and are more active than other generations.’
He added that flexible working, the ability to speak with multiple partners online and the increasing cost of dating means dating is becoming far more about efficiency than romance.
‘Time is limited as it’s easier to get dates, so they would rather do something more normal’, he said. ‘This takes the pressure off and it’s easier to bond.
‘Another reason is the cost of dating is increasingly expensive, which is a problem when money is limited. If you are going on lots of dates then it can be easier to arrange if you tie it into something you are already planning to do.
‘The downside to this is that these dates are so low key that they lack romance and aren’t very memorable.
‘This means that it’s harder to feel a true spark or connection. They almost work as ‘test’ or ‘zero’ dates as a way to see if they want to go on a proper date later on.’
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