If you're in 'RunTok', the running-obsessed corner of TikTok, you may have seen videos claiming that running clubs are the new dating apps.
And since the new year often brings renewed fitness and dating goals, the prospect of joining a running club to find a partner may seem like killing two birds with one stone.
But running clubs have warned that, while they're a great way to meet new people and build a community, romantic relationships are not the main focus.
Tara Meakins, who co-founded Coogee Run Club in 2022, said she knows of three couples who have met through the group.
"I think the most important thing is to come for the right reasons, you know? Come for the fitness, come for your mental health, come for the friendships, come to do social things, come to meet your tribe," she said.
"And if you find love, that's an extra bonus, but I don't think that probably should be the main goal."
Another Sydney running club, which didn't want to be named, said they have previously had problems with attendees making others uncomfortable in their quest to find a partner.
In some instances, the club even had to turn people away.
Georgia Phelps, Ben Hurst and Tara Meakins are all members of the Coogee Run Club. Source: SBS News
Georgia Phelps, a single member of the Coogee Run Club, said she was open to meeting someone through the group.
"You're meeting people that have a similar lifestyle to you. It's kind of easier to find someone more compatible with you rather than trawling through the apps and just having a bunch of bad dates with people that aren't really suited to you," she said.
Ben Hurst, who is a running lead in the club, said most people in relationships in the club like to keep them "on the DL (down low)".
"You get a free date with someone on a run. You can just have a quick chat with them and if you gel, then you can sort something else out later," he said.
But Meakins warned that, because run club "is like family" and meets multiple times per week, dating a fellow member could create some awkward situations.
"Run club is sacred, and you don't want to be causing trouble or perhaps dating people and breaking up and having that kind of fuss. So that's why I think friendship is one of the most important foundations to start with," she said.
