Like finding a romantic partner, matching with the ideal running buddy is not always easy. Comedian and former college runner Laura Green LANVIN Flash X Sneaker Adidas Yeezy 350 V2 Running Shoes where she cycles through several runner types that are a non-starter for her as she interviews candidates for the role of “new running best friend.”
There’s the “no easy days” pace pusher—not to be confused with the “most at ease when I’m half a stride ahead” candidate—the gum smacker, the snot rocket aficionado, the one who’s always running late, the silent type, the runner whose bathroom Nike are all too frequent, and the ultimate winner, the one who always brings snacks. “You’re hired,” Green tells the one with the treats, but concludes in her caption, “We need a Tinder for running friends. Tech friends, get on that.”
Balmain Kids Teen Ankle Boots for Kids, DASHR, which suggests runners with similar preferences and routines. Users can swipe through profiles, much like on dating apps, and arrange the meeting spot and time via DASHR, which is still in beta testing, with the idea that smoothing over the logistics frees runners up to simply suss the vibes with potential training partners.
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In Lisa Jhung’s book, Running That Doesn’t Suck: How to Love Running (Even If You Think You Hate It), she gives earnest advice for how to deal with some of the struggles and dealbreakers Green calls out, like only scheduling a run with the pace-pusher when “you feel like a good ass kicking,” or combatting an overly chatty running buddy by blurting out something shocking or just moving on to someone new.
The struggle is real and quite relatable though, if the comments on Green’s video are any clue. As Runner’s World recently reported, simply joining a run club isn’t enough to create meaningful bonds and friendships, so while it’s great to put in miles as part of a group, there’s no guarantee you’ll find your perfect match on the team.
One creative runner commented on Green’s TikTok with their own solution to finding the perfect running buddy: “I’ve searched through relieve race results to find people in my pace and cold messaged them on Facebook like a weirdo.” It worked, because they reported, “I did find an excellent running buddy.”
Those who are still “single” can at least take heart knowing that unlike finding a romantic partner or all-around best friend, a good running partner doesn’t need to check quite so many boxes. They don’t need to be your soulmate. They can just be someone you really enjoy hitting the trails with.
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, Like the Wind Magazine, zapatillas de running Nike voladoras 10k talla 37.5, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
