Young people in Perth are signing up to running clubs in order to find romance, according to a new online trend.

Since the launch of Tinder in 2012, online dating has become a popular way to meet your significant other, with many people turning to similar apps in search of love. More than 300 million people now use dating apps worldwide.

But a growing number of young Aussies are rejecting online dating and instead choosing to meet new people in person, specifically at running clubs across the state. The trend has seen hundreds of people attending these running events, prompting many to post online that ‘run clubs are the new dating apps’.

Organiser of WA running club ‘Runclubby,’ Lachlan Byrne, says run clubs create a new market to meet people with similar interests. 

“I can definitely see where the trend comes from. I’ve met a lot of better quality people at run clubs with more healthy habits and hobbies.”

RunClubby WA meets monthly at different locations across Perth, and just last Friday had more than 60 attendees running together at Optus Stadium. The club is an offshoot of the national RunClubby, founded in Melbourne by sports podcaster Dylan Buckley.

Mr Byrne says the club is welcoming to people of all fitness abilities, focusing on a casual and social run rather than a quick one.

“It’s very much an environment where you can just come along and be yourself. There’s no pressure to run a certain speed or distance” he says.

“I’m not going to say that run clubs are not the new dating app, but they definitely let you meet some amazing people, even just as friends.”

Dating and relationships coach Debbie Rivers says young people across Perth are unhappy with dating apps and are instead looking for in-person opportunities to meet new people.

“A lot of people get so frustrated with dating apps and what it takes to go on a date, and they lose motivation altogether. It feels like a second job that people don’t have time for. Any face-to-face way of meeting is really trending at the moment.”

Ms Rivers says run clubs are an attractive option for young singles as more people choose not to go on alcohol-related dates.

“If you are not a drinker what do you do? Young people want to try sober dating – they don’t want to go meet someone in a pub. Something like a run club is the perfect solution” she says.

“There’s also a lot more social anxiety out there in the younger generation. Things like run clubs help to rule that out as well – people are all there for the same reason, and have something to talk about.”

Ms Rivers says there is a growing interest in the old-school way of meeting people organically.

However, relationships coach Renee Brown says although run clubs can be very positive, they can also attract narcissistic characters.

“With dating and relationships, there’s always pros and cons,” she says. “Run clubs can be quite superficial, and the people who attend might be more sporty and image-focused.”

“Young women in activewear and the fitness environment are really appealing to narcissistic men, and these run groups might expose them to these types of people.”

“That would be the only catch I have recognised through watching how popular these run groups are becoming.”