Hundreds of singles meet in new dating scene – NBC New York

About a thousand singles, most of them dressed in black, flocked to New York City’s Washington Square Park on Wednesday to run or briskly walk at a meeting of a new running club. The park quickly became the city’s most popular meeting place for finding new love or friendships.

Lunge Run Club is a free running group for anyone looking to meet new people, whether for dating or to make friends. The club was founded in May by 28-year-old New Yorker Steven Cole, the creator of Lunge, a fitness dating app that connects singles who work out at similar gyms.

Rachael Lansing is the director of the Lunge Run Club and says the group started with about 30 participants and quickly gained attention in the districts, with about 1,000 guests in attendance at the last meeting.

“We’re basically a running club. We run 3 miles or do a 1.5 mile hot walk. People come alone or with friends. If you’re single, wear all black. If you’re taken, wear colorful things and after the run there’s #beer,” Lansing told NBC New York before the run kicked off on Wednesday.

Everyone is welcome to join the free weekly runs every Wednesday at 6:45pm. The location and updates for each week are available on the club’s Instagram handle, @lungerunclub.

What makes this dating experience so unique, according to Cole, is the fact that people who meet at the running location can arrange to meet up later on the social app Lunge to continue the conversation.

“The Lunge dating app can match you exclusively with people at the same training location. We match all members of the Lunge Run Club exclusively through the app. So we try to help you meet people who have a lot in common that sets us apart,” Cole told News 4.

The run or brisk walk ends around 8 p.m. at a designated bar, such as Houston Hall, where runners can enjoy drinks and socialize after their workout.