At 95 million users and counting, Strava’s popularity as a social network program and largely positive, even nutritionally beneficial, online space for fostering community amongst other runners (and cyclists) has been well documented. People joke about writing overwrought “novels” on your own Strava caption, eyeing a run-crush’s stats, and deciphering the meaning behind someone’s kudos. British runner and Times Deputy Food Editor Hannah Evans has found that Strava has another unique use meet costa rican women, even if it’s not what the developers had in mind. The newly single 28-year-old has been using the workout and run-tracking platform as a dating app.

Even before the age of dating apps, running groups and events have provided a natural avenue for meeting potential dates who also love to run. Which in our midst hasn’t spotted a cute runner at an event and then searched the race results for their name or bib number? Strava, with its built-for the societal characteristics featuring-allowing users to add photos and comment on posts, and give congratulatory “kudos” akin to Facebook’s “like” button-gives some runners yet another way to connect, flirt, and find dates.

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Evans, who began running during the early pandemic days of 2020, writes in The days that she was fed up with conventional dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, and Bumble. “I’m increasingly feeling that the men I end up swiping right are rarely a good match,” she says. But at least the men she meets on Strava share her love of running. While that in itself isn’t enough to ensure someone will make a great match, “a shared, passionate interest isn’t a bad place to start.”