Running News Daily

Is running a good idea for your first date?

One perk of running on the first date is that if it ends up going poorly, it's easier to run away

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you might be looking for some date ideas to spice up your love life. Your training could also use a boost, and you’re thinking of inviting your crush to go for a run on your first date. You’ve been on running dates before, but is running a good idea for a first date?

According to a study done by dating site PlentyOfFish, almost 75 per cent of users go for coffee or dinner on their first date. The run date is a non-traditional-style date, which presents many parties with a change of scenery and a chance to bond over their mutual love for the sport. 

What’s attractive about running on a first date is the chance to chat while facing straight ahead (for the most part), and the fun of exploring a new route together. (Chances are, you don’t run the same routes, so it’ll be new for at least one of you.) Running is a great way to see something new while showing your date a cool spot they didn’t know about.

One perk of running on the first date is that if it ends up going poorly, you can cut it short. There’s no need to wait for a check on a run; if the date is going badly, it’s easy to make an Irish exit. 

First dates can get expensive, especially if you are going on a lot of them. Running is typically inexpensive, plus you’re getting some exercise. 

But before you propose a run for the first date, here are some caveats. First and foremost, plan to eat after the run, not before. The last thing you want on a first date is to be gassy, or to have to make an emergency pit stop because you had Indian food two hours before. 

Second, find out what pace and distance your date is accustomed to running, and plan a route accordingly. The last thing you want is to get lost and to see your 8 km run turn into 18 km. And agreeing on a pre-set pace at which both of you can run comfortably will be crucial in securing that second date if things go well. Remember – the date is not a race. There’s no need to start ripping three-minute kilometres (and if you do, you probably won’t see your date again). 

Last, bring a change of clothes, a towel and maybe a stick of deodorant to clean up afterward, especially if you’re planning to hang out together for dinner or coffee.