Love in the Run Club: Two Stories of Finding Romance on the Track

(SPOT.ph) It’s something that has been repeated over and over again: Running clubs are the new dating apps. For active people—or even just those who prefer spontaneous in-person meet-cutes rather than slow, uncertain burn of online romances—the idea is appealing. But is it actually true? Are run clubs really a good place for romance to flourish? Just like dating apps, we can’t guarantee success. However, we did find two couples whose love stories were born on the run. Here they share their love stories, explaining why the run club became the perfect setting for their romance.

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Run clubs for love and dating? These two couples prove that it can happen:

Jixee and Beth

In 2011, when Jixee and Beth Lagunda's love story began, running clubs weren’t the phenomenon they are today. Both joined adiNation for Runners (now Adidas Runners), not to expand their dating opportunities but to enjoy the sport with other people who shared the same interest.

"[Running] is fun when you can share it, if you have friends from the community," Beth says. For her, run clubs are the ideal blend of fitness and fun, proving that running doesn't have to be a solitary experience (even though it's primarily an individual sport). "Alam mo yung when you wake up somebody is texting you, 'sige na, sabay tayo.'" Jixee agrees: "In short, budol."

The pair were at different points of their running journeys: Jixee was already a seasoned runner, having run for several years with friends and colleagues, while Beth was at the start of her fitness journey (“I hate running or walking under the sun. But then I did [start running] to make that change.”). And although they were part of the same club, their running paths were distinct, too: Jixee coached in BGC and Beth frequently logged miles in UP Diliman.

Eventually, their two routes overlapped. It was during a biannual event of adiNation in Resorts World that brought together the club’s different chapters and allowed Beth to catch a glimpse of Jixee. In the beginning, he played it cool: “Nakita niya ako, hindi ko siya pinansin.” 

Their shared hobby fueled their budding relationship. Beth remembers looking forward to upcoming activities and competitions, knowing that she was going to get a glimpse of Jixee. It was exhilarating from the beginning, with the pair rooting for each other during their respective events. “And then when we got together, it’s so good that you get to do things together,” Beth shared. 

The structure of running clubs, the couple believes, lets relationships develop at a slow yet steady pace, making it more likely to last. Beth explains that regular runs give couples an opportunity for conversation, allowing them to truly get to know each other on a deeper level. "Imagine, every day or even just three times a week, you run and you get to talk about so many things,” she points out, adding that the shared activity and consistent communication foster stronger, more meaningful relationships. 

And more than that, Jixee says, "It attracts positivity. Because when you’re doing it, masaya ka.” 

So perhaps it's no surprise that run clubs have become so much more than a sport in the current landscape. Jixee has seen the evolution of run clubs over the years. When he joined adiNation more than a decade ago, it was purely for running; these days, these groups have become something more social. Nowadays, he says, many people join run clubs to socialize—and probably date.

“Siguro factor na rin yung social media,” he muses, adding that it shows people what the sport can bring them. “Apart from giving them a leisure activity and better health, meron pang benefit of getting to know more people and, eventually, dating someone.”

These days, running is no longer at the center of the married couple's relationship. With two kids and an injury affecting Beth’s sense of balance, the couple gravitates towards less strenuous activities when they’re together like dinner dates, movies, and golf. But running remains special. After all, it gave the couple something that the others didn’t: each other.

Reichelle and Ram

Reichelle Kristine Gonzales and Ram Hill Leaño's love story began on Valentine's Day in 2024 during a community run hosted by Tara G! Run Club (TGRC). For Reichelle, a relative newcomer to running, the event was a chance to expand her social circle beyond her work barkada. Ram, on the other hand, was already an experienced ultramarathoner. 

Although they shared the same physical space that day, their initial connection was digital. Ram recalls first noticing Reichelle when he joined the regular run instead of his more strenuous ones. Later, he spotted Reichelle on TGRC's Instagram page, followed her, and a simple "like" on his Story sparked a friendship. Their shared interest in running made it easy to strike up and sustain a conversation. Reichelle says, "We talked a lot because we had a common ground." 

And eventually, their friendship blossomed into something more. Over the next several months,  the two of them juggled their training sessions and new relationship. Balancing life and love with the demands of marathon or ultramarathon training can be a challenge, but luckily, they speak the same language—the language of running—which means they fully understand each other's commitment. 

Though they both train regularly, their training schedules couldn't be more different. Reichelle, gearing up for her first marathon, The Bull Runner Dream Marathon in February 16, squeezes in her runs before work about five times a week. Ram's ultramarathon training, however, is a different beast altogether. He hits the pavement for six- to seven-hour runs, often starting around 11 p.m. and winding through the streets of Mandaluyong, BGC, and Makati. His late-night runs are a necessity, mirroring the typical start times of the ultramarathons he competes in. 

But one of the best things about finding a partner who shares your passion is the unwavering support. Although they may train separately, Reichelle and Ram know that they have a built-in coach and cheerleader in the other. When one feels under the weather (like Reichelle did in a 16-kilometer race), the other steps in to lift them up. 

Ram recounts joining the Bataan Death March Ultra 102k to honor his grandfather (a war veteran), but a pre-race injury threatened to derail his efforts. He vividly remembers struggling to finish the race and being close to the cutoff time. Seeing Reichelle and his friends' unending support, including their efforts to massage his legs and keep his spirits up, inspired him to finish. "Sabi ko, hindi ko na tatapusin yung race para sa sarili ko," he says, concluding that he did it for Reichelle and his support crew.

Should you join a run club?

Even for total beginners, Jixee recommends trying out a run club to explore your interest in running. Do you like it enough to pursue it? “The goal for beginners is, at first, to enjoy the sport," he says, describing it as "pure joy. Matutuloy mo lang naman yung sport once there’s enjoyment.”

Beginners may be intimidated at the thought of having to keep up with experienced runners but Ram assures there are different groups who run at different run-walk paces. Running with a club can be the push some people need to persevere, to get up in the morning even when the temptation of staying in bed may be too much.

But it's also important to know your own purpose for joining a run club, whether it's to meet new people and run with fellow athletes, or to pursue the sport and train for a marathon. Once you know what you want, it's easier to choose the club that suits your needs. An important factor in choosing a run club is location, of course; another is purpose. 

"Research what kind of club you're joining and their purpose and why they exist," Beth advises. "Is it just for socialization because it's in the same location? Or is it sponsored by someone like Adidas wherein there is a [running] program?"

And then of course, once you pick one, there's nothing left to do but to take the leap. Don't be discouraged if you end up trying a few clubs before finding the right fit. Much like finding The One, looking for the perfect run club can sometimes involve kissing a few frogs.

 Besides, Ram and Reichelle point out that you may even end up joining several. The world of running is bigger than any single club, after all, but it's surprisingly tight-knit, too. "[You'll see] the same faces at every club," Ram observes. Reichelle explains that different run clubs often have runs scheduled on different days. Avid runners like themselves often find themselves part of a network, flitting between different clubs and joining whichever run fits their free time.

And if you're less about an upcoming race and more about prowling for a date? 

Jixee has one crucial piece of advice, especially for women: "Be cautious." He emphasizes the importance of staying safe, noting that while some may join run clubs genuinely seeing connection, others might have less honorable intentions. 

But ultimately, both couples agree that finding love in a run club shouldn't be the primary goal. It's best to enjoy the run and let connections develop naturally. Pressure, they say, is the last thing you need.

It's no rush, is it? For Beth, it's important to pace yourself. "Huwag magmadali. You enjoy the run and then the love actually is secondary. It will come to you. It doesn't have to be forced. Just enjoy the experience a little bit. For me, if you eventually discover [love] and you took time, not rush, not just to love for the sake of love, it lasts."

After all, whether the setting is a race track or Bumble, the search for true love isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.