Tired of Dating Apps? Want to Meet New Friends? Join an NJ Running Club

The NJ Walk ’N’ Run Club, founded by two Hoboken Gen-Zers, hosts flexible, accessible community gatherings that aren't limited to exercise.

Smiling walkers in a forest
NJ Walk ’N’ Run Club offers everything from hikes and runs to brunches and dinners. Photo: Courtesy of NJ Walk ’N’ Run Club/Kevin Ware

Single this Valentine’s Day? If you’d like to change that, or just want to meet some new people, consider attending an event hosted by the NJ Walk ’N’ Run Club. Formed in July by two Hoboken Gen-Zers, the club hosts walks/runs for every fitness level, plus purely social events.

Singles running clubs have taken off recently, as many people have grown disillusioned with dating apps and a general lack of community. The Lunge Club in Manhattan, for example, has about 1,000 runners every week looking for love while jogging the streets of Manhattan.

The NJ Walk ’N’ Run Club is less intense and not limited to those looking for romance. “It’s very inclusive,” says participant Gabe Garcia. “We want to demystify running from being this super intense and technical thing.” At meets, non-runners are welcome to walk, and those who want to skip the exercise can attend the group’s social events, like brunches or Friendsgiving.

The club is the brainchild of Jazleen Gongora and Kamila Amador, who were frustrated by the lack of a flexible, accessible running club. “I wasn’t a really big runner, and Kami likes to walk,” Gongora says. “I thought, Why isn’t there a walking and running club?

After creating social media accounts, the friends hosted their first meet with fewer than 20 people; after just a few months, that number grew to up to 300 per event. The club’s Instagram account now has 22,000 followers and counting.

Social media has been a boon to the club’s growth. The friends create and post videos after events and use Instagram to attract sponsorships from local businesses and fitness brands.

“It was kind of overwhelming at first; it all happened so fast,” says Amador. “It was like, Oh my God, we actually made a community.”

Singles events tend to be the most popular. At a gathering last fall, there were a photo booth, saxophonist and speed-dating game. Red roses were handed out to promising pairs.

“I guess it’s just what people are looking for,” Gongora says of the group. “They’re trying to find community in New Jersey, and we’re welcoming and inclusive. Even if they didn’t end up with somebody, everyone had so much fun.”

[RELATED: Trail-Running Community Donates Thousands to NJ Charities]


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