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<h1 class="left">It’s the Saturday after Valentine's Day, and I have never witnessed more fit folks congregating in one place since attending one nausea-inducing spin class last year. This group of extremely athletic bodies has been cherry-picked for a 2 KM run powered by Puma and Bumble, and hence, is for the single creatives, fitness enthusiasts and content creators looking to find a partner or a running partner to match their stride.</h1>

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<h1 class="left">To someone who finds gyms and group workout sessions intimidating, this test of physicality seems like peak performance pressure. Peacocks, flamingoes, and the acrobatic Lesser Florican have been known to bust out moves to find their feathered mate. It somehow comically draws a similar parallel, where sports have become the new mating ritual for Gen Z since last year. Something in the zeitgeist has radically changed to have a chronically online generation weaned on SIMS and Call of Duty, where maintaining a lifestyle in a pseudo-reality would beat having one in the actual world, to chuck their controllers and go for a...run?</h1>

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<h1 class="right">According to behavioural analyst Safa Arshadullah, this new spike in recreational sporting conventions is a result of an all-time high in isolation and loneliness exacerbated by living primarily online. Consider this change a natural evolution from contrasting polarities between quiet luxury and brat summer. A survey conducted by fitness app Strava supports this statement, where 84% of Gen Z runners admit to using community-oriented sporting activities as a tool to combat loneliness. In 2025, the dating economy would seem at its most popular version online.</h1>

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<h1 class="right">You may be terrifically smooth on text, but a social pariah IRL. With dirty’s team interviewing participants on-ground on their dating lives, responses indicate a majority that may have total control over their physicality but may be tragically inept at dating. Social skills beyond an interface are a challenge greater than jogging for two kilometres. “Is it acceptable to ask for an expensive Palm Angels underwear you gifted your ex back?” One female participant questions. While the majority of the male participants consider oversharing on the first date their most regrettable dating mistake. “I told her things about my childhood traumas, things I’ve been through—stuff you’d tell them on the fifth date, but I did on the first,” admits Shantanu. “I made her meet my parents on the first date,” confesses Maaz Ansari. “That was not my proudest moment. I told my mom she’s the one, and the next day we broke up,” he finishes, correcting himself on his slip of the tongue (technically, a first date would not constitute a traditionally accepted break up).</h1>

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<h1 class="left">App users are also reaching their saturation points, having become desensitised to the repetitive method of finding likeminded individuals on an app, which is why sporting events such as Puma’s initiative with Bumble have become a convenient method of meeting people, where social graces can take a back seat while you bond over a shared interest of sports. Perhaps there is forgiveness and tolerance to be found when wholesome interests match, over the methodic dating ethics of picking up the cheque and opening doors. Instead, you can opt for a game of Padel or go for a trek that provides a layered segue to performing socially.</h1>

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<h1 class="left">Photographer: Daniel Abruham</h1>

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