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[title]Running is no longer just about fitness. In cities like New York and London, social running has been growing for years as a new way to meet people, build community and—why not—find love without having to swipe right. Now, Buenos Aires is joining the trend with groups that combine running, coffee, social plans, and real connection.
As dating apps become increasingly repetitive and nightlife loses its appeal, running in groups is emerging as the go-to plan for those seeking more than likes and matches. With outdoor meeting points, zero pressure, and lots of after-run hangouts, social running is creating its own community circuit.
Social Running Club: The Running Club Born from a Broken Heart
Michelle Turquí is 20 years old, studying Behavioral Sciences at Universidad de San Andrés, and, contrary to what many might assume, she’s not into nightlife. A few months ago, after a breakup, she went out for a run to clear her head. Her best friend was going through the same, and together they realized something was missing: a space to meet people without relying on apps like Tinder or forced, superficial outings.
“So Social Running Club came from a 100% personal need to create a healthy space in the morning, where I didn’t have to drag my friends out for a run, but rather meet people who are genuinely into it and looking to connect,” says Michelle. “And honestly, it’s crazy what happened. Clearly, people were needing a space to connect in a less forced way.”
People were needing a space to connect in a less forced way
Today, SRC is a meeting point for people from all walks of life. There are runners looking to move past the solitary aspect of the sport, and others simply seeking connection, a sense of belonging, and shared plans. “It’s amazing how many people come and end up planning other things together. There’s even a group who met through SRC and months later traveled to Rio de Janeiro to see a Lady Gaga concert together,” Michelle adds.
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For her, the most interesting part is the mindset shift: “People find a space where they don’t need to like someone’s photo before getting to know them. It’s all super casual—you spend time together, grab a coffee, and get to know someone in a much less forced context.” Notably, around 50% of participants are foreigners living alone in the city, looking to expand their social circle.
Is social running the new Tinder—without screens? “I’d say Social Running really avoids all the superficial stuff. On Tinder, you have to like someone based on how they look. Here, physical appearance is the least important thing. You’ve just run 4, 5, or 7 kilometers, you’re exhausted. Your physical presence is probably at its worst. If you were going out or posting a Tinder pic, it definitely wouldn’t be after a run, right? But still, you sit down for coffee, talk, and connect through shared experiences—regardless of how you look. I think that’s so powerful. Nowadays, young people are facing a social crisis where everything is so superficial through screens, we can’t tell what’s real. This allows for much more genuine contact.”
“What’s next for SRC? We don’t want to set any limits. Our goal is to keep growing. At every meetup, we tell people: if there’s something you want to do, just suggest it—we’ll find a way to make it happen. We believe people are coming here to find a community, a group they belong to, and that’s our mission: to foster that community and help people make lifelong friends.”
SQUAD: Three Friends, One Shared Obsession with Running and Connecting
Rodrigo, Pedro, and Tomás are all in their twenties, leading different lives but sharing one passion: running. Every Saturday they’d meet to train, until one day, they casually decided to open up the plan. “We felt a personal need to connect more, to create community in Buenos Aires. We wanted to create more human, more real spaces, where people could meet outside of work or apps. A place where you don’t need to be a fast runner to feel like you belong. Where you can show up alone and leave with friends,” says Tomás Del Río, one of the SQUAD founders.
Running is just the excuse. “Many people join for the social part and end up falling in love with running,” Tomás says. “SQUAD becomes a gateway into the sport for people who never imagined running 10K or more. We often see someone who came to SQUAD on the weekend, and by Tuesday they’re posting stories about their own solo runs. They came for the social vibe and discovered a love for the sport.”
Rodrigo recalls a plan that captures the spirit of the group: “Last November, 18 of us went to run in Mar del Plata. We rented a house together. Some ran 10K, others did a half-marathon. It was an amazing weekend—running, cooking, training. A trip with friends, most of whom met through SQUAD.”
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Like SRC, this group also has a strong expat community. “People from Venezuela, Colombia, the US, Russia, Kazakhstan—they now hang out midweek, invite us over for dinner, we host barbecues. One of them even said he decided to stay longer in Buenos Aires because of the group he found here. That makes us really happy,” Rodrigo adds.
What is SQUAD? “It’s a space that waits for you every Saturday, where you can come alone and feel supported, where you see familiar faces and feel like you belong. After the pandemic, with remote work and so much isolation, we think a lot of us needed to get back to face-to-face connection. Real contact. Sharing without screens. But that doesn’t mean you come here to flirt or find romance. Things happen if they’re meant to, but it’s always from a human, genuine place.”
SQUAD has already had one event go viral—the Run & Wine—and now they’re aiming higher. This month marks their first nationwide Social Run with a marathon in Mendoza (they’ve already got 50 people confirmed!). They’re also planning four events across different neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, each with new routes and food experiences. Want a spoiler? A limited merch drop is coming soon, along with new event formats. “We want to raise the bar so people are excited to come back to SQUAD every weekend,” says Pedro Sanjurjo.