A frustrated single has set up speed dating workout at a Wandsworth gym to help like-minded people meet in the modern world.
Ali Hulley, 32, lives in south-west London and set up Push & Pull Fitness Dating last month at Apex Fitness in Earlsfield after feeling dissatisfied with dating apps.
The fitness fan had started to attend real-life dating events with her friends but found herself unable to meet like-minded individuals.
She said: “Dating in London I think is just quite a tough game to navigate.
“When I’ve been to dating events where you don’t have anything in common because it’s just over a drink, there’s an element of awkwardness about that.”
The idea came from a conversation during a run club with friends, and four weeks later Hulley had set up the first event – the women’s tickets sold out on the first day.
Ran by qualified coaches, the hour-long hybrid workout consists of functional training and running, where participants get four to five minutes on each partnered station, followed by a competitive finisher at the end.
Hulley believes that the partnered stations allow people to chat more organically, rather than approaching somebody in a bar or feeling the awkwardness of the gym, where it’s unclear if someone is single.
She said: “You’re forced to talk to each other in the best way.”
She added: “Even if you don’t meet your person you’ve actually had a really good workout, so you don’t feel that your night has been wasted.”
Hulley received support from beer brand Jubel, who provided post-workout drinks, and activewear brand LSKD who put forward prizes.
Some pairs that attended the first event are still actively dating, and those that didn’t have romantic success found themselves making friends that live close by in south-west London.
With a day-job in sales, Hulley views Push & Pull Fitness Dating as an ‘organic side hustle’ and, long-term, looks to bring it to different locations around London.
Featured Image by Sven Mieke on Unsplash
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