Online trends come and go, but running has been in the spotlight for a while now. It has become a social activity, with TikTok and Instagram posts claiming that running clubs are the newest way for people to meet in Nairobi. Strava, an activity-tracking app, has evolved into a social platform where users can follow friends, give 'kudos', and comment on posts, sometimes flirting along the way.
For long-distance runner Brian Mutuku, the romantic undercurrent within Nairobi’s running culture is unmistakable.
For long-distance runner Brian Mutuku.
Photo credit: Pool
“I’ve definitely noticed people forming romantic connections through running groups,” he says. “It’s not always obvious at first, but when you spend enough time in these spaces, you start to see patterns: people pairing up during runs; staying back to talk afterwards; and consistently showing up when they know someone specific will be there. It’s subtle, but it’s happening.”
“I once asked a friend of mine when she got into running, as it had seemed sudden. She told me very honestly that she wasn’t there strictly for the running, but for the vibes. That told me everything. For some people, yes, fitness matters, but it’s also about the atmosphere, the people and the energy. It’s a social space.”
Mutuku admits that, even for dedicated athletes, the presence of an attractive person can alter the rhythm of a run.
"I’ve pushed myself harder than usual when I’ve noticed someone I’m interested in," he says. "You suddenly become very aware of your pace and your form. You want to stand out a bit. You want them to notice you, but not in an obvious way.”
On Strava, however, that attention is expressed differently.
"If someone catches my eye on the app, I won't lie, I'll be more intentional," he says. “I’ll give them kudos more quickly. I’ll comment when they achieve a new personal best. It’s not that I ignore other runners, but the level of engagement becomes more deliberate when you’re interested.”
"I actually didn’t even know you could send direct messages on Strava until recently. A friend messaged me asking about my speed sessions, and that’s when I realised this was possible."
As with any platform that blends visibility and vulnerability, there are risks, and Mutuku is cautious about how connections move offline.
"If someone suggests we meet for a run, I’m very careful. You don’t always know someone’s intentions. If we’re meeting, I prefer to choose the route. It’s just about being safe. Running feels open and public, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down completely.”
Nevertheless, the appeal of meeting someone through a shared activity remains strong.
"What works better, in my opinion, are the running groups themselves. The apps are great, but they’re still online spaces. When you’re physically there, warming up together, struggling through the same hills and cooling down and talking afterwards, it feels more natural. You actually get to interact with and understand someone beyond their profile or comments.”
For Dennis Musyoka, a passionate cyclist who spends his Saturdays on long rides across the city and its outskirts, the bike has always represented freedom first and foremost, with connection coming second.
Cyclist Dennis Musyoka.
Photo credit: Pool
Musyoka has been using Strava for about six years. He took up cycling during the pandemic when he found himself with unexpected free time.
“What drew me to cycling was my love of bikes. I had a lot of free time during the pandemic, so I took up cycling. It started as a way to pass the time, but it became something I genuinely enjoy.”
Over the years, he has watched Nairobi’s cycling scene evolve socially and athletically. Although he has not personally met a romantic partner through cycling, he has formed friendships that began on two wheels. “I went to a cycling event and met new friends there. We socialised and became friends. That’s how it happened.”
“Definitely. At a cycling event, you’ll meet all kinds of people who are there to experience the event and try something new. So you end up socialising and networking.”
When asked whether Nairobi’s cycling community is becoming a place where singles can connect or flirt, he sees both dynamics at play.
“People are connecting during the events. In terms of networking, you meet new people who share the same love for cycling. Sometimes that connection turns into something romantic.”
Unlike some, who insist on keeping fitness and flirting separate, Musyoka admits to occasionally leveraging the visibility that comes with posting rides.
“Yes, I’ve posted a ride on Strava to get someone’s attention before,” he says. “After a ride, I posted about it to create that attention, and I actually got it.”
However, he draws the line at overt flirting on the app itself.
“I don’t interact with other cyclists on Strava in a flirtatious way,” he clarifies. “It’s more about sharing ideas and connecting with people who enjoy cycling and have similar experiences. Most of it is friendly competition. I have friends in South Africa and Poland; we share our progress. It’s more about bragging rights, like how many kilometres one can clock.”
"You can meet someone with the intention of just sharing ideas and a passion for cycling, but they might misinterpret your interaction as a romantic gesture. I’ve been in a situation where a female friend misread my intentions. She thought I wanted something romantic, but for me it was purely the love of cycling. It became a bit awkward.”
Nevertheless, he believes that the broader cycling community creates space for different intentions to coexist.
"I think cycling clubs encourage both social and romantic connections because people have different opinions and intentions. Someone can go purely to network and socialise, while others can go with the intention of finding romance. After all, we are all strangers until we are given a chance.”
“Someone posted their cycling activities, and another person got interested in what they were doing,” he recalls. “They started connecting, and eventually it led to something romantic.”
However, he emphasises that real-world interaction remains key.
"What works is physically going to the events and interacting one-to-one,' he says. 'You can try texting back and forth, and it might lead to something. But if that fails, you can still enjoy the sport of cycling.”
"Most people use the app for fitness; it’s not a dating app.’ So your approach matters. Its effectiveness depends on how you use it.”
Anne Mercy, a legal professional based in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Pool
For Anne Mercy, a legal professional based in Nairobi, running began as a way to expand her social circle rather than her dating prospects.
"I usually go running on most Saturdays, and from conversations with people there, I discovered that some actually show up hoping to meet romantic partners. I was honestly stunned when I first heard that.”
From what she's seen, love is not brewing on apps in apps, but in the physical running groups.
“I haven’t really seen people using Strava actively to meet romantically. It’s mostly an app where you post your runs, and people react. It’s like a social app for running,” she explains. “But in physical running groups? That’s definitely happening.”
She joined a running club nearly two years ago, when she felt stuck in a single professional circle.
"I’m a lawyer, and most of my friends were lawyers," she says. "I needed to meet new people from different careers. That’s what drew me to running at first — not romance, but new friendships. But now it’s also about how I feel when I run. It’s become part of my life.”
Still, romance has surfaced along the way.
"I’ve had romantic conversations through running groups and events," she says. “Not through Strava, though. And not through any other fitness tracking app either."
Mercy uses Strava daily to log her early morning runs and gym sessions. She says that the visibility sometimes sparks interest.
“I use Strava every morning because that’s when I go for a run,” she explains. “Once I’ve connected my watch and posted my activity, people react. I’ve actually received messages from people asking if we could go for a run together. They're usually mixed, but mostly male.”
“Strava posts your location when you’re running,” she says. ‘If someone you don’t know messages you asking to run together, that can feel scary, especially for women. I don’t think it would work if you don’t already know the person. It works better if you’re in the same running club and you’ve seen each other before. Then it feels secure."
“The running community here is growing rapidly,” she says. “It’s definitely becoming a place where singles can meet. You meet new people, even people from different countries. With social events like breakfast meet-ups and Thursday Social, where we meet after work just to socialise, it’s becoming more of a social hub.”
However, romantic outcomes can complicate shared spaces.
‘I’ve seen people meet in run clubs, start dating, and then break up. Then it becomes awkward because you’re still in the same club. Sometimes one person ends up leaving. But I’ve also seen it work for people who met in a running club and are still running together.”
"There was a time when I was trying to get to know a guy," she says, laughing. 'I tried to keep up with his pace, which was really difficult for me at the time. I was dying inside, but I didn’t want to show it. I just wanted to create a moment to talk or connect. I’ve also shown up on certain running days knowing someone I wanted to impress would be there.”
However, she insists that she uses Strava for performance rather than flirtation.
“My Strava is very serious,” she says. 'I use it to track my progress, to see my friends’ runs and to give kudos. I’ve never used it to flirt per se.”
“You have to be genuine,” she says. 'If you’re showing up to runs but you don’t enjoy running and you’re just looking for someone, people can tell.' It pushes people away. Be authentic. Enjoy the sport first.”
‘Be strategic,’ she adds. 'If you're messaging someone who doesn't know you, it feels weird. It works better if you’ve met through a running club and then connected on Strava. Being pushy or forcing something doesn't work. Just enjoy the run. Let things happen naturally.”
Beatrice Manyala.
Photo credit: Pool
For Beatrice Manyala, a business development executive and community manager at We Run Nairobi, running began as a lifeline rather than a love story. She cannot quite pinpoint when she first started running, only that she has always loved it, especially running with other people.
After months of hesitation, she formally joined We Run Nairobi in February 2023. "What drew me to it was the community support I needed, particularly after suffering a major financial loss and losing all my household stuff. I needed a healthy coping mechanism."
She runs alone on weekdays, either before or after work. But Saturdays are different. “I particularly enjoy running with my community at We Run Nairobi on Saturdays,” she says.
Unlike some runners, who obsess over splits and performance metrics, Manyala takes a more relaxed approach to Strava. “I'm not too keen on apps, mostly because I enjoy finishing a run more than I enjoy logging on to check my performance or pace.” Nevertheless, she engages with its social features. 'I love leaving a kudos sign on my friends' activities as a subtle way of saying, "I see you. Well done for finishing this difficult thing," because running is never easy.'
When it comes to romance, her experience has been more restrained.
“I have met people I like through our running group. But it has just stayed at that level — I like them. There has been no romantic pursuit.' Still, she does not dismiss the possibility altogether. 'Strava, just like any other social network, serves the purpose of connecting like-minded people. I wouldn't be greatly opposed to meeting someone on there, just as I would at the run club or a running event. They both serve the social purpose of connecting people, and what better way than through an activity that both parties like and enjoy?”
She believes that Nairobi’s running culture can accommodate both connection and flirtation. "As social beings, we are wired for connection and crave it consistently. Being able to bring together so many people from different walks of life provides an opportunity for single people to meet and interact. They’ll define the extent of it.”
Nevertheless, she is cautious about potential disadvantages. “I would advocate setting safe boundaries so that violations do not occur, and that applies beyond running. It’s important to evaluate where you are in life and whether pursuing romance through Strava or running is something you would be up for.”
Although she does not position We Run Nairobi as a dating hub, she takes pride in what the community has achieved. “Living out the values of inclusivity, accessibility, and community has shaped how we participate in runs and how our social connections beyond the running club have evolved,” she says.
Ultimately, Manyala believes that fitness spaces complement modern dating culture rather than replacing it.
"They are complementary pathways, especially for people tired of swiping or looking for someone with similar lifestyle values. Fitness-oriented interaction can be especially appealing for singles who prioritise wellness and shared habits.”
