find your running date — the rules.

01.eligibility & age

you must be at least 18 years old to participate in the running dates run club, the matching program, or any meetup. by submitting a matching application, you confirm you are 18+.

if we discover (or have reason to believe) a participant is under 18, we will remove them from the program and delete their profile data.

02.what we collect

when you submit the "find your running date" form, we collect:

• your first name (or what you'd like to be called at meetups)
• your email address (for matching alerts and meetup confirmations)
• your city (so we can match you locally)
• your running pace and typical long-run distance
• your age range (categorical, not exact)
• your gender identity
• your matching vibe (new running partner, actual first date, or byo date)
• vibe-specific compatibility answers — short, science-backed questions tailored to your chosen vibe (e.g. running schedule, conversation style, training goal, shared interests for "running partner"; date format and intent for "actual first date"; relationship/friendship details for "byo date")
• if you select "actual first date": your dating preference and age-gap allowance

at first verification (see § 03), we additionally collect:

• your full legal name
• a single government-issued photo ID for visual confirmation only — we do not store the image
• your date of birth (to confirm 18+ — we record only the verification timestamp, not the dob itself)

we never collect your social security number, financial information, biometrics, or location history.

03.identity verification

before your first in-person meetup, we verify your identity. this is a one-time process that protects every other participant in the run club.

how it works:

• a city captain (see § 06) will meet you a few minutes before the meetup or on a brief video call beforehand
• they'll confirm your photo ID matches the name on your matching profile and that you are 18+
• they record only: verified · date · captain initials. the ID itself is never photographed, copied, or stored

once verified, you're cleared for all future meetups in any city. captains can re-verify if there's a reasonable concern about identity.

signed waiver at first meetup

at your first meetup, you will also sign a participant waiver and release. this is a separate document from this policy and is required for in-person participation. the waiver covers assumption of risk, release of liability, medical authorization, and an optional photo/video release. captains keep one signed copy on file; you retain a copy. preview the waiver here: waiver.html.

04.how matching works

matching is captain-led, not algorithm-led. real humans review the form data and pair people based on city, pace, distance, age range, gender preferences (when applicable), and stated vibe.

we do not use any automated personality test, "compatibility score," or AI matching. there is no swipe interface. we are not a dating app.

matches happen in three formats:

• new running partner: a long-run partner / running best friend who matches your pace and your playlist
• actual first date: a single-meetup pairing with someone in your stated dating preference and age range
• bring your own date (byod): show up with a friend, partner, family member, or anyone you already know — matching is for the meetup atmosphere, not for you

you'll receive a match invitation by email and text. you can decline any match without explanation. accepting a match obligates you only to a single meetup at a public, captain-led event.

05.code of conduct

by participating in the running dates community, you agree to:

• treat every participant with respect. no harassment, no slurs, no unwanted physical contact, no misrepresentation of identity or intent.
• show up sober. meetups are runs; alcohol or drugs at the meetup itself are prohibited.
• respect the "no" of others. a declined match, a declined second date, or a declined drink is final.
• not solicit, sell, or recruit. the run club is not a sales platform.
• not photograph other participants without their consent. captains photograph the group only with explicit opt-in.
• not disclose another participant's full identity, contact info, social handles, or dating preferences outside the run club without their permission.

violating any of the above is grounds for removal — see § 11.

06.captain role

captains are vetted volunteers who lead the run club in a single city. they are not employees of the date pac, llc. they receive limited compensation in product, swag, and event support.

what captains can see:

• your first name, city, pace, distance, vibe, age range
• your gender (if you provided it) and dating preference (only if vibe = "actual first date")
• your verification status (verified or pending)

what captains cannot see:

• your email address or phone number (those are held by the running dates only)
• your full legal name (only used at one-time verification)
• your matching history or rejected matches

captains are bound by a written code of conduct. captain misconduct should be reported to therunningdates@gmail.com — we read every report and respond within 48 hours.

06b.what we don't do — no background checks

we do not run criminal background checks on participants or captains. our identity verification is limited to confirming a participant's age (18+) and that the photo on their id matches their application.

this means our verification is meaningfully less rigorous than dating apps that use third-party background-check services. we believe in showing up at public, captain-led, group meetups — not behind a screen pretending we know more about strangers than we do.

if you have specific safety concerns about another participant, contact therunningdates@gmail.com — we treat reports seriously and will remove participants based on credible safety reports. we encourage all participants to use their own judgment when meeting new people.

07.safety & meetups

all meetups are:

• public. always at a public running venue (park, track, city street, race expo) — never at private residences
• captain-led. a verified captain is present at every meetup
• group-format. "first date" matchings still happen at a group meetup, not a 1:1 isolated venue
• weather-dependent. captains may cancel or relocate for safety; we'll notify by text

if you feel unsafe at any meetup, leave immediately. tell the captain or text the running dates incident line at therunningdates@gmail.com. we treat every safety report as urgent.

emergency contact (optional):

at first verification, captains may ask for an optional emergency contact name + phone number — used only in the event of a safety emergency at a meetup (e.g. medical incident on a long run). this is voluntary, not a requirement to participate. if provided, it is held by the running dates only — never shared with other participants or with klaviyo.

08.data retention

• matching profile data: retained while you are an active participant. deleted within 30 days of your written deletion request (see § 10) or 12 months of inactivity (no meetups, no email opens), whichever comes first.
• verification records: the line "verified · date · captain initials" is retained as long as you participate, then archived for 24 months for safety/audit purposes, then deleted.
• id images: never stored. not photographed. not copied. visual confirmation only.
• incident reports: safety-related reports retained indefinitely or until subject to legal request.

09.sharing & disclosure

we share matching data with:

• your city's captain — the limited fields listed in § 06, for matching and meetup logistics
• klaviyo — our email & sms platform — for match invitations and meetup confirmations
• law enforcement — only if compelled by a valid legal request (subpoena, court order)

we never sell, rent, or trade your data to third parties for advertising. we never share your contact info with another participant without your explicit opt-in.

10.delete your data

you can request deletion of your matching profile at any time. email therunningdates@gmail.com with the subject line "delete my matching data" and the email address you signed up with.

we will:

• confirm the request within 48 hours
• delete your matching profile within 30 days
• retain only the verification archive (see § 08) for the 24-month safety window

california residents: you have additional rights under the ccpa. contact us to exercise them.

11.termination

we may remove your matching profile and ban you from future meetups if you:

• violate the code of conduct (§ 05)
• misrepresent your age, identity, or matching information
• are the subject of a credible safety report from another participant or captain
• repeatedly no-show after accepting a match (3+ no-shows in a 90-day window)

removed participants will be notified by email and have 14 days to appeal in writing. appeals are reviewed by the running dates founders, not by captains.

12.policy updates

we may update this policy as the run club grows. when we do:

• we'll change the "last updated" date at the top
• we'll email all active participants 30 days before any material change takes effect
• your continued participation after the change indicates acceptance

you can review prior versions by emailing us — we keep them on file.

13.contact us

questions, concerns, deletion requests, captain conduct reports, or appeals:

• general: therunningdates@gmail.com
• safety: therunningdates@gmail.com
• by mail: the date pac, llc · los angeles, ca

we respond to all matching-related inquiries within 48 hours. safety reports get same-day attention.