Site plays matchmaker for exercise buddies
Written by: PAM LEBLANC	Monday, May 30, 2005

Michael Garcia wanted a running partner, but didn't know where to find someone who lived near him, ran at his pace and could exercise at the same time.

Then he found ExerciseFriends.com, a free online service that matches people looking for workout companions. He filled out a member profile, answering questions about his exercise interests and skill level. Within a few days, he received responses from a handful of possible running buddies. Now he has a standing weekly appointment to run on Town Lake.

"We run at a pace we can both talk, so it's just an enjoyable run," says Garcia, a 40-year-old massage therapist. "If I run by myself, it's just torture."

Patrick McCluskey launched the Austin-based ExerciseFriends Web site in September. He got the idea after moving from Austin to California with a software company, gaining 30 pounds and quitting his exercise program.

"I kept asking myself, 'Why aren't I going to the gym? I used to go in Austin,' " McCluskey says. Then he realized he hadn't gone to the gym to exercise — he went to hang out with his friends. "The health benefits were just a side effect."

He figured if people could meet boyfriends or girlfriends online, they could go online to find exercise partners as well. The site, started after McCluskey moved back to Austin, has tens of thousands of members across the country. The service is free (McCluskey makes money through advertisers) and users do not reveal personal information online.

"It's hard to find somebody who likes the same activities, has the same skill level and has the same schedule," McCluskey says. "We're 100 percent focused on healthy activities. We're not a place to go to find a date."

Sixty-four percent of users are women; 56 percent are older than 30. Their top interests? Walking, hiking, running, tennis and weight training. Members can search the site by sex, age, ZIP code and activity.

"One of our goals is to help (Mayor Will Wynn) make this the No. 1 fittest city in the country," says McCluskey, 31.

Now Garcia is looking for someone to play tennis. No luck yet, but he's hopeful.