Member Success Stories From Around Chicago
Six My Mate Finder members on the activity partner or friend group that changed their routine — in their own words.
Kevin Found His Marathon Training Group After Moving From Milwaukee
Kevin O'Donnell moved to Chicago in 2022 for work and figured he'd keep up his college running habit on his own. Two years of solo treadmill sessions later, he signed up for My Mate Finder specifically looking for a running category — no dating, no networking, just people who'd actually show up at 6am.
He was matched into a pace group of eight training for the Chicago Marathon. "The first run I almost bailed because it was 20 degrees out. I'm glad I didn't — three years later, half that original group still runs together every Saturday, marathon season or not." Kevin has since paced two of his training partners through their first marathons and now co-hosts the group's Tuesday evening run.
What Changed After They Joined
A few more members from around Chicago on the activity partners and friend groups they found through My Mate Finder.
"I'd just gone through a divorce and didn't want to hike alone in the Forest Preserves but didn't want to talk about my divorce either. My hiking group never asked — we just walked, and somehow that was exactly what I needed."
"I hadn't played organized ball since high school. Now I've got a regular Thursday run with the same ten guys, and half of us grab food after almost every week."
"I joined thinking I'd get through my reading list faster. What I actually got was four women who now text me about things that have nothing to do with books."
"My old riding partner moved to Denver and I figured that was it for group rides. The 606 cycling group filled that gap within a month, and it's a better route rotation than we ever had anyway."
"I'm a decent cook with nobody to cook for. The Sunday cooking meetups gave me an actual reason to make a full meal again, and now three of us trade off hosting most weekends."
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