Web site finds workout partners

06:54 PM CDT on Monday, July 25, 2005

By ERIN OCHOA / KVUE News

Exercise is often easier said than done, although excuses to skip it can come easily.

That's why an Austin-based Web site stepped in.

It's helping people find exercise partners and the extra motivation to work out.

For Michael Garcia, finding motivation to exercise is easy, but finding someone to exercise with was a different story.

He says, "I pretty much had to beg my friends..."

That is, until he stumbled upon a new Web site called www.exercisefriends.com.

The site is designed to match people who want to exercise with people who share similar interests.

Garcia says, "I have many partners and for different things."

Lien Dang stepped in as Michael's running partner.

"We run, and we're going to try rock climbing and try to play tennis," says Dang, who has a new motivation. "You know you have to be there at a certain time to meet somebody, so it makes you more disciplined."

Patrick McCluskey started the site earlier this year.

Already, he's helped match thousands of members nationwide with others interested in any number of activities.

You type in who you're looking for, including the age range and your zip code, and you'll get a list of potential exercise partners.

The Web site is free, but keep in mind, it's not a dating service. Anyone in violation will be suspended.