Facebook content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Last week Ethan Renoe was out for a run during an unseasonably warm Chicago rain storm. Like he does anytime the temps rise over 40 degrees, he ventured out shirtless. When this got the attention of a local news team he ended up on TV, first telling the reporter that it was "too wet to wear a shirt" and then, looking straight into the camera and making first a peace sign and then a telephone with his hand, he said "I'm single, so give me a shout." After spending twenty minutes on the phone with the Internet famous, shirtless, "100% virgin"—his words, not ours—we were left with a two lingering questions:

One, is abstinence an effective workout strategy? And two, what does 100% virgin mean? Can you be, say, 98.6% virgin? (Spoiler alert: We never found out.)

We did learn that Renoe lives in Denver, Colorado. The shirtless run that made him famous took place during a short visit to Chicago to see friends from Moody Bible Institute, his alma mater. Much has been made of Renoe's thirty seconds of fame, his declaration that he is single, and, unsurprisingly, his religious convictions: He is a practicing Christian who is part of a group that offers "free prayer" to passersby on Chicago streets. Renoe is quick to clarify that his belief system and place is not to judge, but rather to accept everyone and show them love. All told, we were impressed with the dude's gumption, his dedication, and, well, his game. So we asked him for some dating advice.

What's been the general response to your TV appearance and who is responding?Women have reached out to me from all over the world. I've gotten a handful of marriage proposals, a lot of requests for dates, a lot of people just trying to get to know me a little better, just start a little conversation on the internet like through Facebook or email or something. And I've gotten a lot of good feedback on my blog which means a lot to me.

New Year's Eve is a week away, how should a guy plan his NYE kiss starting right now?Let's see, I would watch When Harry Met Sally.

Can you explain that a little bit?At the end of that movie, it's New Year's Eve and Billy Crystal gives one of the best monologues about winning back his best friend who he has fallen in love with. And he confesses his love to her and they end up kissing just after midnight. And it's one of the best love stories of the past two decades.

So, are you advocating for a speech? A declaration of love?Umm, I would say, well I think that women really respect and appreciate humility. If you treat them with respect, they will do likewise.

How often do you go to the gym?I've been working out consistently, probably since senior year of high school which was 2009.

How old are you?I'm 24. Twenty-four-and-a-half.

What's your sign?I'm not sure. I don't really know anything about that stuff.

"I've heard from girls that smelling nice is a big plus, but personally I don't even wear deodorant or cologne or anything."

When's your birthday?June 19th

Oh, you're a Gemini, congratulations.[laughs]

Has working-out on a consistent basis helped you meet women?Yeah. Ironically that's what got me a lot of attention, how I looked on that video. But really I think that things like kindness and encouragement speak to the heart of a woman more than huge pecs or rock hard abs. I think those things will stand out more than just looking good. And I've seen that be true in my own life as well. There are girls who will be attracted to me just because of how I look, but then there are really quality women who are attracted to me because of who I am and how I treat them.

And how does your religion play into that? How do you navigate dating as a practicing Christian?I wouldn't date anyone who wasn't a Christian and I don't want that to come off as like, being like stingy or arrogant or anything. It just means I am cautious about who I date and how I use my body. You might have heard on TMZ, I'm still a virgin. Um, a hundred percent.

Besides working out, what do you do to attract women? Do you dress a certain way?I don't worry too much about my appearance to be honest as far as how I dress. Probably half the clothes I wear are from thrift stores and half were given to me or I found them in a dumpster or something. True story. I've heard from girls that smelling nice is a big plus, but personally I don't even wear deodorant or cologne or anything.

What five things would you tell someone if they came to you asking for dating advice based on your recent success and interest from women?

• It's funny because I haven't really dated anyone in like six years, but I would say don't overthink it but also don't under think it. Just be aware of the moment you're in with this person. Like if you're going in for a kiss, just be aware. Sometimes you can dive right in, sometimes it's smarter to ask and put little feelers out there.

• Maybe put chapstick on because no one wants to be kissing the crusty crab.

• In my opinion there's nothing wrong with waiting for a good person. Instead of just rubbing your lips all over everything that breathes.

• It might be a good idea to see if they like beards or mustaches. Because not everyone does and sometimes they get in the way.

• Lastly, breath mints.

Related Stories for GQRelationships