I hate cardio and networking, but was surprised to enjoy a fitness meet-up for VCs and founders. I learned 3 helpful lessons.

• In these wellness-obsessed times, fitness networking events are a welcome alternative to boozy dinners. • Business Insider's Kim Schewitz attended two events for VCs and founders with the slogan "sweat over small talk." • Sweating with strangers broke the ice, and she found she needn't have worried about being unfit.

I hate cardio, but I hate networking more.

So, like a child who needs their broccoli served on an imaginary airplane-spoon, I took myself to an 8 a.m. "sweatworking" HIIT class for VCs and founders, to see if working out would make the chatting easier and camaraderie the exercise less daunting.

Plus, there was free food.

It was the second event in a month I'd attended by Rally, a fitness networking community whose slogan is "sweat over small talk," the first being a