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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about East Bay Fit...
Questions
about the program...
Questions
about signing up...
Questions
about the training...
Other questions...
- Yes,
you can still join East Bay Fit?
We are
taking registrations from February 2nd through February 9th, 2008. Once we
are past the registration date we cannot take any new
members.
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- I'm not
a member. Do you allow drop-ins?
East Bay Fit does not have a drop-in
program. Our all-inclusive membership covers our seminars,
medical advice, coaching, and training runs/walks. Visiting
members from other East Bay Fit programs are always welcome!
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- What is
East Bay Fit?
East Bay Fit is an award-winning 26
week running and walking program. This same program, currently
being held in close to 42 cities throughout the country
with expansions targeted internationally as well, winning
rave reviews and growing every year. East Bay Fit will
begin its next season on Saturday, February 2, 2008 and
Saturday, February 9, 2008 with a final registration on
February 16, 2008.
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- Who should
join?
East Bay Fit is perfect for anyone
who has a desire to challenge themselves, wants to exercise
and make new friends, wants to increase their body strength
and stamina, wants to look and feel better, or simply
wants to get involved in a healthy lifestyle sport - running
or walking. Whether you have only dreamed of completing
a marathon or have done several, this program has something
to offer you!
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- When is
the East Bay Fit season?
The official East Bay Fit season is
the six months prior to the San Francisco Marathon and Half Marathon. This
usually runs from February to late July. Race date is Sunday, August 3rd,
in San Francisco. February through July is when we hold
our seminars and provide training schedules for our members.
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- Where
is the training?
Initially, we are meeting on the Iron Horse Trail,
on the corner of Prospect and
Railroad Avenues, near the north end parking lot of Andronico's
market and the Railroad museum. As the season progresses, we will
use other local trails as well.
Feel free to contact us for
directions.
- Can walkers
participate?
We can offer a run/walk program for those who may
want a combination-type program rather than a strictly running experience.
Be aware, San Francisco Marathon has a 6 hour time limit (which requires
a 13:44 min/mile pace). Walkers may choose to participate in the half
marathon program.
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- Are
you affiliated with a charity?
East Bay Fit is not associated with
a charity and you do not need to raise money to participate
in this program. There are several good marathon training
programs where raising money for a charity is part of
the program. While these can be effective and rewarding,
we realize that it's not for everyone and may be impossible
to do year-after-year. Some of our members choose to raise
money for a charity, but it certainly isn't a requirement.
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- What's
the catch? When do I have to sit through the sales pitch
for a new condo in Palm Springs?
No catch -- really! East Bay Fit is
basically a running club and training program. But maybe
that's like saying a Mercedes is just a car . We don't
sell Amway or real estate in Palm Springs. East Bay Fit
has members of all shapes and sizes (including folks that
probably sell Amway or invest in real estate). But what
makes us special is that we all come together to run and
walk and share our war stories and our victories. Check
out our discussion
page for a taste of the camaraderie and support. We
hope you'll decide to join our club.
- How did
all this come about?
It all began in Houston about 14 years
ago with about 50 runners, 2 guys and an idea that runners
needed some guidance and training to achieve their marathon
goals.
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- What is
an ability-based color group?
East Bay Fit consists of 5 groups:
Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, and Purple (walkers). You will
be placed in the group that best suits your training pace.
For example, if you train at a 9-10 minute per mile pace,
you will be a member of the Yellow group. This system
works because it allows you to train with those who are
at your ability level.
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- What
color group will I be in?
Our first two weekend runs are 1 or
3 mile pace finder walks or runs. Your time for the 1
or 3 miles will place you in a color group, green, yellow, red, or purple. You should
walk or run at a pace where you feel you could keep going
for a little bit beyond those 1 or 3 miles. If you couldn't
keep walking or running after completing our initial 1
or 3 mile pace finder then you are going too fast.
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- Why
should I walk or run my 1 or 2 mile pace finder slower when
I can go faster?
Simply because you are training for
a marathon, not a 1 or 3 mile race. It may sound like
a funny statement to make, but it is so true. Walking
or running too fast will seriously compromise your training
season. If you find your correct training pace from the
beginning you will complete the marathon in less time,
you will experience fewer injuries, and you will have
a lot more fun.
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- What are
the weekly seminars?
Each weekend, before or after the group run,
we'll do announcements then hold a 15-20 minute seminar.
Topics will all be health and fitness related, and will
be led by knowledgeable professionals. After each seminar,
you will break off into your color groups for your run or walk.
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- What
happens on any given Saturday?
The seminar will start at 8:00 am every
Saturday. After the seminar, we break off into the color
groups to do the run or walk. After the run or walk, coaches
are available for questions and discussions. In the later weeks of the
program, staggered starts for the various pace groups will be offered.
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- Who
created our schedule?
Our schedule comes from the great
folks at USA FIT. For over 14 years, they have been training
people all over the country just like us. Everybody has
a different marathon philosophy, but ours has been tested
literally tens of thousands of times.
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- Do
we get discounts on shoes?
Yes, you do! As a East Bay Fit member
you will receive coupons for a discounts at local businesses.
Forward Motion Sports in Danville is offering 10% discount to
all East Bay Fit members for the length of the season.
Other member discounts are in the works - stay tuned for
more information.
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- You must
be kidding. All this for $100?
No, we're not kidding. Isn't it great?
Now why don't you do your good deed for the day and tell
somebody about East Bay Fit?
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- How can
I sign up?
Signups are open for the 2008 season.
You can sign up by in person or online. See our Join Us page for information.
- How much
does it cost?
East Bay Fit's 26 week training program
costs only $100 for new members and $75 or returning USA
Fit members.
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- What
is included for the sign-up fee?
- Ability-based group work-outs and coaching
- Training log
- Weekly seminars
- Weekly training schedules
- East Bay Fit T-shirt
- Discounts at sports apparel stores
- Social activities and more!
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- When
are the in-person sign-up sessions?
In person sign ups for the East Bay
Fit 2008 season will be:
- Satruday, February 2, 2008 8:00a.m. at Iron Horse Trail
- Saturday, February 9, 2008 8:00a.m. at Iron Horse
- Saturday, February 16, 2008 8:00a.m. at Iron Horse
Remember, you can also sign-up online.
We meet on the Iron Horse Trail, on the corner of Prospect and
Railroad Avenues, near the north end parking lot of Andronico's
market and the Railroad museum.
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- Where
are the in-person sign-up sessions?
Our sign-up
sessions will be at the same location as our weekly meetings.
We meet on the Iron Horse Trail, on the corner of Prospect and
Railroad Avenues, near the north end parking lot of Andronico's
market and the Railroad museum.
- What
happens at the sign-up session?
The sign-up
sessions include sign-ups, an orientation seminar, and
a 1 or 3 mile pace finder run or walk which helps place
you in the correct ability-based group. Everyone is strongly
encouraged to come to both of the orientation/sign-up
sessions (Weeks 1 and 2) as the seminars will cover different
information. The sign-up session takes approximately 1.5
- 2 hours. Sign ups for the East Bay Fit 2008 season will
be:
- Satruday, February 2, 2008 8:00a.m. at Iron Horse Trail
- Saturday, February 9, 2008 8:00a.m. at Iron Horse
- Saturday, February 16, 2008 8:00a.m. at Iron Horse
We meet on the Iron Horse Trail, on the corner of Prospect and
Railroad Avenues, near the north end parking lot of Andronico's
market and the Railroad museum.
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- Can
I pay with a credit card?
Yes, when registration is open we
allow payment via credit card if you sign up online. Registrations
are open for the 2008 season from December through February 16th.
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- Do
I have to attend both orientation sessions?
If possible, we'd like you to attend
both sessions (Weeks 1 and 2). First of all, you're paying
for a 26 week program, not a 25 week program. Second,
we will cover all the details of how the program works
the first week and put you into your groups. Lastly, the
content of the first two seminars is different. The first
week is information about East Bay Fit and East Bay Fit;
the second seminar is a quick overview of Week 1 and then
a mandatory session on "Hydration and Warm Weather
Running."
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- I can't
make it to the first weekend -- should I still sign up?
Yes, you should still sign up! We'd
like you to attend the first week for the reasons outlined
in the previous Q&A, but we know not everyone can
make it to Week 1. That's why we have another sign-up
the following week. The Week 2 seminar will be a quick
overview of Week 1, but we also have an army of Assistant
Coaches ready to answer any question you have from the
previous week (and any seminars that you miss during the
season).
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- Does
entry into East Bay Fit include entry into the San Francisco
Marathon and Half Marathon?
No, your payment to East Bay Fit only
covers the cost of your participation in the training
program. We are not affiliated with the San Francisco
Marathon and Half Marathon in any way, we just train for it! We will provide
information about how to sign up for the San Francisco
Marathon and Half Marathon.
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- How much
training does this program involve?
Realizing that most people lead very busy lives,
this program is one that can easily fit into your schedule.
For the most part, the program calls for running or walking
only 4 days a week. Your long run or walk will usually take
place on Saturday with your group, with the possible exception
of a few warm up race events, which are scheduled on Sundays.
The day after your long run/walk is always a rest day. During
the week, you run or walk for time only (i.e. 30 minutes),
not for distance.
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- What
does 20 on the weekly schedule (during the week) mean? Are
we running 20 miles?
During the week, we run for minutes.
So if the schedule says "30" on a Tuesday, you
should run or walk 30 minutes. Do this at a comfortable
pace unless instructed to do otherwise. On the weekends,
we do miles, so the schedule will say 4 miles. Listen
to your coaches on how to run these miles each week.
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- Do I have
to be there every week?
No, many members are unable to make
every weekend session. The weekend seminars are important,
but you can always ask your coach or running buddies about
what you missed. However, those long runs/walks are a
lot easier when you're doing them with the group! And
in our experience, the success of our members is directly
proportional to their ability to attend our weekend training
runs/walks and seminars. When you do have to miss a week,
check our hotline (866.333.9828) or this website for the
next week's schedule.
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- Can we
participate in races during training?
Sure! In fact, the entire group will
be participating in three "races" this season.
You certainly don't have to be competitive about it, but
it's fun to run or walk in a different place, get a race
number, and cross the finish line.
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- What
if I travel during my training? Can I attend other USA Fit
city programs?
Absolutely. USA Fit has programs in
almost 42 cities around the country, and you are welcome
to attend any USA Fit meeting anywhere.
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- Could I
win the San Francisco Marathon and Half Marathon?
Of course you could. However, most
likely you'll get a nice t-shirt, a finisher's medal,
a mug, bragging rites and a lot of cheers from spectators
and coaches. And, that my friend IS winning!
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- What if
I want to find out more?
Send us an e-mail at info@eastbayfit.net
or call the East Bay Fit hotline at 866.333.9828 and leave
us a message. Thanks!
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