Neighbor News
Train for a Marathon/Half Marathon with USA Fit East Bay
USA Fit East Bay shows beginning runners they CAN achieve a long-distance finish, either full or half marathon training.
The San Francisco Marathon and Half Marathon may be months away (July 31, 2016, to be exact), but the end of January will be the perfect time to start training for it. When most people envision a marathon or half marathon runner, the first image that comes to mind is a seasoned athlete that finishes in record time. However, USA Fit East Bay, a marathon and half marathon training group program that trains out of Danville, begs to differ. For more than a decade, the certified team of coaches has helped hundreds of beginning runners achieve a long-distance finish with little more than a drive and commitment to succeed.
Local runners Becca Lopez, Ranjit Bhaska and Patti Montenegro, all from the East Bay area, are just such stories of beginners who achieved what they dreamed impossible. Read on to learn how training for a marathon changed their lives and how it can changes yours, too.
Becca’s Story
Concord resident Becca Lopez would never have considered herself an athlete. That is, until she joined USA Fit East Bay in January 2015. She used to refuse to run with other people because she felt self-conscious about her pace. However, the weekend group runs with USA Fit became the highlight of her weekends and introduced Becca and her husband, who also runs with the group, an opportunity to see more of the East Bay area than she would have otherwise.
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“I love USA Fit because of the support and camaraderie,” said Lopez. “It never mattered if I was slow or new to the sport. There was always encouragement and company. The group was dependable and made training easy.”
Proud of her dedication and accomplishment. Lopez feels more knowledgeable about running, which has opened her up to a new community. Her first race after training with USA Fit was the Disneyland Half Marathon, and Lopez looks forward to many more long distance finishes in the future.
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If you would like to change your life, get more fit and become a runner in 2016, register today for USA Fit East Bay’s 2016 training program today at www.usafiteastbay.com. Orientation will take place Saturday, Jan. 30 or Feb. 6 from 8 to 9 a.m. at Osage Station Park in Danville. If you can’t make it, you can also register online through Friday, Feb.12, and start your first day of training any Saturday through Saturday, Feb. 13.
