I am BRAND NEW - Help!

ABSOLUTELY! Believe it or not we were once brand new to running too. Running is a great way to keep your fitness level up and your stress level down. Many people become "addicted" to running because of the stress relief it can provide.

Can a Beginner Runner realistically participate in the group?
YES! Grant Park offers a nice 2.2mile outside loop, that is a perfect distance for a newbie run/walk in under an hour. Our group runs are made for the slightly more advanced group (3mile+) however. The Couch to 5K program will have you running 3-milers in only 9 weeks. It is a great beginning program!

Do I need fancy shoes?
NO - You need comfortable shoes. Generally speaking specific shoes become more important for heavier people, longer distance, and people with foot problems. While getting started I would just use your sneakers if they are comfortable. Once you get more serious check our your local running shop (LRS) and get fit for a good mid-priced pair of shoes.

Do I need fancy gear?
The two items I recommend are a LED flasher (or reflective vest) to wear on your back and a descent pair of running shorts. The flasher is for the dark runs of course. The more running you do, the more comfortable clothing will matter. Don't worry about water bottles, belts, power bars etc (in fact you may discover that the more running you do, the less all the extra gear really matters). We plan our routes around known water fountain locations and strictly speaking no one should really need supplemental calories for even our longer 6 mile runs.

How much do you charge? What do you sell?
We charge nothing! And we sell nothing! We have simply found that running in groups is more fun and helps to build neighborhood camaraderie that can lead to a cleaner and safer place to live. Zach is co-founder of WalkForLunch, and works for AT&T by day, and Aaron is an Ear Nose and Throat Doctor.

We hope to see you out there!