NEO FIT does not have a drop-in program unless you are a visiting member of another USA FIT program. Our all-inclusive membership covers our seminars, coaching, and training runs.

Northeast Ohio FIT (NEO FIT) is an award-winning, 24-week running program. This same program is currently being held in over 50 cities throughout the U.S. and internationally. Northeast Ohio FIT will begin its next season on April 22, 2023 with a final registration June 2023. Northeast Ohio FIT started in the Cleveland/Akron area in 2004.

NEO 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.

The official NEO FIT season begins six months prior to the Akron Marathon running from mid April to late September. This is when we hold our seminars and provide training schedules for our members.

We will be meeting at Station Road Bridge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, next to Brecksville Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.

• Access I-77 from the north or south
• Exit at Rt. 82 East (Royalton Rd.) to Rt. 21 (Brecksville Rd.)
• Cross Rt. 21 (Brecksville Rd.) and the entrance to Brecksville Reservation will be on the right. Or continue to Riverview Road.
• Station Road Bridge does not have a physical access to put into GPS.

Northeast Ohio FIT welcomes walkers and we now have a walking group for those who want fitness with endurance walking!

NEO 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 it 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.

It all began in Houston over 30 years ago with 50 runners, two guys, and an idea that runners needed some guidance and training to achieve their marathon goals. NEO FIT started in the Cleveland/Akron area in 2004.

Our first two weekend runs are 1 – 3 mile pace finder runs. Your time for the 1 – 3 miles will place you in a color group. You should run at a pace where you feel you could keep going for a little bit beyond those 1 – 3 miles. If you couldn’t keep running after completing our initial 1 -3 mile pace finder then you are going too fast. Can’t run 1 or 2 miles yet? No problem! You’ll start in the Red group!

Simply because you are training for a marathon, not a one- or two-mile race. 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.

Each weekend, before the group run, we’ll hold a 10-15 minute educational 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 a brief talk and question-and-answer with your coach.

We run with our groups after each seminar, so the start time for the run will vary weekly. The seminar will be held almost every Saturday morning. After the seminar we usually meet with our color groups for a few minutes to talk with the coaches, ask questions, make plans for the next week, etc. Our goal is to be finished with the run and seminar/questions by 10:00 AM each Saturday. Before the weekend, you will be given the starting time, which available on the website and through a weekly email.

Our schedule comes from the great folks at Houston FIT. For over 30 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.

Yes, you do! As a NEO FIT member you will receive discounts at Vertical Runner and some local races. Discount information will be distributed throughout the season. Make sure to attend the weekly training seminars and runs to find out about current discounts.

NEO FIT’s 24-week training program costs only $115 for new members and $90 for returning NEO FIT members.

• Ability-based group workouts and coaching
• Training log
• Weekly seminars
• Weekly training schedules
• NEO FIT technical T-shirt or NEO Fit branded item
• Discounts at sports apparel stores
• Social activities with pandemic precautions

In person sign ups for the NEO FIT season will be:

• April 22, 2023
• April 29, 2023

We will be meeting at Harriet Keeler Picnic Shelter the first two Saturdays, then we meet at Station Road Bridge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, next to the Brecksville Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.

Directions to Station Road Bridge:

• Access I-77 from the north or south
• Exit at Rt. 82 East (Royalton Rd.) to Rt. 21 (Brecksville Rd.)
• Cross Rt. 21 (Brecksville Rd.) and the entrance to Brecksville Reservation will be on the right. Or continue to Riverview road and turn south.
• Station Road Bridge does not have a physical address to put into GPS

The sign-up sessions include sign-ups (on-line only due to pandemic precautions), an orientation seminar, and a 1 or 2 mile pace finder run which helps place you in the correct ability-based group.

 Yes. If you register online by clicking on the red “Register Now” button at the top of the page, you can pay with a credit card. We cannot accept credit cards at our in-person sign-ups, so please sign up online with your credit card or bring cash or check to the in-person sign-ups.

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 Coaches/Assistant Coaches ready to answer any question you have from the previous week.

No, your payment to NEO FIT only covers the cost of your participation in the training program. We are not affiliated with the Akron Marathon in any way — we just train for it. We will provide information about how to sign up for the Akron Marathon or other Fall Marathons or Half Marathons. We will share discount codes when possible.

During the week, we run for minutes. So if the schedule says “30” on a Tuesday, you should run 30 minutes. Do this at a comfortable pace unless instructed to do otherwise. On the weekends, we do miles, so the schedule will say four miles. Listen to your coaches for guidance on running these miles each week.

While those long runs are a lot easier when you’re doing them with the group, we know there are times when you won’t be able to make a weekend meeting. The seminars are important, so be sure to speak with your coach or running buddies about what you missed. In our experience, the success of our members is directly proportional to their ability to attend our weekend trainings. If you do have to miss a week, check this website for the next week’s schedule.

Sure! In fact, the entire group will be participating in one or more races this season. You certainly don’t have to be competitive about it, but it’s fun to run in a different place, get a race number, and cross the finish line.  It is also great experience and practice for your goal race.

Absolutely. USA FIT has programs in over 50 cities around the world, and you are welcome to attend any USA FIT meeting anywhere.

Send us an e-mail at info@neohiofit.net