USA FIT Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
We will take on-line registrations after the program start. For late registrants, we will evaluate your current running condition and may ask you to consider joining the shorter distance program if we feel there is not enough time for you to successfully complete a marathon. Keep in mind that if this is your first time to attempt the half marathon or marathon distance, you will benefit from the extra training time.
USA Fit Shreveport 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, medical advice, coaching, and training runs/walks.
USA Fit Shreveport is an award-winning 23-week running program. This same program, currently being held in over 50 cities throughout the U.S. and internationally, is winning rave reviews and growing every year.
USA Fit Shreveport 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. Whether you have only dreamed of completing a marathon or have done several, this program can accommodate you.
The official USA Fit Shreveport season is the six months prior to our goal marathon/half marathon for that particular year. The 2023-2024 season training will begin 12 Aug 2023 and potentially culminate the weekend of 13-14 Jan 2024 with our target race the Houston Marathon in Houston, TX. This season for those wanting to continue their training we will add and additional 6 weeks of training for our second target race the Little Rock Marathon in Little Rock, AR. Towards the end of a training season, our coaches will usually decide on our next goal race, and this information is posted on our website not long after the season ends.
Every Saturday, during our training season, we meet at 6:30 AM at Betty Virginia Park, Shreveport. We meet at the parking lot off Ockley and Line for a pre-run briefing then head out of the park for our weekly coach-led group run. Every Tuesday is our mid-week training session. The location varies depending on the type training for that week. The location is announced in the weekly newsletter.
Yes. We have a Run/Walk training program designed principally for Half Marathon participants and a Walking program also for the Half Marathon. Please refer to our training programs page for more details.
USA Fit Shreveport 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.
It all began in Houston about 25 years ago with about 50 runners, two guys, and an idea that runners needed some guidance and training to achieve their marathon goals.
Questions about the Program
USA Fit Shreveport consists of the following Run Groups: Marathon group; Double Half marathon group; Half marathon group. You choose the group that best suits your training goals.
On any given weekend we’ll hold short educational seminar. Topics will all be health and fitness-related and will be led by your coaches and others knowledgeable about the subject matter. These seminars may also be held at a different location if the topic warrants. Topics typically include shoe fitment/selection, hydration and nutrition.
We run or walk with our groups. We start at 6:30 a.m. every Saturday with instructions and announcements. Some weeks we’ll have a brief seminar then you’ll meet with your groups for a few minutes to talk with the coaches, ask questions, make plans for the next week, etc. Before the weekend, you will be given the route for your race distance training group in the e-newsletter. The mileage is available on the website.
Our schedule comes from the great folks at Houston FIT. For over 25 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.
Questions about Signing Up
You can sign up online by clicking on the red “Register Now” button at the top of the page, registration for the 2023-2024 season will open 30 Jul 2023.
USA Fit Shreveport’s 23-week training program costs only $125 for new members and $90 for returning USA FIT members.
- Run group work-outs and coaching
- Regular informational seminars
- Weekly training schedules
- USA Fit Shreveport T-shirt
- Discount at sports apparel store
- Social activities and more!
For the 2023-2024 season, registration will be online. Email info@usafitshreveport.com with any questions.
The Meet the Coaches session includes an orientation seminar about the program and the weekly training structure. Coaches will be introduced to the group. Everyone is welcome to attend, the primary audience is for runners new to the USA Fit program. Everyone, even if you haven't signed up yet, is invited to the Meet the Coaches session 11 Aug 2023.
Yes. Register online by clicking on the red “Register Now” button at the top of the page to pay with a credit card. We cannot accept credit cards at our in-person sessions, so please sign up online with your smart device and credit card. Online registration opens 30 Jul 2023.
If possible, we’d like you to attend, especially if you are new to the program. We will cover all the details of how the program works the first week.
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.
No, your payment to USA Fit Shreveport only covers the cost of your participation in the training program. We are not affiliated with the target races. We will provide information about how to sign up for the marathon and half marathon through emails and newsletters.
Questions about the Training
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 four days a week. Your long run or walk will usually take place on Saturday morning with your group. During the week, you run or walk for time only (i.e., 30 minutes), not for distance.
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 four miles. Listen to your coaches for guidance on running these miles each week.
While those long runs and walks 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! 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.
Absolutely. USA FIT has programs in many other cities, and you are welcome to attend any USA FIT meeting anywhere.
Questions about the Training
Of course you could. However, most likely you’ll get a nice T-shirt, a finisher’s medal, bragging rights, and a lot of cheers from spectators and coaches.
Send us an e-mail at info@usafitshreveport.com. Thanks!
