Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about DC Fit...

• I just found out about DC Fit, could I still join?
• I'm not a member, do you allow drop-ins?
• What is DC Fit?
• Who should join?
• When is the DC Fit season?
• Where is the training?
• Can walkers participate?
• Are you affiliated with a charity?
• What's the catch? When's the sales pitch for the condo at Sun River?
• How did all this come about?

Questions about the program...

• What is an ability-based color group?
• What color group will I be in?
• Why should I walk or run my 1 or 2 mile pace finder slower when I can go faster?
• What are the weekly seminars?
• What happens on any given Saturday?
• Who created our schedule?
• Do we get discounts on shoes?
• You must be kidding. All this for $125?

Questions about signing up...

• How can I sign up?
• How much does it cost?
• What is included for the sign-up fee?
• When is a door not a door?
• Where are the in-person sign-up sessions?
• What happens at the sign-up session?
• Can I pay with a credit card?
• I can't make it to the first weekend -- should I still sign up?
• Does entry into DC Fit include entry into the Marine Corps Marathon?

Questions about the training...

• How much training does this program involve?
• What does 20 on the weekly schedule (during the week) mean? Are we running 20 miles?
• Do I have to be there every week?
• Can we participate in races during training?
• What if I travel during my training? Can I attend other USA FIT city programs?

Other questions...

• Could I win the Marine Corp Marathon?
• What if I want to find out more?

1. It is past the registration date, can I still join DC Fit?
   YES! Go to www.usafit.com and register online. Please introduce your self when you arrive on your first day so we can help you find your group.
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2. I'm not a member. Do you allow drop-ins?
   DC 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 USA FIT programs are always welcome!
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3. What is DC Fit?
   DC Fit is an award-winning 26 week running and walking program. This same program, now being held in San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, San Jose, Houston, Toronto, and Dallas among others, is winning rave reviews and growing every year.
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4. Who should join?
   DC 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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5. When is the DC Fit season?
   The official DC Fit season is the six months prior to the Marine Corps Marathon. This usually runs from April through October. This is when we hold our seminars and provide training schedules for our members.
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6. Where is the training?
   DCFIT has 3 convenient locations: Benjiman Bennerker Park (VA), East Paotomac Park (DC), and Bethesda (MD):
   
   Benjamin Banneker Park (VA)
   1701 N. Van Buren St. Arlington, VA 22205 (Although Van Buren St is the mailing address, DCFIT actually meet on the other side of the park off N. Sycamore St by the soccer field.) Please park at the East Falls Chruch Metro parking lot.
   
   Directions to East Falls Church Metro: From I495, take 66 east and exit onto N. Sycamore ST. and follow signs to the Metro
   
   Map on Google
   
   East Potomac Park (DC)
   970 Ohio Dr SW Washington, DC 20024 (East Potomac Park Golf Course parking lot)
   
   From VA: Take I-95 N via the ramp to Washington then slight right at Henry G Shirley Memorial Hwy (signs for I-395 N/I-495 N/Washington/Tysons Corner) 1.6 mi , continue onto I-395 N and enter District of Columbia , take exit 2 toward Potomac Park/U.S Park Police, turn left at Buckeye Dr , take the 1st right onto Ohio Dr SW , turn right into parking lot.
   
   From DC or MD: US-50 W via the ramp to Washington, turn left at I-395, merge onto I-395 S via the ramp to Richmond , take the exit toward Potomac Park/Park Police, turn right at Ohio Dr SW 0.5 mi, turn right into parking lot.
   
   Map on Google
   
   Bethesda
   4801 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, MD‎ (Woodmont Parking Lot at the corner of Woodmont Ave and Bethesda Ave)
   
   From VA or DC: Take Beltway towards Rockville to Wisconsin Ave. South Exit. Follow Wisconsin Ave into downtown Bethesda. Turn right onto Bethesda Ave. Take left at the stop light onto Woodmont Ave. The Parking Lot is immediately on your right across from Barnes and Noble Book Store.
   
   Map on Google
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7. Can walkers participate?
   Walkers are welcome! We have a wonderful walking program that will enable you to complete the Marine Corps Marathon. Please be aware, however, that the Marine Corps Marathon requires all participants to complete the course within seven and one half hours (which requires a 14:30 per mile or better pace). Many DC Fit walkers may choose to train for a half marathon instead, or choose a different, more walker-friendly marathon. Your coaches can provide more details
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8. Are you affiliated with a charity?
   DC 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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9. What's the catch? When do I have to sit through the sales pitch for a new condo?
   No catch -- really! DC Fit is basically a running club and training program. But maybe that's like saying a Mercedes is just a car. DC Fit has members of all shapes and sizes. 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.
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10. How did all this come about?
    Well that's a question that's best answered at one of our social events.
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11. What is an ability-based color group?
    DC Fit consists of 5 groups: Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, and Orange. You will be placed in the group that best suits your training pace. For example, if you train at a 10-12 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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12. What color group will I be in?
    Our first weekend session is a 3 mile pace finder walks or run. Your time for the 3 miles will place you in a color group. You should walk or run at a pace where you feel you could keep going for a little bit beyond those 3 miles. If you couldn't keep walking or running after completing our initial 3 mile pace finder then you are going too fast.
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13. Why should I walk or run my 3 mile pace finder slower when I can go faster?
    Simply, because you are training for a marathon, not for a 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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14. What are the weekly seminars?
    Each weekend, before or after the group run, a 15-20 minute seminar will be presented. 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.
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15. What happens on any given Saturday?
    All color groups meet at the same time for a seminar, announcements and a warm-up. After the training 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.

    Before the weekend, you will be given the starting time for your color group (available on the website).
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16. 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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17. Do we get discounts on shoes?
    Yes, you do! As a DC Fit member you will receive a discount at GOTTA RUN located in Pentagon Row. Other member discounts are in the works - stay tuned for more information.
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18. You must be kidding. All this for $125?
    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 DC Fit?
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19. How can I sign up?
    Signups open online in January. You can sign up by visiting our page on www.usafit.com. Be sure to select "DC" as the city in which you want to join!
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20. How much does it cost?
    DC Fit's 26-week training program costs only $125 for new members and $115 for returning USA Fit members.
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21. What is included for the sign-up fee?
    o Ability-based group work-outs and coaching
    o Training log
    o Weekly seminars
    o Weekly training schedules
    o DC Fit T-shirt
    o Discounts at sports apparel stores
    o Social activities and more!
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22. When is a door not a door?
    When it's a jar
    
23. Where is the in-person sign-up session?
    Our sign-up session will be at the same location as our weekly meetings, the parking lot of Dunn Loring Metro stop, near the W & OD Trailthe parking lot of Dunn Loring Metro stop, near the W & OD Trailthe parking lot of Dunn Loring Metro stop, near the W & OD Trail.
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24. What happens at the sign-up session?
    The sign-up session includes registration, an orientation seminar, and a 3 mile pace finder run or walk which helps place you in the correct ability-based group. The sign-up session takes approximately 1.5 - 2 hours. Sign ups for the DC Fit 2007 season will be:
    
    April 28, 2007 @ the parking lot of Dunn Loring Metro stop, near the W & OD Trail @ 8:00am
    
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25. Can I pay with a credit card?
    When registrations are open we allow payment via credit card if you sign up online.
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26. 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 several Assistant Coaches ready to answer any question you have from the previous week (and any seminars that you miss during the season). They have all been through the program and can recite every seminar verbatim. Go ahead - challenge them. They're amazing.
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27. Does entry into DC Fit include entry into the Marine Corps Marathon?
    No, your payment to DC Fit only covers the cost of your participation in the training program. We are not affiliated with the Marine Corps Marathon in any way - we just train for it! We will provide information about how to sign up for the Marine Corps Marathon.
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28. 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. 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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29. 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. On the weekends, we do miles, so the schedule will say 4 miles. This we do at a very easy pace. Go slow!
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30. 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 (202) 478-1819 or this website for the next week's schedule.
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31. Can we participate in races during training?
    Sure! In fact, the entire group will be participating in two "races" this season.the Quantico Half Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon. 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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32. What if I travel during my training? Can I attend other USA FIT city programs?
    Absolutely. USA FIT has programs in almost 52 cities around the country, and you are welcome to attend any USA FIT meeting anywhere.
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33. Could I win the Marine Corps Marathon?
    No. Unfortunately we shouldn't set our sites that high this season. No breaking the tape at the end, winning the car and getting your picture in the paper. You will get a nice t-shirt, a finishers medal, bragging rites and a lot of cheers from spectators and coaches.
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34. What if I want to find out more?
    Send us an email at info@dcfit.net. Thanks!
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