Run 365 – San Francisco Marathon Training Program

OK, so I had some issues in the beginning with communication from the team. Unbeknownst to me, they were having a transition period with the company. I finally heard back from multiple people from the organization extending their sincere apologies.
I’ve been on two runs with the group and they are AMAZING people! I am so happy to have selected Run 365 to train with. On our first run with Coaches Michelle, Jen, and Michael, there were about 50 runners who showed up. The coaches were welcoming and friendly and offered pace groups from 8 – 13 min/​mile (there were about 15 coaches total). I was comfortable and didn’t feel like I was holding anyone back with my slow pace. After the run, we met for bagles, coffee, and birthday cake. Tonight, we had a fun run with Coach Leo. .. what a great guy! About 20 people showed up. .. great turnout for a Monday night.
I get weekly emails and have been registered with Training Peaks and the individual FB groups. They are responsive and happy to answer all of my questions.
Great company, friendly, non-​threatening coaches, energetic staff. .. just waht I need. Thank you! I’m excited for the SF Marathon in July!

Little annoyed by the organization of this group. I couldn’t even get a simple question answered about their schedule so that I can see whether joining was feasible.
I had just finished an 11 week training program with another popular running group and ran my very first half marathon (the kaiser half marathon which I did complete but at a VERY slow pace). Although I loved the people in it, I was a beginner and everyone else in the group were long time runners and I was getting discouraged by being so far behind everyone else.
When I saw this group had a 26 week marathon training program for the SF Half Marathon, I decided to try it instead. The description for the 26 week training specifically said it was for beginners and I figured that having more ramp up time (26 weeks) would be better for me too. I was stoked! But I, like most people, work so I needed an idea of when they run so that I know if I could fit the runs into my schedule. I looked at the entire website and couldn’t find information on where/​when the group meets (info I needed to make sure the training program plus driving times to get there fits in with my work schedule), so I emailed the group to find out when/​where the group meets. I got a response back within a couple hours (YAY!), telling me that the group usually runs on meetup and if I gave them info as to where I live, they could look up that info for me. So I immediately emailed back my whereabouts. Since I was also excited about signing up for the SF Marathon, I also looked through meetup just in case. I couldn’t find the local Run365 chapter on meetup and after awhile of receiving no response (BOO!), I emailed again. Still no response. In fact, I have yet to receive a response from these people.
The 26 week training program for the 2015 SF Marathon began on Feb 7^th. I looked at their website again today (Feb 11^th) and noticed that their 2015 training schedule is now up but that it is password protected (so I have to be a member or be given the password to see that). What? Really? All I’m asking for is a general idea of what time/​locations will be BEFORE I enroll so I can determine if I can enroll! Why are they guarding that info like a fat boy guarding his last piece of birthday cake.
It’s kind of fustrating that I could not participate in something I was so excited about. But, then again, if this is how Run 365 behaves BEFORE they get my $ 285, I’d hate to see how they act afterwards. It’s ridiculous how much time I wasted searching for basic info that I was never able to obtain. If they didn’t want my business, they should have just told me that rather than waste my time.

These people are magical unicorns.
I’m in the San Francisco group, so I don’t know if it’s just the high concentration of San Franciscans within the group that makes it so awesome, but whatever the reason, these people are, like, the main homies.
Let me just preface all this by saying that on my very first day with them, I went for an 8 mile run. Which sounds like death, amirite? But it was fabulous. Everyone is so encouraging and super nice and helpful. I got running advice I really don’t think I could have gotten anywhere else, ranging from information about my shoes to different tactics for running hills. Around mile 5, I started to fizzle out a little because I hadn’t had breakfast (rookie mistake), and one of the other runners pulled me aside, waited it out while I pulled off my embarrassingly sweat-​drenched sweatshirt, and then proceeded to offer me some of his favorite peanut butter-​flavored «Goo». I know you’re thinking «wtf»…I too thought «wtf»…until I ate a packet and was suddenly restored to my full-​fledged running potential within minutes. No joke. This stuff is the $h!+.
And then, at the end of the run, there’s all this free food and all these other awesome people who also like running and just chat things out for a solid hour. Over cartons of Noah’s and tubs of dark chocolate peanut butter. And OJ. And bananas. Ummmm… yes, please.
To anyone complaining about poo customer service: I definitely did not have that problem. I had all my questions answered via email within hours, and everyone was super patient and helpful. I was even invited to go on a free trial run, which was really good for getting a feel for overall the Run 365 vibe. Lauri, the coordinator that I corresponded with, is the bomb dot com and a total sweetheart.
I was thinking about trying the Nike Running Club since it’s free, but I really feel like every penny I spent registering for Run 365 was worth it. And that’s coming from a broke college student. If I can do this, you can. You are awesome! Seriously. Go. Do it. Now!

My boyfriend and I participated in a quick 3 miler to receive $ 10 off the SF Marathon a few weeks back, but never heard anything from them. Kind of thought I’d receive an email or something since I was required to give my email address at the time of the run. Nope. So I contacted them. SEVERAL. TIMES. I contacted them twice via Facebook, attempted to send them an email (their website lists a non-​working address… really??) and I left a message on their voice mail and I still haven’t heard a peep. The money isn’t really the issue, I have a problem with their complete lack of customer service… I mean, of ANY kind. I might suggest that instead of making all the runners stand around for nearly 45 minutes in the freezing cold listening to their ambassadors toot their own horns about how many halfs and wholes they have run, maybe A) Get to the run. I could have run it twice before they were done talking and it’s c-​o-​l-​d, and B) They actually work on providing what was promised. Really disappointing.

The San Francisco Marathon Training Program is fantastic. It is now called Run 365 because so many of us couldn’t stop running together once the season wrapped up last year. The club is full fun and enthusiastic the people. In a surprisingly short amount of time the coaches and volunteer pacers will have you out there doing things you never thought you could do… safely.
Every week there is a fun run, a track night and a long weekend run. You get tips for how to train better and smarter no matter what your level. My first time out with the group I had never run more than 3 miles and 12 weeks later I ran my first half-​marathon. Since I travel a lot, at least half of my training was on my own, but they give you a detailed training schedule so you can keep up even when you can’t go with the group.
The program is fun, inspiring and very affordable.