Walnut Creek Run Club

Get your little athletes ready for their sports through cardio, resistance, balance, agility and plyometric training, along with core work. Through running, they will build endurance, speed and strength to improve performance and reduce injury in athletics, as well as everyday activities. They would not know they are working hard because they would be having too much fun!

How old are your participants?

We take youths grades 2-8. Motivated grades K-1 welcomed.

My child is playing another sport. Can they still join you?

Absolutely! Our programs are meant to condition and strengthen your child so they can be successful in whatever sports they play.

Are all abilities welcomed?

Certainly. We encourage every child to run their own pace while stretching themselves whenever they can.

Should I bring my child if the weather is too hot/cold/wet/dry?

Yes, unless there are circumstances where we cannot safely have practice. Examples include unhealthy AQI (above 99), park closure, thunderstorms, temperatures above 94F. You will receive an email from us at least hour ahead of practice should it be cancelled.

Can my child bring their phone to practice?

No, coaches will have their phones for emergencies.

Are headphones allowed for listening to music?

No, it is a safety issue and doesn’t lend itself to making friends.

My child has sore muscles, should they skip practice?

No, sore muscles are part of the adaptation process. We will ask kids if they are sore before practice and recommend they go easy that day. Movement and active recovery is key.

What if I believe my child has an injury?

Let one of the coaches know right away.

I’m a parent who likes to hike, walk, jog, run. Can I join the practice?

Absolutely! We encourage it.

If you are looking for a competitive running club or coaches with elite running background, feel free to navigate away from our site now, you will not be finding that here.

Who you will find though, is a group of humans with a deep love for running, especially trail running. We want to share that joyous (and usually challenging) journey with your child. We believe that every child is their own athlete, and have the potential in them to do the best they can. We work to create an inclusive environment where every child is encouraged to develop as an athlete and a person. All levels are welcomed and included in our program.

Our goal is to develop the whole child athlete through a cross country program. Athletes will expand their capacity for endurance, based on developmentally appropriate training and improve their coordination, mobility, speed and agility through play and drills. We build strength and bring focus to the value of good nutrition. This program also serves as a great cross/off season training for other sports.

We aim to show them the joy of running/training in a community that enjoys being on trails. Along with this comes learning how to be a good steward of our trails—using proper trail etiquette while sharing trail space, keeping our trails clean, and learning how much there is to explorer out there! Running opens up the door to a lifetime of adventures.

We start practice by getting in tune with how we feel both physically and mentally, and with that information evaluate how best we could to reach the potential we have that day. We focus on being present and doing the best we can in the moment. We also remind ourselves to have fun along the way.

      Coach Leng

Growing up in hot and humid Singapore, I never ran more than the 200m sprint as a youth. My most distinctive memory of running “long” was almost dying trying to complete a 1500m at age 15. So, I get it when you say that you “hate” running or that running is hard. Fast forward to my late 20s, I found distance running through triathlons. A two-year stay in North Vancouver, BC introduced me to the amazing world of trail running. Since then, I have completed a few races and running adventures of various distances, mostly on the trail.

Back in 2019, while trying to find an inclusive and non-competitive running program for my two young boys, I came back empty handed. Most teams/clubs out there have strict commitment requirements, which I respected but did not fit my personal philosophy for young athletes. We chanced upon the St. Mary CYO team and our experience with them was a great one under Coach Jason. COVID hit in 2020 and when the season came back in 2021, I volunteered as a coach to keep the program running. We had so much fun that Walnut Creek Run Club was born.

Through Walnut Creek Run Club and Coastal Trail Runs, I hope to introduce the joy of trail running to as many people as possible.

    Coach Peach

Married 30+ years. Mom to two adult children (soon-to-be grandma!), a cat, and a dog. Adult-onset athlete. Long-distance mountain, ultra, and trail runner. Beginner gardener. Marketing professional. Discovered running in my 40s (2010) and steadily progressed to running longer distances. Running has taken me to places around the world I’ve never imagined visiting. It’s challenged me physically and mentally, and allowed me to experience incredible highs and lows. And it’s enabled me to become part of a community that motivates, inspires, and uplifts me. It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I look forward to more years of running adventures, and sharing the joys of running with others. I'm excited and grateful for this opportunity to be part of the coaching team and help our young athletes learn about and grow in this wonderful sport.

    Coach Glenda

She has been running since 2nd grade and always had a passion for running outdoors and in nature. She recently returned to her Cross Country Team with St Bonaventure as Head Coach. With 2 young sons of her own, she is eager to pass on her love for running to the younger generation. She finds it very important to always show positive encouragement to children, to show them their strengths and what they are capable of achieving. She believes in not only showing the children how to be better athletes, but more importantly, on educating them the rationale behind strength training, stretching and cross training, and how they will benefit them. She looks forward to meeting you and your children!

Get your little athletes ready for their sports and daily activities through running. They will build endurance, speed and strength to improve performance and reduce injury in athletics, as well as everyday activities. They would not know they are working hard because they would be having too much fun!

We strive to 

1. Build whole athletes one child at a time.

2. Give the child the chance to grow into their own athlete.

3. Develop strong minds and bodies through trail running, while appreciating nature and building camaraderie.

Summer Conditioning (July to August)

Pre-season Conditioning for fall sports like cross country and soccer.

St Mary CYO Cross Country (August to October)

Great introduction to cross country racing! More information.

Walnut Creek Intermediate + Tice Creek --- Cross Country (August - October)

Great for those who want to run right after school and represent their school at the East Bay Middle School League meets.
More information at the Walnut Creek Rec + Arts After School Sports.

Walnut Creek Intermediate + Tice Creek --- Run Club (August - October)

Just want to run after school but not race? This is for you. Practice 2x per week.
More information at the Walnut Creek Rec + Arts After School Sports.

Run Club @ Shell Ridge Open Space --- Grades 3-8 (October to April)

Great for athletes who can already run a mile continuously and want to run longer. The goal is to nurture the joy for trail running, improve our aerobic capacity and gain some speed along the way. More information.

Walnut Creek Intermediate + Tice Creek --- Spring Track (March - May)

Great for those who want to run right after school and represent their school at the East Bay Middle School League.
More information at the Walnut Creek Rec + Arts After School Sports.

Walnut Creek Intermediate + Tice Creek --- Run Club (March - May)

Just want to run after school but not race? This is for you. Practice 2x per week.
More information at the Walnut Creek Rec + Arts After School Sports.