Our Final Training Session of the Spring Season!

With the Oakland Marathon and two awesome trail races in the record books, we now return to Snow Park for our final training session of Spring 2024! This has been an amazing season and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch our students pursue their running goals in practices and races over the past few months. Let’s finish our training program with our best practice yet!

Registration for the LMJS 4th Sunday Run is Now Live!

Click here to access your RBO account and register for our final race of the season!

LMJS 4th Sunday Race Fast Facts:

• Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 23rd

• Race Date: Sunday, April 28th

• RBO Meeting Time: 8:00am

• RBO Meeting Location: The RBO Tent near the Lake Merritt Sailboat House (638 Bellevue Ave, Oakland)

• Race Start Times:

  • 5K - 9:00am

  • 10K - 9:00am

  • 15K - 8:45am

Practice this Saturday!

We can’t wait to see you all back at Snow Park this Saturday! Please bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

• Meeting Time: Check-in will begin at 8:30am! Please arrive early to get your name tag, eat snacks, and get to know the other runners before practice begins. Training will begin with daily announcements at 9:00am.

• Meeting Location: We will meet at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Check-Out: All students must check out of practice before leaving. Students in 5th grade or younger must have a parent/guardian personally check them out. Depending on the training agenda for the day, practices will typically end around 10:30am.

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

Oyster Bay Trail Fun Run

It’s time for another trail race! Ride the RBO bus from Snow Park to Oyster Bay Regional Park on the beautiful San Leandro Shoreline! We can’t wait for RBO’s inaugural run at this hidden gem tucked away on the shores of the Bay. The park features an outstanding frisbee golf course and is a favorite meeting spot for local dogs (and people). Update your RBO registration by Thursday, April 11th if you would like to participate in this fun run!

Please bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

• Bus Meeting Time: Please arrive to Snow Park by 8:30am to board the RBO bus to the run. The bus will depart at 8:40 sharp! Please arrive early to ensure that you do not miss the bus.

• Bus Meeting Location: We will meet at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Fun Run Meeting Time: We will meet at Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline park at 9:00am. Please arrive on time if you are not riding the bus.

• Fun Run Meeting Location: 1631 Neptune Dr, San Leandro, CA 94577

• Bus Return Time: We will return to Snow Park by 11:00am

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

Carrera Divertida en Oyster Bay

¡Es hora de otra carrera en sendero! ¡Viaja en el autobús de RBO desde Snow Park hasta el Parque Regional de Oyster Bay en la hermosa orilla de San Leandro! Estamos emocionados por la primera carrera de RBO en esta joya escondida en las orillas de la bahía. El parque cuenta con un destacado campo de golf de frisbee y es un lugar de encuentro favorito para perros locales (y personas). ¡Actualiza tu registro de RBO antes del jueves 11 de abril si deseas participar en esta carrera divertida!

Por favor, trae una botella de agua llena y usa tu camiseta de RBO, así como zapatos para correr cerrados. ¡Más detalles a continuación!

• Hora de Encuentro para el Autobús: Por favor, llega a Snow Park antes de las 8:30 am para abordar el autobús de RBO hacia la carrera. ¡El autobús partirá puntualmente a las 8:40! Por favor, llega temprano para asegurarte de no perder el autobús.

• Lugar de Encuentro para el Autobús: Nos reuniremos en Snow Park junto al Lago Merritt.

• Hora de Encuentro para la Carrera Divertida: Nos reuniremos en el Parque Regional de Oyster Bay a las 9:00 am. Por favor, llega a tiempo si no viajas en el autobús.

• Lugar de Encuentro para la Carrera Divertida: 1631 Neptune Dr, San Leandro, CA 94577

• Hora de Regreso del Autobús: Regresaremos a Snow Park antes de las 11:00 am.

• Cumplimiento de los Mentores de Carrera: Todos los mentores de carrera deben estar completamente registrados y tener todos los documentos de cumplimiento aprobados antes de participar en cualquier evento de RBO. Por favor, revisa tu bandeja de entrada de correo electrónico y tu cuenta de registro para confirmar que has enviado todos los documentos requeridos. No dudes en responder a este correo electrónico si tienes alguna pregunta.

Practice #5 at Snow Park

With our first trail race of the season in the books, we will return to Snow Park for Practice #5. This will be our final training session before the Oyster Bay Fun Run on April 13th! Please double-check the race selections on your RBO registration account today if you are planning to participate in that run!

We can’t wait to see you all back at Snow Park this Saturday! Please bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

• Meeting Time: Check-in will begin at 8:30am! Please arrive early to get your name tag, eat snacks, and get to know the other runners before practice begins. Training will begin with daily announcements at 9:00am.

• Meeting Location: We will meet at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Check-Out: All students must check out of practice before leaving. Students in 5th grade or younger must have a parent/guardian personally check them out. Depending on the training agenda for the day, practices will typically end around 10:30am.

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

Práctica #5 en Snow Park

Después de haber completado nuestra primera carrera de senderos de la temporada, regresaremos a Snow Park para la Práctica #5. ¡Esta será nuestra última sesión de entrenamiento antes de la Divertida Carrera de Oyster Bay el 13 de abril! ¡Por favor, revisa las selecciones de carrera en tu cuenta de registro de RBO hoy si planeas participar en esa carrera!

¡Estamos ansiosos por verte a todos de regreso en Snow Park este sábado! Por favor, trae una botella de agua ly usa tu camiseta de RBO, así como zapatos para correr cerrados. ¡Más detalles a continuación!

• Hora de Encuentro: ¡El registro comenzará a las 8:30 am! Por favor, llega temprano para obtener tu etiqueta de nombre, comer snacks y conocer a los otros corredores antes de que comience la práctica. El entrenamiento comenzará con anuncios diarios a las 9:00 am.

• Lugar de Encuentro: Nos reuniremos en Snow Park junto al Lago Merritt.

• Salida: Todos los estudiantes deben registrarse al salir de la práctica. Los estudiantes en 5º grado o menores deben tener un padre/tutor que los registre personalmente al salir. Dependiendo de la agenda de entrenamiento del día, las prácticas típicamente terminarán alrededor de las 10:30 am.

• Cumplimiento de los Mentores de Carrera: Todos los mentores de carrera deben estar completamente registrados y tener todos los documentos de cumplimiento aprobados antes de participar en cualquier evento de RBO. Por favor, revisa tu bandeja de entrada de correo electrónico y tu cuenta de registro para confirmar que has enviado todos los documentos requeridos. No dudes en responder a este correo electrónico si tienes alguna pregunta.

The Redwood Trail Race

We had another wonderful practice in cold, rainy weather! Every coach in the program is blown away by the grit, perseverance, and resilience that our students and community have displayed so far this season. Just showing up to Snow Park for practice on a wet, freezing Saturday morning is a big accomplishment, and our students have been consistently going the extra kilometer by also bringing a ton of positive energy and a relentless drive to finish each workout. All that grit and perseverance will be put to the test once again at this Saturday’s trail race through the Oakland hills!

This Saturday, March 30th we will travel to the Oakland hills for the Redwood Trail Race! Double-check the race selections on your RBO registration account today if you are planning to participate this weekend! Registration through RBO and the RBO waitlist have closed. You may be able to purchase a 5-mile race entry directly from the race organizers.

Please remember to bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

• Bus Meeting Time: We will meet at 6:45am to board the bus. The bus will depart at 6:55am sharp! Please arrive early to ensure that you do not miss the bus.

• Bus Meeting Location: We will meet in our usual practice location at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Race Meeting Time: We will meet at the race at 7:15am. Please arrive on time to ensure that we have plenty of time to distribute bibs, connect students with run mentors, and warm up for the race.

• Race Meeting Location: If you are not riding the RBO bus, you may meet us at the race. The address is 10000 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94619. Follow signs to find parking and the race start line. Please arrive on time to help pre-race operations run smoothly.

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

• Race Day Details: More information about the race including course maps, elevation profiles, driving directions, parking information, exact start line location, and start times can be found here.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

Practice #4 at Snow Park

We had a fantastic weekend at the Oakland Marathon! Running for a Better Oakland had 183 runners participate in the event including over 100 students, 15 coaches and youth coaches, and almost 60 run mentors. After three tough weeks of training at Snow Park in cold, wet weather our community got to put all of their hard work into action at this iconic race through downtown Oakland and around Lake Merritt. It was a beautiful day to run and a terrific way to start our schedule of races and fun runs!

We will now return to Snow Park for Practice #4 this Saturday! Please bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

The following Saturday, March 30th we will travel to the Oakland hills for the Redwood Trail Race. Double-check the race selections on your RBO registration account today if you are planning to participate in that race! Registration has closed but you may still be able to receive a free race entry through RBO by joining our waitlist for this race. You may also be able to purchase a race entry directly from the race organizers.

• Meeting Time: Check-in will begin at 8:30am! Please arrive early to get your name tag, eat snacks, and get to know the other runners before practice begins. Training will begin with daily announcements at 9:00am.

• Meeting Location: We will meet at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Check-Out: All students must check out of practice before leaving. Students in 5th grade or younger must have a parent/guardian personally check them out. Depending on the training agenda for the day, practices will typically end around 10:30am.

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

Regresamos a Snow Park para nuestra practica #4

¡Tuvimos un fin de semana fantástico en el Maratón de Oakland! Running for a Better Oakland tuvo 183 corredores participando en el evento, incluyendo más de 100 estudiantes, 15 mentores y entrenadores jóvenes, y casi 60 mentores de carrera. Después de tres arduas semanas de entrenamiento en Snow Park bajo un clima frío y húmedo, nuestra comunidad pudo poner en práctica todo su esfuerzo en esta icónica carrera a través del centro de Oakland y alrededor del Lago Merritt. ¡Fue un día hermoso para correr y una manera fantástica de comenzar nuestro calendario de carreras y carreras divertidas!

¡Ahora volveremos a Snow Park para la Práctica #4 este sábado! Por favor, trae una botella de agua llena y viste tu camiseta de RBO así como zapatos de correr cerrados. ¡Más detalles a continuación!

El siguiente sábado, 30 de marzo, viajaremos a las colinas de Oakland para la Carrera de Sendero Redwood. ¡Revisa hoy la página de confirmación en tu cuenta de registro de RBO si planeas participar en esa carrera! La inscripción ha cerrado pero aún podrías ser capaz de recibir una entrada gratuita para la carrera a través de RBO uniéndote a nuestra lista de espera para esta carrera. También podrías ser capaz de comprar una entrada para la carrera directamente de los organizadores de la carrera.

• Hora de encuentro: ¡El registro comenzará a las 8:30 am! Por favor, llega temprano para obtener tu etiqueta de tu nombre, comer algo y conocer a los otros corredores antes de que comience la práctica. El entrenamiento comenzará con los anuncios diarios a las 9:00 am.

• Lugar de encuentro: Nos reuniremos en Snow Park, junto al Lago Merritt.

• Salida: Todos los estudiantes deben registrarse al salir de la práctica. Los estudiantes de 5.º grado o menores deben tener un padre/tutor que los registre personalmente al salir. Dependiendo de la agenda de entrenamiento del día, las prácticas típicamente terminarán alrededor de las 10:30 am.

• Cumplimiento de los Mentores de Carrera: Todos los mentores de carrera deben estar completamente registrados y tener todos los documentos de cumplimiento aprobados antes de participar en cualquier evento de RBO. Por favor, revisa tu bandeja de entrada de correo electrónico y cuenta de registro para confirmar que has enviado todos los documentos requeridos. No dudes en responder a este correo electrónico con cualquier pregunta.

Run The Oakland Marathon with RBO!

We are so excited to kick-off our Spring 2024 race schedule with our first race of the season this Sunday! Our students have been training diligently in cold, wet weather and we can not wait to watch all of their hard work pay off as they cross the finish line and receive a finisher's medal at this iconic race through downtown Oakland and around Lake Merritt. Please read through all of the information below and don’t hesitate out reach out with any questions!

Packet Pick-Up Instructions

• Registration for this event through RBO has closed. Race entries may still be available through the race website.

• RBO will distribute your race bib and commemorative shirt. Please disregard emails from the race about attending packet pick-up events- they will not have your bib or shirt!

• RBO will distribute bibs from 9am-2pm on Saturday, March 16th at the race expo in Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. Please attend this pre-race packet pick-up event to help ensure that race day operations run smoothly.

• RBO will not have practice on March 16th due to the race on March 17th. Our next practice will be at Snow Park on Saturday, March 23rd.

• If you are unable to attend the packet pick-up event on March 16th, you may pick up your bib on the morning of the race in the Team Zone in Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. Please arrive extra early to ensure you will have plenty of time to pick up your bib and warm up before the race. We will not have the RBO tent on race day morning- look for the blue, yellow, green, and purple RBO shirts!

Race Day Logistics

• We will meet in the Team Zone in Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts on race day morning!

  • Location: Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts (Map)

  • Meeting Time: 7:30am on Sunday, March 17th

  • We will not have the RBO tent on race day morning- look for the blue, yellow, green, and purple RBO shirts!

• All runners must wear their RBO shirt to the race!

  • Commemorative race t-shirts will be distributed after the race.

• Please check in at the RBO table in the Team Zone when you arrive to Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts

  • Pick up your name tag (and race entry bib if needed)

  • Help coaches connect students with run mentors

  • Eat snacks, warm-up, and get excited for the race!

• Race Start Times and Course Details

  • The 10K race starts at 8:30am (Course Details)

  • The 5K race starts at 9:00am (Course Details)

Support RBO by Volunteering at the Oakland Marathon!

The Oakland Marathon generously provides RBO with discounted race entries so that we can cover the costs for our entire community to participate in the race for free. As part of our agreement (and to show our appreciation!), we need to provide the race with at least 20 volunteers.

We need 4 more volunteers to reach our goal! Please support RBO by signing up for a volunteer shift at a pre-race packet pick-up event or another opportunity!

Help RBO Senior Scholarship Applicants with Community Service in The Gardens at Lake Merritt!

Date: Saturday, March 16th, 2024

Time: 9:30am-12:30pm

Location: The Mediterranean Garden in The Gardens at Lake Merritt - 666 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 (Map)

Click here to see a map of The Gardens at Lake Merritt

As part of Running for a Better Oakland’s 2024 Senior Scholarship Program, all scholarship applicants must participate in community service opportunities that support and improve the city of Oakland. This Saturday, March 16th, our scholarship applicants will be volunteering their time in The Gardens at Lake Merritt, working to maintain this incredible public resource for the the Oakland community.

Please join our scholarship applicants at The Gardens at Lake Merritt this Saturday! Please bring your gloves, and your favorite small garden tools if you have them, and a friend. Friends of The Gardens at Lake Merritt provide gloves and garden tools as well. Just show up, they’ll be glad to give you a job!

The Gardens at Lake Merritt, a seven-acre collection of themed gardens, is conveniently located in the heart of Oakland at Lakeside Park, our nation’s first wildlife refuge.

Established more than a half-century ago, the Gardens serve as a source of great regional pride, a cultural and educational center and a place to enjoy tranquility in the heart of the city. The Gardens are poised to serve as an example of the highest standards of horticulture and historic preservation while providing enriching public programs.

Tell the parking attendant at the kiosk you are with the Friends of the Garden at Lake Merritt and volunteering at the Gardens at Lake Merritt so you can park for free.

More information about this community service opportunity and The Gardens at Lake Merritt can be found here.

More information about the RBO Scholarship Program can be found here.

Practice #3 this Saturday!

We can hardly believe it but the season is flying by and our 3rd practice of Spring 2024 is coming up fast this Saturday! This will be our final training practice before our first race of the season! Please bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

Want to participate in races with RBO? We are currently registering runners for the Oakland Marathon and the Redwood Trail Race!

Registration closes this Saturday, May 9th!

Click here to access your RBO account and register for races!

• Meeting Time: Check-in will begin at 8:30am! Please arrive early to get your name tag, eat snacks, and get to know the other runners before practice begins. Training will begin with daily announcements at 9:00am.

• Meeting Location: We will meet at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Check-Out: All students must check out of practice before leaving. Students in 5th grade or younger must have a parent/guardian personally check them out. Depending on the training agenda for the day, practices will typically end around 10:30am.

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

The Second Practice of the Spring 2024 Season!

The Spring 2024 season is off to a superb start and we can not wait to keep running towards our goals this Saturday at Snow Park! Please bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

• Meeting Time: Check-in will begin at 8:30am! Please arrive early to get your name tag, eat snacks, and get to know the other runners before practice begins. Training will begin with daily announcements at 9:00am.

• Meeting Location: We will meet at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Check-Out: All students must check out of practice before leaving. Students in 5th grade or younger must have a parent/guardian personally check them out. Depending on the training agenda for the day, practices will typically end around 10:30am.

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

Missed the Pre-Season Meeting? Click here to view the presentation slides! (Email byron@rboakland.org if you would like to receive a recording of the presentation)

Our First Practice of the Season!

Saturday, February 24th will be our first training practice of the Spring 2024 season! Please bring a filled water bottle and wear your RBO t-shirt as well as closed-toe running shoes. More details are below!

Missed the Pre-Season Meeting? Click here to view the presentation slides! (Email byron@rboakland.org if you would like to receive a recording of the presentation)

• Meeting Time: Check-in will begin at 8:30am! Please arrive early to get your name tag, eat snacks, and get to know the other runners before practice begins. Training will begin with daily announcements at 9:00am.

• Meeting Location: We will meet at Snow Park by Lake Merritt.

• Check-Out: All students must check out of practice before leaving. Students in 5th grade or younger must have a parent/guardian personally check them out. Depending on the training agenda for the day, practices will typically end around 10:30am.

• Run Mentor Compliance: All run mentors must be fully registered and have all compliance documents approved before participating in any RBO events. Please check your email inbox and registration account to confirm that you have submitted all required documents. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email with any questions.

Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers!

Pre-Season Informational Meeting

Tuesday, February 20th at 6:30pm

Please join us on Zoom for our Pre-Season Informational Meeting on Tuesday, February 20th! The purpose of this meeting is to distribute critical information about the season including practice safety procedures, race registration instructions, important dates, and more.

Missed the Pre-Season Meeting? Click here to view the presentation slides! (Email byron@rboakland.org if you would like to receive a recording of the presentation)

We ask that all run mentors and at least one parent/guardian for every student and youth coach attend this meeting.

After completing Spring 2024 registration, please check your inbox for a confirmation email containing the meeting link.