Stride + Stretch
Yoga Baum’s Run/Walk Club
Run smarter. Walk stronger. Recover better.
Whether you’re lacing up for the first time or looking to take your training to the next level, Stride + Stretch offers a supportive, coached experience that meets you where you are and helps you go further.
Over 6 weeks, you’ll learn to train with purpose, vary your pace, and recover effectively with runner-focused yoga. All sessions are led by experienced coaches: Abbey will lead our walking group, and Laurie will lead our running groups.
The Program
Start: Monday, September 15th
End: Friday, October 24th
Length: 6 weeks
When: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at 7:00 am
Where: The loop at Seneca Park
Cost: $99 for the full 6-week program or $10 to drop in for a single session
Format (all under 1 hour):
5 min pre-session huddle to explain the day’s focus
30–35 min coached workout on the loop
20 min runner-focused yoga + stretch at the park (or at Yoga Baum if the weather is bad)
Weekly Structure
You’ll train three key paces each week:
Base / Steady-State Day – build endurance at an easy, conversational pace.
Threshold Day – push into a “comfortably hard” effort to improve stamina.
Speed / Sprint Day – short bursts of faster running or walking to build strength, form, and confidence.
Choose Your Track
Walkers – brisk walking, pace changes, and form tips to build strength & cardio fitness.
New Runners – gradual walk/run progression to continuous running without burnout.
Speed Builders – for runners ready to train smarter and get faster.
Everyone meets together at Seneca Park and trains at their own pace with coaching for each track.
Requirements
A watch (any basic digital or analog watch is fine. No GPS or fancy features required) to help with interval timing.
Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and supportive shoes.
A willingness to meet rain or shine — sessions will only be rescheduled for lightning.
In case of a downpour: post-run yoga/stretch will be moved to Yoga Baum.
OTHER DETAILS
Weekly email plan – get the workouts in case you miss a day, plus pacing guides and tips.
Post-program meet-ups – when the 6 weeks are over, we’ll keep the momentum going with group runs/walks + yoga. Dates and times TBD.
Meet Your Club Captains
ABBEY BROOKS
Leading our walkers to steady success is Abbey Brooks. Abbey loves working out and equipping her clients with all the tools they need to lead a happy and active life. Walking is a seriously underrated and underutilized form of fitness and Abbey can’t wait to give the walkers tools to mix up their routine and add challenge where they’re interested!
Laurie LeCompte
Former cross country coach Laurie LeCompte is leading our running groups. Laurie has had a long relationship with running and knows how to build workouts and programs that help runners get faster and avoid burnout. She can’t wait to infuse the runners’ training with more excitement and joy, and give them skills to create their own speed-building training regimens after this six weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m in the walking group, are you going to make me run?
No. We will never make you do anything. The walkers have their own training program and there is no pressure to ever run or for that to become a goal.
But, seriously, will i have to run?
We promise, you will never have to run if you are in the walking group :)
What if I’m not as fast as everyone else?
Everyone is encouraged to go at a pace that’s based on their effort and individual exertion, so you will never need to match anyone’s pace. We will stay on the loop so you will always be near the others no matter the pace you’re walking or running :) This is a club, not a competition, and there is no competition at the end of the program.
What are we training for?
Life! JK, but also seriously. This program will help you build confidence, strength, and endurance within the six weeks, and will also give you skills that you can implement in your weekly routine! We’re not training for an event or race, but you will be able to use these skills if you decide to train for something specific afterwards.
What would be a realistic goal that I could achieve through this 6-week program?
It depends on your current activity and fitness level, but it would be realistic to improve your speed in distances up to 5K through this program alone, and if you are running or walking outside of the program during the six weeks, you could improve your speed in longer distances. If you are just starting out, you will be getting so many benefits from starting a new walking or running routine, including increasing your overall cardiovascular endurance!
Will I have to talk to other people while I run/walk? 7:00am is early…
LOL, we feel you. No, you will not have to talk to people while you run/walk if you don’t want to! You can always bring headphones as a way to signal that it’s too early for you to socialize. Some of the runs/walks will be at “conversational” pace, but that doesn’t mean you must converse.
What happens if I can’t make it one day?
Every morning before the club meets we will send an email explaining the run/walk workouts. So if you can’t make it one day, no big deal, you can do it on your own! But we will miss you :)
What kind of shoes should I get/wear?
We recommend going in-person to a local running store and getting fitted. The experts there can take things like your injury history, nagging issues, and gait into consideration. Swag’s Sport Shoes is our local favorite. PRO TIP: Bring your current pair of running/walking shoes in so they can see how you wear them down—it will help them find the best fit for you!
I really want to do this, but I’m so nervous. Any advice?
We commend you for trying something new!!! It’s not easy to jump into a new activity with a new group. Most people feel the same way at the beginning of a program like this, so know that you are not alone and that we promise to make walking and running more fun than you thought it could be! We are really enthusiastic about sharing this information and starting our mornings with you :)