Our membership is open to ages 10 and up. Yes, adults included. We focus on building foundational fitness and promoting running as a lifelong activity, making it suitable for all ages and abilities. 

Practice takes place at the Bosque Trails in Irvine. This off-street, protected trail system provides a safe and enjoyable environment for all of our members. 

Running is foundational to every sport. By building aerobic fitness and overall endurance, students are able to train harder and longer in their primary sport, which often leads to improved performance and greater success across athletic activities.

As students train, they quickly discover they can run farther and faster than they thought possible. This builds confidence through effort and progress, reinforcing a strong work ethic and a willingness to try things that once felt intimidating. Those lessons extend well beyond running and often carry over into academics and other areas of life. 

Students should wear proper running shoes to all training sessions. A running shoe is different from a general athletic or tennis shoe, it is designed primarily for forward motion with minimal side-to-side movement, which helps reduce stress on the knees and lower legs. If you need help selecting shoes, a specialty running store such as Road Runner Sports can be a great resource, as their staff are trained specifically in fitting running shoes.

Additional gear is optional. Activity monitors such as Garmin or Apple Watch devices are encouraged but not required and can be a helpful way for students to track their progress over time. If you choose to track runs using a phone (for example, with a Strava account), we recommend using a waist belt or arm carrier so the phone can be carried comfortably. We do not recommend running with headphones, as they reduce awareness of surroundings and can create safety concerns.

Schedule changes are rare, but if they do occur, any updates to session times or locations will be communicated by email to the address you used when registering your student. 

No. While racing can be fun and exciting, it isn’t for everyone, and it’s easy for the larger goal of building a lifelong, active lifestyle to get overshadowed by competition and medals. Our focus is on enjoyment, growth, and long-term health.

That said, we have extensive racing and event experience and are happy to coach runners who are interested in participating independently. Beyond traditional track meets, running can lead to incredible adventures. We’ve coached students for events ranging from mountain climbs to multi-day endurance challenges. If your child is interested in racing or a special running goal, feel free to talk with Coach Maas or contact us at info@transparenttrack.com.

Yes. Because we don’t participate in formal competitions, we recognize students through our own internal awards program. Twice a year, consistent members (those who participate for three months or more) are recognized for their progress and commitment. Awards are personalized to each student and may include achievements such as a new longest run, a personal best, or total miles completed during a training cycle. Our recognition program is designed to reward effort, consistency, and growth, not natural talent, so every runner has something meaningful to work toward and celebrate.

Yes! Running really is fun.

Many people think running is boring or miserable, but it doesn’t have to be. Ever notice runners finishing with a big, silly grin? That’s endorphins, your body’s natural “feel-good” hormone. When you run the right way, those happy feelings are what stick with you.

So why hasn’t running felt fun before? It usually comes down to three things:

• Your brain has been trained to hate it. For many of us, running was used as punishment (“Take a lap!”). We help flip that mindset, running isn’t something you have to do, it’s something you get to do.

• Running is a skill. Just like any sport, it takes learning and practice. Better form and smarter training mean faster progress and fewer injuries.

• Most people run too fast. Slowing down is key. Easier running builds fitness, keeps you healthy, and actually makes running more enjoyable.

Put those together and it’s easy to see why past attempts felt miserable. We do things differently. Our goal is to give you the tools to enjoy running, improve safely, and make it part of your life.

Come run with us and join the group with the silly smiles.