Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest pace you can accommodate? What is the slowest pace you can accommodate? Is it okay that I haven’t trained seriously since high school?
YRR is pretty flexible with regards to pacing—we can generally accommodate whatever our runners want, be it a seven mile run at 6:00 min/mile pace, or a four leisurely 9:30 minute miles.
In general, our upper limit is 6:00 min/mile, and our lower limit is between 9:30-10:00 min/mile. On weekdays we run between four and eight miles. So, if you can’t run 4 miles at a 10:00 min/mile pace, you might want to train a little on your own before joining us. Similarly, if you want to do ten miles at 5:30 minute pace, you might consider joining the cross country team.
Do you have to come to all of the practices or is it okay to just come sometimes?
You can run with YRR whenever you want—whether you come every day, or once a semester. We’ll just be happy to see you!
Where/when do you run?
In the fall, we meet every week day at 4:30 PM by the Women’s Table. After daylight savings time, we push our practices back by about a half an hour for the rest of winter.
We run pretty much everywhere in New Haven that is remotely run-able, including, but not limited to: East Rock Park, Edgerton Park, Edgewood Park, West Rock Park, Long Wharf, and Canal Park Trail.
How can I join? Do I have to join?
Joining YRR is easy—all you have to do is pay your $20 in team dues, and in return you’ll receive membership and an awesome t-shirt!
You do not have to be a dues-paying member, however, to train and practice with us, but we can’t let non-members compete on our team or wear our amazing t-shirts and singlets.
Do you compete?
YRR is a member of NIRCA, the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association, and we compete in their northeastern circuit—we attend at least two NIRCA races each fall, running against club teams from others schools (including UPenn, UConn, and Princeton.)
In addition to racing with NIRCA in the fall, YRR also attends road races year round. You can find a complete list of our planned races here. If there’s a race you’d like to run (or you're a race coordinator who'd like us to run in your race) that we haven’t listed, let us know about it!
Do I have to compete?
Nope! All you have to do to be a member of YRR is pay dues. We'd love to have you race with us, but we'll never force you!
I want to see the team outside of an athletic context. Is that possible?
Yes, it is completely understandable that you should want to spend more time with the lovely beautiful athletes in YRR, especially when they are not sweaty and smell nice. Happily, YRR has two Co-Social Chairs who plan lots of fun events and parties for team-bonding outside of an athletic context! If you’re on the panlist (and you should be!), you’ll receive invitations to these very exclusive, very delightful events.
What do you do during the winter when it is cold and snowy?
What do we look like, football players? We keep practicing, of course.
In all seriousness, even our Southern runners have found it possible to run outside in the winter. Of course, we’re careful and practical about it—we won’t run in an blizzard, or perhaps right after it, but we don’t let a little snow and cold stop us from running! If you need a little winter running advice, why not contact one of our team captains or officers?
What happens when it is REALLY rainy/cold/snowy? How will I know if practice is cancelled?
When the weather absolutely prohibits running—when there’s lightning or when the streets become dangerous with ice and snow—we train together indoors (either on Payne Whitney’s indoor track, or on treadmills and ellipticals). If practice is cancelled, one of our captains will send an email out an hour to 30 minutes before practice was scheduled to let the team know when and where the indoor practice will be meeting.
Is there team gear?
YES! As a dues-paying member, you’ll receive a FREE YRR t-shirt which will instantly elevate your social standing at Yale. In addition, you’ll be able to purchase MORE t-shirts (stay tuned for long-sleeves!) and our SWEET YRR jersey, guaranteed to shave ten seconds off your PR or we’ll give you a sympathetic hug!
