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Are you interested in a way to keep fit that involves fun, friendship and fresh air? Would you like to explore new places and meet new people? Then the South Bay Striders (SBS) may be just what you are looking for.

South Bay Striders is a Silicon Valley-based walking and hiking club aimed at bringing together individuals and families who love the outdoors and enjoy participating in social, non-competitive exercise. We offer organized walks with nominal 10K (6 miles) and 5K (3 miles) routes. Participants walk at their own speed, ranging from power walk to leisure walk.

SBS is a chapter of the American Volkssport Association (AVA), which offers walking, biking, swimming and cross-country ski events throughout the U.S. Volkssport means sport of the people. Volkssporting originated in southern Germany and was brought to the United States in the 1970s. The first official Volkssport club in the U.S. was in Friedricksburg, Texas. They held their first official walk in 1976. Since then, the AVA has grown to include more than 400 clubs across the U.S. and Canada.

AVA clubs sponsor two types of walks, or Volksmarches: Event walks, which are special, scheduled walks with 20-100 participants; and year round walks (YREs) that are available to members and guests at any time. Many walkers track the number of events and/or mileage they complete and receive patches and various awards for their efforts. Some walkers set specific goals, such as walking in all 50 states; walking in every capital city; or walking in cities beginning with the letters A-Z. Others walk just for the fun of it. There's something for everyone.

One of the many benefits of Volksmarching is the opportunity to explore parts of cities, parks, small towns and quaint neighborhoods that you often miss by car. Traveling to another city and want to get off the beaten path? Easy. Just find the local club in the Starting Point, which lists all the clubs and their walks in the U.S. and Canada, email the contact person and you are on your way to a new adventure!

If you are ready to get out of the gym, or off the couch, and find a new avenue for fitness, we would love you to join us on the trail.