No this is not a post about juggling while running. Although maybe that would be something to try in a race one of these days. It’s about trying to fit the Mizuno race on Sunday into my training program.
This week, I am supposed to do speedwork on Thursday consisting of 4×1600m with 800m jogs up to 8 miles including warm up and cool down and a 20 mile long run on Sunday. However, I really wanted to join the Mizuno race as I was sure it would be a bigger and better organized event this time (not to mention having a nice singlet too!). During one of my runs at the oval last week, I mentioned my to dilemma to Rio and he told me to do 2 loops of the 15k race course. I had done something similar in the Runnex anniversary race where I did a 10k then ran an additional 11k. It is not fun. Instead of being able to race I found myself holding back, conserving energy for the rest of my workout. This time I decided I would switch my long run and speedwork day. The speedwork days I will be switching as well. I will move my 4×1600m to next Thursday and use the race to replace that Thursday’s tempo run. It is actually more scary than confusing. I am sure this program was created to build up my race readiness as well and I hope I am not undoing anything the program was created to do for me. That is the advantage of having a human coach. There is always someone there to tell you what you are doing is right! Let’s see…and good luck to me this week.
P.S. I ran with J again at the oval and as usual, my easy became slightly tougher but I am getting used to it it seems.
Total Distance : 5.0 miles Total Time : 48:42 Ave. Pace : 9:44/mi Ave. HR : 133
prometheuscometh, I would tell you the same thing that Coach Rio told you. I’ve had runners come to me with the dilema you have and would tell them just that. Believe me, you’ll do well with the adjustment of moving a speedwork and a tempo day. In advance, good luck on Sunday!
Anyway, today I talked with my boss about vacation. The weeks that are available are between November 1 – December 15. Everything else right now is blocked off. There are two possibilities from looking at the schedule that you shared with me. The New Balance Power Race (November 15-16 in Pampanga) or the Runnex 25th Executive Classic (December 7 at UP Diliman). I’m looking at 10 total days off and incorporating a race into the vacation.
If you or any of the readers have feedback on the events, please let me know. I hope to finalize this soon and make airline reservations. Thanks.
Wayne
sfrunner.wordpress.com
By: sfrunner on June 25, 2008
at 9:51 am
If you’re ever serious about running and juggling an event, it’s called joggling and you can check out (http://justyouraveragejoggler.com) for tips.
Good luck on your races.
By: Perry on June 25, 2008
at 7:19 pm
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for the good wishes!
As for the races you mentioned, the NB Power Race in Clark, Pampanga is probably 100km outside Metro Manila. I have never raced in Clark so I don’t know the conditions there but New Balance has always organized a good race. The Runnex 25th EC am sure is also a well organized race. My bet ( and it may not be the best one) is if you want to meet most of the running bloggers you will get a better chance in Runnex since it is here in Manila, but you never know…they may just be addicted enough to run in Clark too!
By: prometheuscometh on June 25, 2008
at 9:43 pm
Hi prometheuscometh,
Thank you for the reply. Like I mentioned to BR and loonyrunner, I appreciate the feedback. Is the Runnex race sponsored by Coach Rio’s group? It’s possible that this run may be a better one like you said.
I’ll make a decision within a week. Have a question for you. How’s the Quezon City Marathon / Half Marathon next February? I was planning to run a half marathon the same weekend here but it would be great there. Thanks again.
By: sfrunner on June 25, 2008
at 10:46 pm
Hi Wayne,
The schedule does not say if Coach Rio intends to organize that race, but you can check with him by leaving a comment on his website at www. runrio.com.
Same with QC International Marathon which I think is Boston marathon qualifying race.
By: prometheuscometh on June 26, 2008
at 6:02 am
I have the same dilemma. I’m registered for both the Mizuno and the manila half-marathon the week after. I need to do a long run on sunday but I’m doing the 10k race instead. I will probably do a slightly shorter long run the tuesday before the half instead. I’m not sure that’s the best plan but I’ll have to make do with the available time.
I ran my first race ever in Clark, and it was a great experience. Wide, open roads, few cars, and hundred year old trees line the race course. I run there about 2x a month and it’s always a pleasure. Sfrunner, I’d try to catch that if I were you.
On the QC Marathon, I’m planning to join that too but Quezon City will probably be more polluted and not as scenic as the Clark or UP race. Hope this helps.
By: DATC on June 26, 2008
at 9:35 am
Hi DATC and prometheuscometh. Thank you both for the info. My boss, when mentioning about the NB races, mentioned that I should do that one. He said that the New Balance staff and representatives in the Philippines would really appreciate it. I sent an e-mail to their website on Monday to find out more about the race. The only concern I have is the distance from Manila (about 100km) and that I won’t be driving. With an early start time likely, I wouldn’t want to miss it.
The UP race sounds good as well. I’ll weigh them both and make a decision very soon.
Good luck to both of you at the Mizuno run this Sunday. Wish I were there. – Wayne
By: sfrunner on June 26, 2008
at 10:26 am
Wayne, if you were to join the NB race, you’d want to check in at a hotel in Clark. There are lots of hotels to choose from – I’d recommend Holiday Inn Clark. It’s a 3 minute walk to the starting line of the race (assuming the starting line is where it was before) and the rooms are newly renovated.
By: DATC on June 26, 2008
at 10:53 am
Thanks again DATC. Whatever decision, I hope to get a chance to meet you along with the other bloggers and runners. It’s a really good group there. I feel that with Coach Rio and his staff, some of the other sponsored races and soon, baldrunner’s events will enhance the sport.
I’ll do my best to promote from the store I work at. My boss thought there was only one race and that was the QC Marathon. I showed him the running website that prometheuscometh gave me and Coach Rio’s and he was awestruck.
By: sfrunner on June 26, 2008
at 11:34 am
perry – Hey thanks for the tip! I checked out your blog and I didn’t realize that so many people actually have a talent for this. However, I can’t even juggle standing still so I think I have to continue looking for my true talent. We haven’t seen any jogglers yet in the country. Hopefully one day you can come over and give us a demonstration.
DATC – I think you should start your own blog now!
Wayne – Well whatever your decision I am sure you will have a good time here!
By: prometheuscometh on June 26, 2008
at 9:29 pm
hey wayne, the QC Marathon on Feb 1, 2009 is being organized by Coach Rio with the cooperation of the QC government. They’re in the process of finalizing the route. From what I’ve heard, it might be accredited as a Boston Marathon qualifier
PC, great blog, see you at Mizuno!
By: loonyrunner on June 26, 2008
at 9:31 pm
Thanks doc! Your blog is also an inspiration.
The qualifying time for Boston is 3:15. Something to shoot for eh?
By: prometheuscometh on June 27, 2008
at 5:24 am
With the way both of you train, the Boston qualifier can be reachable!
If I haven’t said it already, good luck to all of you this weekend at Mizuno!
I’ll be checking out the results.
By: sfrunner on June 27, 2008
at 9:27 am
you are so right … the races can really mess up training scheds and it’s not really fun to run extra loops while your friends are having breakfast. i usually swap my quality workout (usually thursday) and long run sched (usually sunday). then in my head, i try to convince myself that im just doing a tempo run.
this week is a bit tricky though because i did my long run on a monday and 15K is a very loooong tempo. oh well … will be logging more Kms than planned. hahaha
By: bards on June 27, 2008
at 5:09 pm
Welcome banana runner and college batchmate! I jokingly told DATC I will simply choose my races on the basis of who has the best singlets. That way I don’t have to join all (although I would like to with or without the nice singlets!).
Wayne, thanks for the faith!
By: prometheuscometh on June 27, 2008
at 8:30 pm