Wednesday, September 5, 2007

What the...? Explaining Our Transitional Schedule...

I'm sorry if I was baffled by all the "What? When? Huh?" regarding our schedule last night. Looking at the schedule, there's a little reason for confusion.

Ideally, I would have started the beginners' group a couple of weeks earlier. Nevertheless, yesterday's workout pretty well demonstrated that everyone is pretty much where they need to be for the training they want to be in. I don't know how many of you did the math, but you ran three miles yesterday, the middle mile and a half consisting of speedwork, at that! Congratulations!

For the half marathoners, the structure of the early weeks of the training programs will be a little different for us, because everyone's been running. So, rather than starting from scratch this weekend, I'm working the schedule out as a continuation of the progress you've already made.

So, here's the breakdown:
  • Half marathoners will meet on Tuesday nights at 6:30pm, and Saturday mornings at 7am.
  • Marathoners will meet on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm, and Saturday mornings at 7am.
  • The beginners, who I think I'll call "The Upstarts", will train with the half marathoners on Tuesdays at 6:30pm, and with everyone on Saturday mornings at 7am, but with modified workouts and lower-mileage schedules. I have no doubt that some of you will be able to transition into the half marathon program. We'll just keep tabs as we go.

Obviously, the half marathon/marathon runners have a goal race in February. The Upstarts are welcome to run with us for as long as they like. If you get to a point where you're running what the half marathoners are, I'll expect you to run the damned half marathon, and to pay what the other half marathoners have paid ($150). Otherwise, you'll be required to buy a shirt, pay $50 and/or help support the half marathoners and marathoners on a long run or two.

For everyone, the cost is $150, and again, your participation and commitment are more important to me than the money. If you need to, you can pay the fee out over a period of time. I don't want to do that with everyone, because it makes it too easy for people to bail out on their training, and it'll reduce the funds available to buy all the shirts, and fund things for the group. No, it doesn't have anything to do with my desire for a Mini Cooper or an XBox 360 coinciding with the release of Halo 3 later this month. My day job will pay for those things at some point.

I also will be encouraging you to do some external good with your running, by raising money for a cause. We'll be talking about some options and how to go about it in the next few weeks.

Any questions? This blog is far too quiet. Make some noise!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

So sweet of you to make modified workouts for the special ed group. Thanks for including us. Actually, it is probably just me in the slow class. That's okay. "I just want to belong"! :)

Anonymous said...
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Rob said...

Oh, no, you're not. Right now, there are four or five Upstarts.

We all just want to belong, dude.

Anonymous said...

I just realized that my username was alias. That's so retarded. I forgot that I did that when I made the account a long time ago. They don't let you change it, either. So, this is a new account. BTW, I was just kidding when I said I just want to belong. That is from a public service announcement that I saw a while back on teenage angst or something.

Sprezzatist said...

I'm really great with time management, just not on a schedule.

Thanks for the transitional schedule explained. See you on Saturday. :)

Rob said...

BTW, I was stupid. Half a mile warmup plus six laps plus half a mile cooldown equals 2.5 miles, not three. Still, if you can do that, you can run three...

Can't believe no one corrected me - I'm very disappointed in you all.

I'll get over it.

carmen said...

ok if any upstarts want to get together for runs on other days let me know or if anyone wants to cross train by biking on the hike & bike or by going to free yoga on friday nights (I haven't been yet Jacala told me about it) post here or email me at carmendvalera@yahoo.com.

Stacy said...

Ahem. Some of us ran 8 laps instead of 6...so the math still worked out for 3. No correction neccessary. ;-) Some of us (me)were additionally silly and parked in BFE almost under MoPac...now I know better!

"Upstarts"... I like it!

Free yoga you say? That's sounds like fun. Who offers that? I might be game. They used to (and may still) have free yoga on the evenings of the full moon at Mt. Bonnell over-looking the lake. Mucho fun!

carmen said...

At Yoga Vida on Bee caves at 6:30pm on Fridays. This is per Jacala and I think we are both going to go tomorrow if I can get there from Parmer & Mopac in time!

Stacy said...

Let me know how it goes...I didn't bring a change clothes with me today, but it might be fun to try in the future.

JeanConover said...

Ok people, so I showed up at Whole Foods at 7:10 and you guys were gone...teaches me not to be late. It was a sad morning as I ran alone :(

You guys are quick. I will be there promptly for the next practice! See you Wednesday. Jean.