P3 with Panther
Posted: September 12, 2008
The PR Project is a performance-based training group that meets for 2 quality workouts and 1 long run every week. It’s a month-to-month program, offering training for all types of paces, all types of races, and all types of workloads. We train for Austin, Chicago, New York, Portland, Dallas, Houston, and Boston, just to name a few.
There is one basic plan that all of the athletes follow, but each athlete chooses, along with Coach Panther, which “work group” he or she is going to be in. The “work groups” are based on weekly mileage, with the least intense being 20 miles per week (for triathletes, duathletes, and half marathoners) and the most intense being 70 miles per week (for those training for multiple marathons in a season or for ultramarathons).
The plans follow 3-week cycles (2 hard weeks followed by 1 easy week), and, at the end of each cycle, athletes have the choice of either “graduating” up into the next workload or staying where they are, because of time constraints or because they need more time to adjust to the heavier mileage. Athletes include 12-minute milers to 6-minute milers, marathoners hoping to break 5 hours, 4 hours, and 3 hours, and many others. We have all kinds of athletes in our group, and everyone is welcome.
Although we are very social and are sometimes known for our fun side, we are a very serious group that is committed to running fitness. Whether you want to set a new Personal Record, qualify for the Boston Marathon, or get your running up to speed for triathlon season, Coach Panther expects every athlete to work hard, have reasonable goals, and do his or her best to follow the training schedule. We have a terrific team, and we reward our own hard work with team happy hours and our own brand of team support and encouragement.
The PR Project is a little more expensive than some running groups, but it’s worth it! Coach Panther writes the workouts, but he gets input from Rogue owner and UT running coach, Steve Sisson, one of the most knowledgeable running coaches in the US. Though the group most often meets at Rogue’s beautiful new facility on the East Side, we sometimes meet in other locations throughout Austin.
Come out and give it a try!
