German Quiroga Accepts Sponsor’s 26.2-Mile Challenge

If taking on a full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule and running for Rookie of the Year title wasn’t enough, three-time Mexico Series Champion, Germán Quiroga has decided to take on an additional endeavor. The NASCAR driver has accepted a challenge from Red Horse Racing sponsor, OtterBox, and will compete in the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on Sunday, November 17.

 

Quiroga will have a weekend full of racing and will log many miles not just on land but in the air as well. He will compete behind the wheel of his No. 77 NET10 Wireless Toyota Tundra in the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 15 then fly to Las Vegas Saturday morning to prepare for the 26.2 miles he will run the following day. On Monday, the driver will return to Miami for the Camping World Truck Series banquet.

 

Looking at the task ahead, the Mexico City native will have to work through some potential hurdles. A CrossFit regular, he never chose running as part of his workout routine. Before training, his longest running distance was seven miles. Perhaps another challenge, Quiroga will face a shortened training program. A typical training program for a marathon for a rookie runner is anywhere between 18 – 20 weeks. The driver will compete with only 14 weeks of training.

 

And then there is his day job. The final 14 weeks of the Truck Series schedule is the busiest time of the season and Quiroga will have to work around his demanding training regimen and life at the track.

 

Quiroga is determined, though. In order to be successful and race for a competitive time, he knew that hiring a trainer would be the best approach. Quiroga paired with Blake Haugland, a multi-sport coach and a certified USA cycling coach. Haugland will guide Quiroga through each workout while providing him with the proper nutrition over the training period and as his running miles increase.

 

All athletes are competitors including race car drivers. Quiroga has yet to share his goal time for the marathon but will not accept anything other than a competitive time, “Once I committed, I wanted to make sure that I was going to be competitive and better than the average. I have a goal in mind set for time and I am training for that. It’s going to be my first marathon and first time running a race,” Quiroga said.

 

So why take on a full marathon as your first running race? Quiroga says he likes to set his goals and expectations high, “For me to run a 5k, it’s not that big of a challenge. I know that a marathon will be a challenge especially if I want to be competitive.”

 

Quiroga feels he is already ahead of the game because of his current exercise regimen that includes CrossFit. “I am not starting from scratch because of my CrossFit. My whole body is strong so I am not starting from zero. It will be hard on my body because it’s a different discipline. Your muscles have to adapt to something different. That will be a process that hopefully after about a month I will be in good shape for the rest of the training and then for the marathon.”

 

Dressed in a shirt that is designed like his No. 77 OtterBox fire suit, the 33 year old will begin the 26.2-mile course at the Luxor Las Vegas hotel at 4:30 p.m PT. Want to follow along on his progress? Check into NASCAR.com as he blogs about his training over the next three months.

 

RHR PR