With all this PR talk...
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Since we're on the PR topic, something I was thinking about on this mornings run...what is the feeling on a PR on a short course? I PR'd in the HM last May...but I was almost 2-3 min faster than I thought I could go...several of the other finishers I talked to also felt the course was fast/short...but it was (and still is) official posted as 13.1 miles...deep down, I know the course had to be short...is it still my PR? (on a side note, the previous year had been incorrectly measured to 13.5 miles...but they changed the entire course in 2007)
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It's a PR if you think it is.<br><br>
I've run so many road races and now done a bunch of triathlons, and there is no question that many of the distances were anything but the posted number. And that's okay. This is why you should be careful about placing too much stock in the numbers. We all do it, and it's naturaly, and I do it to... but be careful about getting too wrapped in them.<br><br>
In my experience, triathlons are the biggest violators of mis-marked courses. No question. It's probably a result of the logistics of all three sports and figuring out a way to slip through a Transition. And if you were a race director and had trouble fitting in that extra tenth of a mile, you too, if you really had to fudge it, make the course shorter rather than longer. Fast times make people happy.<br><br>
I'm with you -- I wish all courses would be fairly marked. But they are not. Most are. But not all are. And that's okay. Life can only be so precise.<br><br>
When I go into a race and come across the finish line, although I, like you, love to see numbers in PR contention, I try to ask myself if I gave it my all, how I felt about my performance, if I can be proud of the effort I gave through out the entire race and even just various portions if I decided up front to take the first half very easy... things like that. Because although the numbers are fun, the true reward is the sense of confidence instilled by setting a goal and making it happen, by not just sitting by watching life go but getting in there and rubbing elbows with your own destiny, and by the role model you are for your children. No clock can tell you that.<br><br>
Is it a PR for you? I'm guessing, just that you posted here, it will always have an asterik next to it. Until you do it again. So get out there and do it again. This time, take with you the knowledge that you pushed your body to go that fast, and ignore whether it was marked right or wrong, and then know that you can hold on. This is precisely where race of a lifetime is had. Do it.
I've run so many road races and now done a bunch of triathlons, and there is no question that many of the distances were anything but the posted number. And that's okay. This is why you should be careful about placing too much stock in the numbers. We all do it, and it's naturaly, and I do it to... but be careful about getting too wrapped in them.<br><br>
In my experience, triathlons are the biggest violators of mis-marked courses. No question. It's probably a result of the logistics of all three sports and figuring out a way to slip through a Transition. And if you were a race director and had trouble fitting in that extra tenth of a mile, you too, if you really had to fudge it, make the course shorter rather than longer. Fast times make people happy.<br><br>
I'm with you -- I wish all courses would be fairly marked. But they are not. Most are. But not all are. And that's okay. Life can only be so precise.<br><br>
When I go into a race and come across the finish line, although I, like you, love to see numbers in PR contention, I try to ask myself if I gave it my all, how I felt about my performance, if I can be proud of the effort I gave through out the entire race and even just various portions if I decided up front to take the first half very easy... things like that. Because although the numbers are fun, the true reward is the sense of confidence instilled by setting a goal and making it happen, by not just sitting by watching life go but getting in there and rubbing elbows with your own destiny, and by the role model you are for your children. No clock can tell you that.<br><br>
Is it a PR for you? I'm guessing, just that you posted here, it will always have an asterik next to it. Until you do it again. So get out there and do it again. This time, take with you the knowledge that you pushed your body to go that fast, and ignore whether it was marked right or wrong, and then know that you can hold on. This is precisely where race of a lifetime is had. Do it.
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I think if you claim it, and the course actually was short, the PR police will come knocking on your door and disallow the result. <img alt="roll_eyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/roll_eyes.gif"><br><br>
They are who we thought they were! You feel like it was a PR, then it was. You don't think it counts, then it doesn't. It's a PERSONAL record - not anyone else's. It's like rounding up training miles or swim laps - the only person you can possible cheat - is you.
They are who we thought they were! You feel like it was a PR, then it was. You don't think it counts, then it doesn't. It's a PERSONAL record - not anyone else's. It's like rounding up training miles or swim laps - the only person you can possible cheat - is you.
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Not for me - you can round them up to the next mile if you want!!<br><br>
In fact, if everyone in my age group did this, I might finish higher up!! <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif">
In fact, if everyone in my age group did this, I might finish higher up!! <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif">
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I did a HM last year that was long. You look at my mile splits and they were dead on. Then comes the last 'mile'. Suddenly I'm 45sec slower, even though pace and HR are consistant??? Naw... I still count that as the official 1:52, even though my coach told me to consider it a PR effort.<br><br>
Now, this past weekend I did a 15mile race. Again, I'm clicking off 8:30-8:40's. Suddenly, the next mile marker seems way off. That mile was 12:45+. Seems some ******* moved to turn around pylon. So, instead of 15m this race turned out to be 15.5m. So, when I do this race again next year, without even trying I'll PR it.<br><br>
btw--I already PRed this season! New Years Day I had a 31sec PR on a 5K.
Now, this past weekend I did a 15mile race. Again, I'm clicking off 8:30-8:40's. Suddenly, the next mile marker seems way off. That mile was 12:45+. Seems some ******* moved to turn around pylon. So, instead of 15m this race turned out to be 15.5m. So, when I do this race again next year, without even trying I'll PR it.<br><br>
btw--I already PRed this season! New Years Day I had a 31sec PR on a 5K.
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Truth is, and this is a generalization, that within the first 5 to 10 years in any given sport, you will continue to improve, continue to post personal records, and contine to thrive by watching your numbers turn out in your favor.<br><br>
But there comes a point when those numbers are harder to come by, require much more effort, and none of this has to do with getting older. The "5 year rule," which I think can be extended to 7 or 8 or even as much as 10 for a select few, kicks in where you hit a plateau of your ability. At that point, typically, you can push and break those barriers, but it requires so much more work and also that you are smarter with your workouts.<br><br>
It seems most people here are within that "5 year rule," so you continue to blow away personal records, and keep at it... but don't be discouraged if those record breaking events start to diminish. You will find new ways to stay motivated -- if it means putting in more work to punch through that level, or even changing your goals to something other than the utmost time on the clock. Those ways will change, and you understand what's happening and adapt it for yourself.<br><br>
Just because you're a long way from a PR doesn't mean you can't continue to try for other goals, even if those are at a time much longer than what you've done in your youth.<br><br>
It's the journey, not the numbers. We all want those metrics to fall even, but it is the sheer act of doing that will yeild the most returns.
But there comes a point when those numbers are harder to come by, require much more effort, and none of this has to do with getting older. The "5 year rule," which I think can be extended to 7 or 8 or even as much as 10 for a select few, kicks in where you hit a plateau of your ability. At that point, typically, you can push and break those barriers, but it requires so much more work and also that you are smarter with your workouts.<br><br>
It seems most people here are within that "5 year rule," so you continue to blow away personal records, and keep at it... but don't be discouraged if those record breaking events start to diminish. You will find new ways to stay motivated -- if it means putting in more work to punch through that level, or even changing your goals to something other than the utmost time on the clock. Those ways will change, and you understand what's happening and adapt it for yourself.<br><br>
Just because you're a long way from a PR doesn't mean you can't continue to try for other goals, even if those are at a time much longer than what you've done in your youth.<br><br>
It's the journey, not the numbers. We all want those metrics to fall even, but it is the sheer act of doing that will yeild the most returns.
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Thor--you are so wise!!! First season was all about finishing races. You would ahve though I just got an olympic gold when I finished my first HM. My very first race! I went from a 2:28 to a 2:06 my first season. Second season 1:56. Last season, I'm still stuck at 1:52. Granted, my best chance at PRing (optimal weather) was only two weeks after my first sprint tri... So, last season, I had no PRs. Best HM was a 1:52. And my two fulls were way off.<br><br>
So, my focus this season is just to run the best races that I can. Okay, so I blew Sunday's race. I know what to do next year. (Carry my own water, not depend on their half full Dixie cups at m5 and m10). Okay, next race. As far as my PR already this season, with a half-assed attempt I knew I could do it. My one and only other 5K was Labor Day weekend. I had done a long ride Saturday, b/s/b/r brick SUnday, THEN did the 5K on Monday... Duh... Amazing what happens when you race on fresh legs!
So, my focus this season is just to run the best races that I can. Okay, so I blew Sunday's race. I know what to do next year. (Carry my own water, not depend on their half full Dixie cups at m5 and m10). Okay, next race. As far as my PR already this season, with a half-assed attempt I knew I could do it. My one and only other 5K was Labor Day weekend. I had done a long ride Saturday, b/s/b/r brick SUnday, THEN did the 5K on Monday... Duh... Amazing what happens when you race on fresh legs!
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