Real David H.

The competitor in me is ready to compete against myself again. I don’t know if 6 weeks is enough time to knock off a PR, but the one I’m going for feels reachable. My current 10-mile PR was set on the hilliest of courses in the Virginia 10 Miler last year at 1:21 and change.
Certainly on a flat course at Virginia Beach (and at sea level) in the Surf ‘n’ Santa 10 Miler I can drop closer to an 8-minute pace to beat that time. If my PR in the half is so much faster pace wise, I know I just need to put in the work to get there.

All this thinking about a PR has me reflecting on nearly 10 years of running and this “PR streak” that I have, which is, quite simply, setting at least one PR per year (technically two) since I started running. I’m a big believer in looking at my past to understand what my next goals are, so for the first time in a really long time, I’m looking back at what PRs were set each year all for the purpose of making sure I go for at least one this year.

* indicates first time racing that distance; ** indicates tlast time racing that distance

2004
5K – 24:51
* 4 miles – 34:00

2005
* 2 miles – 16:18
5K – 24:42
4 miles – 33:47

2006
* 1 mile – 7:11
5K – 23:49
* 8K – 39:17
* 5 miles – 41:07
* 10K – 48:32
* 10 miles – 1:22:49
* Half marathon – 1:55:28

2007
1 mile – 6:26
5K – 23:03
5 miles – 36:59
Half marathon – 1:44:23
* Marathon – 4:12:51

2008
** 4 mile – 32:49
8k – 38:26

2009
** 2 mile – 14:57
10K – 48:11

2010
** 1 mile – 6:15
5K – 22:41
Half marathon – 1:42:52

2011
5K – 21:52
5 miles – 36:47
Marathon – 3:56:17

2012
** 10K – 45:49
** 10 miles – 1:21:22
Half marathon – 1:40:48

This year hasn’t been a total loss with racing. My 5K in July was a nice race, but I didn’t capitalize on those feelings. I’ve also opted to focus more on fun this year rather than PRs, such as running in costume with my sister in April (where she got a PR).

In a little more than two weeks I’m running the Richmond Half Marathon with no major goal in mind. I’m looking at that similar to last year’s Runner’s World Half. It’s a set-up race. Run it strong; finish healthy; stay focused on the Surf ‘n’ Santa 10 Miler in December.

Getting, or not getting, a PR isn’t going to make or break me, but I need to set realistic goals in 2014. The December race will help determine that that reality looks like.