My previous 10k PR was from 2008, from the second race I’d ever done in my life. I ran the 6.2 miles in 56:16 and was fairly proud of myself (even though I really didn’t have anything to compare it to).
I expected to get faster, but subsequent 10ks were slower, and I started to feel that maybe I had already peaked. Maybe 56:16 would always be my fastest.
But after some recent PR success in other races, I figured it was about time to (try to) update the 10k, and began looking for a race in which to do it.
Enter Heather.
Through her blog, she alerted me to the Run for Shelter 10k, and I decided that now was as good a time as any to go for speed. As Husband has noted, I’m a slave to the weather, and fall is far and away my peak race season.
The race was billed as fairly flat, an easy out-and-back. The organizers also offered free parking and indoor facilities in which to wait for the race start. After many many races of waiting outside in the cold, this was a very welcome change.
My favorite part, however, was the size of the race. There were only 414 10k finishers. That means no weaving, jostling, or crowding on the course. It means that you can focus 100% on you.
Which is exactly what I did.
Aided by a few key running songs (these two are perfect) I pushed myself along, glancing every so often at Guillermo, to make sure we were on track.
My reward was a final time of 50:23, and a brand new shiny PR.
I also managed to finish in the top 10 (okay, #10) of my age group for the first time in…well, ever. So there’s that.
Bottom line: Saturday was the perfect combination of a well-organized race and ideal weather.
And I couldn’t have asked for better PR-setting conditions.
Heather’s far more photo-friendly recap is here.