JJ: Close But No PR

For athletes who compete in individual timed events such as running and triathlon, the "PR," or personal record, is the Holy Grail. Taking home "bling-bling" (age group hardware, trophies, plaques, or medals) is nice, but that can be determined by who races, how the age groups are structured, and how deep into an age group the race director wants to go. Comparing personal times has its shortcomings too, however, as races are not similar in topography and weather conditions. Overall, though, a PR is the best measure of one's individual performance.

Sunday morning I raced in a local half marathon where I had PR'ed three years ago. The night before a race, I think about my times and my current training and fitness level and then set a goal. It's only a ritual--my goal inevitably ends up being a new PR. So it was on Sunday.

As the race started, the usual suspects fell into line: the fast young guys trailed by the veteran speedsters still running strong into their forties and fifties followed by the serious but human guys like me. There goes Patterson, then Brady…like clockwork. Hey, where'd that new guy come from?

At this race, the PR was all there was to run for as there would be no age group awards nor posted results. As we hammered through the unmarked course, I was doing the mental gymnastics to estimate my pace and finish time. Heading up the final hill and checking my watch, I knew I had a shot at a PR. But as the seconds slipped away and I made the last right turn into the finishing stretch, I realized it wouldn't happen today. I crossed the line 24 seconds slower than my PR. Close but no PR. - Jan