Thursday, March 21, 2013

An Unexpected PR

I have been waiting for race pics so I could post them with my news. I didn't take pics and the professional pics are not loaded yet. I just can't wait to tell you any longer!! I PRed in a half marathon on Sat and it was totally unexpected! The race I did was Get Lucky in Minneapolis.
These are the reasons that my PR caught me surprise:
* I have been training for a 50k- lots of long slow distances and that means I have not done any speedwork!
* I have issues- as in hamstring- that have nagged me for months, plus I pulled a calf muscle a few weeks ago and I have been leary of running hard on it.
* I have been on a bad eating binge- I love Easter candy!! And the night before the race I joined my coworkers for Happy Hour.
* The course was hilly and icy- miles 7-9 were so slick.  I felt like I was sliding backward more than I was going forward!
* I didn't wear a watch- the only way I had any idea what my pace was would be when I came up on a pacer.
* I didn't start out fast which I have a bad habit of doing and I felt like I ran comfortably for most of the race.

It was not until I saw the clock at the finish line that I knew I could possible PR, but I was not even sure what my best time was. So, I just ran as hard as I could for the last 100 feet! I felt great!! And I felt even greater when I got back to my hotel room and looked up my results. A PR by 8 seconds! And an age group win!! That 1:40:31 was the best run I have had in over 9 months and I'll take it!! That race makes me excited for race season this year!!!  Did I Get Lucky? Maybe. Or maybe a relaxed state of mind is the piece I have been missing!! Something to think about!!

4 comments:

  1. That is an awesome time! Congratulations on your PR! Sometimes those PR's happen when we least expect them! So happy for you!

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  2. That's fantastic!! Congrats on a great race and a shiney new PR :) I think there is something to the "no pressure" mindset, but your obviously level of fitness/experience certainly deserve credit!!!

    Happy recovery & happy celebrating!

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  3. Great job and congrats on the PR! I have wanted to do the Lucky 7 the last couple years but it's at the same time as girls' state basketball. We've been in the tourney the last two years and took the championship this year so I would've been so sad if I'd missed it. However, they've moved it up a week next year so I really hope to make it! Rest those muscles and heal quickly.

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