I’m going to cut right to the chase, so to speak, since no one was actually chasing me: I did PR at the Sachuest Point10K in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 9. Only, because I am bad at remembering things, I didn’t figure out it was a PR for a few hours after I’d crossed the finish line.
Let me back up.
My boon (and non-running) companion Jenny and I left for Newport, about a 4 hour trip from where we both live, on Friday, April 7, which also happened to be my 46th birthday. My family and I celebrated in our usual way by not really celebrating at all. We manage expectations by keeping them as low as humanly possible; that way everything is a lovely surprise.
Non-running Jenny and I farted around Newport — a lovely city that is very New England-y in all of the best ways — on Saturday, then met up with some mother runners for dinner. There was chatting and eating and more chatting.
The next morning, after shoving a bagel in my face and hitting the bathroom one last time, we drove to second beach. When I picked up my bib and t-shirt the evening before, I learned the 10K++ had miraculously become a bona fide 10K, thanks to some flooding. While the organizer was disappointed because it meant the course was more of an out-and-back than she’d intended, I was thrilled. Rather than turn off Herr Garmin the Second at the actual 10K mark, which is what Coach and I agreed on, I could just run without paying too much attention to the distance. My goal, which we also came up with during our conversation, was to keep my pace just a little bit faster than I felt comfortable with.
After a windy, chilly start, the first mile clipped by. As did the second. I felt great, frankly, and was able to keep the first two miles under 10:45 as planned. The hills started right when I was going to pick it up for the next two miles. A bit of a bummer, yes, but I made sure to stay uncomfortable even when I slowed off of my goal pace to heave myself up and over the course. By the last mile, I was ready to be done. I put what was left of my pedal to the metal and booked it on home.
My A goal was 1:07; B goal was 1:08 — both of which I knew would be PRs, even if I couldn’t remember exactly what my PR was because, unlike some mother runners, those numbers aren’t etched on my brain. Back when Coach and I first started working together a couple of years ago, I’d told her my 10K PR was 63 minutes, which couldn’t possibly be true. If it is, I can find no record of it and it likely only exists with a naked Timothy Olyphant riding a unicorn in the fantasy section of my brain.
After a quick shower and brunch, Jenny and I hit the road. I was pretty sure that my 1:09 wasn’t a PR, which, like the hills, was a bummer, but I was thrilled by the run I’d put together. I felt strong the whole way through and pushed harder than I thought I could. I didn’t beat myself up when I slowed down on the uphills, which is a minor miracle for me. Plus, the love for running I really hadn’t felt for a few months was finally back. And that was enough.
Still, I had to check.
After some poking around online, I discovered that my best 10K was a 1:11 in 2014, which means I’d knocked two minutes off of my time. And, lo, there was much rejoicing.
There is no rest for the weary mother runner, however. I’m gearing up for the Pittsburgh Half, where I shall run with no urgency because I’ll be working the Expo most of the weekend (and finding other mother runner shenanigans, too). My only race goal is to take a selfie on each of the five bridges the course crosses. I love a good bridge. Hope to see you there.
So are you a BAMR who remembers her PRs down to the second? Or are you a BAMR who can maybe remember the first number, if you’re feeling lucky?
I never remember PR’s for random distances, and to me a 10k is random because there are so few around me. Add in time since last race (plus all other things a mother runner needs to remember) and I’m very lucky to remember the first number of a race PR.
Congratulations on finding your running mojo, maybe it can send mine back to me?
My mojo is wavering again. But! I will get it back. I know it.
Congrats!! I know my race distance PRs quite well. Although now days, I don’t foresee breaking them anytime soon. I have been training for distance and that means keeping my heart rate low and being conservative like my grandfather with his bank account. I don’t like that gutting it out feeling anyways. I would have to start refocusing on speed and those distances again to achieve a PR.
I figured I’d go for it just because I still had my marathon fitness to back me up. Now I’m ready to gut nothing out for a bit and just run.
I am so glad I am not alone in my Naked Timothy Olyphant fantasy!
Right?
Never remember PRs. Except for my 26.2 which I got on my 7th attempt at age 57. Not dead yet.
I’m the BAMR who keeps a spreadsheet…I know..nerd alert.
I know my 5K, half, and full PRs to the second. I have only run a handful of 8Ks, 10Ks, & 15Ks, so I don’t know them very well. I am actually running a 15K in two days; I have only run three in the past. Yesterday, I looked up my times b/c I honestly had no clue what they were. I almost now wish that I hadn’t b/c a PR is most likely achievable, but not certain. I would’ve probably had more success (mentally, in particular) had I not looked. :/
Go get it, Angela!
I remember most of my PRs and especially remember the distances I race the most (in my case 5ks and sometimes halfs). I am pretty competitive with myself!
I have a slight memory of my Full and Half times. My 5k I only know from my Garmin and I recently looked up my 10k. I figured after 8 years of running maybe it’s time to develop a spreadsheet to track.
I know my Half PR to the second, and have a general recollection of my 5k and 10k PRs, within a minute. I’ve got a spreadsheet to keep track of my PRs, but truly it’s not my lifetime PRs, since I ran cross country and a few local races in high school (I wonder what my time was in the Bonne Bell 10k circa 1982? It was probably faster than what I consider my current PR, which I ran in my late 40s, but it wasn’t as hard earned).
Congratulations, Adrienne! I am so happy about your PR. I am just really tickled for you, as we say around here. You seriously rock, and I have enjoyed following along on the journey of this post-26.2 speedy 10K thing. Awesome!! And no, I don’t keep track really, I have a vague idea of my half PR and my time of my 2 marathons. You’re kind of making me want to know some other values…
I always look forward to the Mother Runner booth at the ‘Burgh Expo. I’ll be sure to look for you this year! Last year I almost asked for a selfie and then, well, I chickened out. I guess I didn’t want to look too Fangirl-ish.
Also? I’m thinking the bachelorette party would have loved your finish time of 69 minutes…Just sayin’.
I DID NOT EVEN PUT THAT TOGETHER!
And please do ask for a selfie. No need to be shy.
Congrats, Adrienne!!
I am not a rememberer, because I often become salty when I remember that my 5k PR was at a time when I was about 40 lbs lighter and therefore was able to run more easily, even without training a lot. Oh well. Such is life.
Also, thank you for the large giggle/snort sound I made as I saw the picture of the stray party treat. I’m fairly certain my library work friends now know I’m not reading about cataloging or something else work-related.
There was an entire trail of them in various festive colors. It was something.
I have a vague idea of my PRs. But much prefer the vivid image of Timothy Olyphant!
We should start a club.
Thanks for the congrats, y’all! I’m still pretty excited. And there’s no shame in being a numbers nerd — or any kind of nerd.
Well heck yeah, I’m all about Athlinks and checking out my other race times via Garmin! Congrats on that PR. Very exciting!! Today is my birthday!! I got two BAMR shirts – Run for your Life, and I’m Stronger Than I Thought! It was a bountiful harvest :)
Congratulations! What a fun surprise!
My running partner knows my race times better than I do and always corrects me when I’m wrong – I just can’t remember them! I suppose I prefer to run in blissful ignorance.
I always enjoy your posts so much. Hopefully some day we’ll run in the same place at the same time and share some miles!
Congrats Adrienne!!! I have a vague knowledge of my PRs. And an even more vague idea of how many races I have done.
Congrats! I turned 46 on April 6, and like you, had an adequate birthday, huzzah! Happy belated!
Happy belated to you, too, fellow Aries!
See you in Pittsburgh, Adrienne!