Can I Claim a P.R. ?

[watchman]

Capitol City Half Marathon. I did it in 1 hour 43 minutes 58 seconds. My other half Marathon was 16 seconds faster but it was on totally flat course this had hills and this was 1/10 longer than a Half Marathon. Everyone's GPS said it was long. My GPS had me at 7:52 pace at previous race. This race the same GPS said 7:49 pace. I was 35th out of 269 in Age group.

Either way I know I am stronger because the past race was at the end of last season and I had peaked and was fried after it. For this race I am still building and feel fresh. I have not come close to peak fitness for this year. I think the month off in December may have set me back early in year but is paying off now.

The only problem is I should be at 1 hour 40 minutes to do a Marathon at 3:30 in San Diego in June. I am not sure if I can improve enough for that race soon enough.

Any recommendations for the last few weeks to pick up a few seconds per mile?

mike

[tina]

Congrats!!

[Eric]

Very nice results. Cap City is a harder course than people realize.

Think of it this way.....it's a PR for the course. I've stopped going after distance PRs due to course and day conditions. It's just not a fair comparison.

If you are happy with your results that's all that should matter.

[robreddy]

Eric - with all due respect I have to completely disagree with the idea of "course PR" - I mean where does it stop -

Same course but it was a hot day so this is my 90 degree PR.

Same course but I ate waffles not oatmeal before the race so its my 'waffles PR'

Same course but I kinda felt sick, yelled at my kids and had a hang nail, so this is my 'upset stomach, crappy kids and minor injury PR'

where does the justification for an effort and burning need for accolades end?

In this age of everyone needing a ribbon, hug and claim to public attention I think we have lost something that IMO is an integral part of sports and competition - that being on any given day you pull you self up to the start line, put your best effort out there (hopefully) and then let the chips fall where they may. Some times you win and some times you loose. If you gave it 100% there is no shame and much pride to be had in the outcome regardless of the time or place. If a PR is a measure of your success that you want to use - then its simple - did you go faster for that distance than ever before (no excuses or justifications, no clock said X but I'm gonna give my self Y because of this that or the other thing).

Its pretty simple - cuz the clock don't lie - but people love to justify

r

[MarkD]

Hilarious !

[sidmcmahon]

As you age, PR's mean nothing. Just something to talk about that you did many years ago. Not many humans can run faster in their 50's than they did in their 30's. I think a better gage is how you did in your age group. This equals out the playing field, where terrain, temp etc are the same for everyone. I have been doing quite well in the women 70+ group.

[watchman]

I agree with all of you Eric, Rob, Mark and Sid. There are aspects of the course that do matter.

I know the guy ( me ) who ran Inland Trails last October would not have been as fast in

Columbus last week. I know I am stronger and faster. So I agree with Eric.

I agree with Rob in general and about society. Interesting my fastest 5k was last year at

20:06 but I know that course was short yet I still like to say I did a 5k in 20:06 so I guess I

have to accept it when course is a little long.

I agree with Sid in only real measure with guys in my age group. Even more so my own age.

There were 50 guys at age 49 and I was 2nd. I like that alot

and I agree with Mark hilarious !

also I won my age group in a 5k today which was cool

One more thought. I have only been doing this 4 years and I want and expect to get faster so p.r's mean something to me.

mike

[Eric]

Rob, I agree with what you say. I"m just not as eloquent as you. If you read my race report from Angie's Crazy Half in Houston it is exactly like you say. I put myself on the line and came away with a 3rd in AG with what I consider a "slow" time, but everyone had to run the same conditions and gut it out in hot weather.

The thing I don't like is USATF's age grading...WTF???

[MattCollister]

I wouldn't give myself 16 seconds because the course is harder, but I wouldn't have any problem telling someone something like, "I was 16 seconds off my PR, but it was a much harder course."

It's kind of like a timed lap in a car around a racetrack in the rain. You get no time subtracted because of the wet track--your time is your time--but everyone recognizes you would have been faster had it been dry.

[MattCollister]

Rob, next time I see you I'm giving you a hug.

[marie]

I have to say ditto to Durno's comment. I think I have said something to the effect of "and this is my PR when I ate oatmeal" to at least 3 different people this week.