Remember the stories about how people just didn’t seem able to break 4 minutes on the mile run? Then one fellow came along and did it, then it became possible and several others did too. That’s me with breaking 40 minutes on an official, certified distance 10k.
I’ve run 40:0x several times on reasonably correct 10k’s in triathlons and at least one of those included T2. I’ve run 38:xx and 39:xx distances that were falsely advertised as 10k’s in duathlons and triathlons. I ran an open 10k that had the turnaround mis-marked and rolled in around 36 high or 37 low, I don’t really remember, except that it was super obviously too fast to be right.
I’ve generally had the capability to do this for at least 5 years now. My 5k PR is from 2005 (I think) at 18:35. My half marathon PR is just under 1:26. For all intents and purposes, I should be able to run sub-40 and even sub-39 if I’m really run fit. It’s just that….I HAVEN’T.
So my run finally started to come around reasonably well by the end of the tri-du season and I thought, hey, I’ll do a nice long run focus block through the fall-winter and really get my run back. In the meantime, maybe I could pop off a 39-high at the Old Reliable 10k run in Raleigh. Maybe.
I knew it might be possible, but would be difficult. I haven’t been running fast AT ALL since the last tri of the season, and I use the term “fast” pretty loosely if you look at that run split. But hey, why not give it a shot?
So I did give it a shot and paced it just fast enough to squeak in a high 39 if I could just hang on. I couldn’t hang on. There’s something to be said for some good tempo running, speed work and some recent racing to prepare one’s body to hang on to a fast pace for 6.2 miles.
40:09. Oh well. I tried to “sprint” for it, but there was no sprint to be had. Not that there ever is with me, but this was a particularly humorous attempt. But hey, I still managed 2nd female and won a jog bra with a zipper on the front. How often do you win a bra in a race? Which reminds me, I have to find that certificate and select a size for them to send me.
At least Gary got some really good pictures of Remy at the race. He almost got a series of great running shots, but Remy grabbed the camera strap and we got a photo of the back of some guy’s head and two extreme closeup’s of the trouble maker himself.
Wow, you are so close! Good luck and have fun going after this goal.
Find a thanksgiving turkey trot and hit 40 minutes. Do a track workout this weekend and I guarantee you come in sub 40 on T-giving.
That is crazy how you’ve never broken 40! Especially with those PR’s, you easily can get under 39 on a good day and fast course. I peeked at the pics of Remy – that’s me and Marty’s torsos behind him
For some strange reason, there aren’t many 10k runs around here. Plenty of 5k’s, a sudden recent influx of marathons/half marathons and the occasional 8k.