Brent Alexander

serving up perspective // 

smashing the doubt

Tag: Personal Record

Track progress, celebrate milestones, and dive into reflections on pushing limits and setting new benchmarks in running and beyond.

  • 5K PR Fueled by Fiesta

    5K PR Fueled by Fiesta

    Most people celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tacos and tequila. I celebrated mine with a free group run and a surprise PR.

    The 5K run was hosted by Run In Greenville and New Balance, held at the always lively Double Stamp Brewery. It was one of those perfect spring evenings where the vibes were light and the energy was high. The kind of night where you show up expecting a social jog, and somehow end up racing the clock.

    The real wildcard? New Balance brought some demos, and I couldn’t resist trying out the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4s. The moment I laced them up, my legs said “¡Vámonos!”

    I wasn’t planning to push the pace, but the bounce in those carbon-plated super shoes said otherwise. Whether it was the shoe technology, the vibes from the crowd, or the Cinco magic—I found myself cruising faster than I’ve ever run a 5K.

    Previous 5K PR: 26:13

    Cinco de Mayo: Sub-26, baby.

    Yeah, yeah, my Apple Watch says 3.09 miles. Haters can take it up with the GPS gods. The real takeaway? My pace was 7 seconds per mile faster than my previous PR, and I felt smooth the entire way.

    Was it the shoes? The placebo? The CINCO magic?

    Don’t know. Don’t care.

    All I know is: FAST is FUN.

    Big thanks to Run In Greenville, New Balance, and Double Stamp Brewery for putting on a great event. I’ll definitely be back for more group runs—and maybe another PR or two. 🌮✨

    Photos by CITIZEN MEDIA CO. Full gallery here.

  • Freedom In Motion

    Freedom In Motion

    “How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?”
    – Dylan

    🏁⏱️ 55:08 | 10K | New PR

    12 minutes faster than December.

    I didn’t just run.
    I broke loose.
    From the weight I used to carry.
    From the me that thought this wasn’t possible.

    With every step, I remembered:
    I’m allowed to fly.
    The cage was never locked.

    Freedom in motion.
    Not just a mantra—
    a reckoning.

    I’m not finding myself.
    I’m freeing myself.

    I’m free to move
    without asking for permission.
    I’m free to chase what lights me up
    instead of what weighs me down.
    I’m free to live within my own cadence,
    not someone else’s expectation.
    I’m free to take up space.
    Fully. Unapologetically.
    I’m free to run toward myself,
    not away from doubt.
    I’m free to speak my truth.
    Stand in my fire. Never shrinking back.
    I’m free to become more me
    with every step forward.
    I’m free to define my own finish line
    and to crush it on my own terms.

    “How many roads must a man walk down?”
    “How many years must a mountain exist?”
    “How many deaths will it take till he knows?”
    The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind. 💨

    Existence can be fleeting.
    But it doesn’t have to be.

    Nothing changes if nothing changes.
    Change is the key to unlock destiny.

    A fork in the road.
    Rain on the mountain.
    Sudden and unexpected loss.

    Some bring bliss.
    Some bring heartache.
    All bring change.

    And it’s up to the traveler to decide the road.
    It’s up to the climber to choose the path.
    It’s up to the survivor to keep moving forward.

    It’s up to the soul to rise on the zephyr,
    embracing what was always within reach.

    This is my wind.
    And with it, I fly. 🪽

    Pre-race gear photo - Reedy Rivder Run 10K
    Pre-race photo - Start Line - Reedy River Run 10K
    Pre-race photo - Kellie & Brent - Reedy River Run 10K
    Post-race medal photo - Kellie & Brent - Reedy River Run 10K
    Post-race medal photo with backdrop - Kellie & Brent - Reedy River Run 10K
    Post-race Brunch at The Southern Growl - Kellie & Brent
    Post-race medal photo - Brent - Reedy River Run 10K
    Race Results - Brent Alexander - Chip Time 55:08 - Reedy River Run 10K
    Apple Fitness - Workout Details Overview - Reedy River Run 10K
    Apple Fitness - Workout Details - Reedy River Run 10K
    Apple Fitness - Splits - Reedy River Run 10K
    Apple Fitness - Fastest 10K Medal - Reedy River Run 10K
  • My First-Ever 10-Miler

    My First-Ever 10-Miler

    I’ve officially checked off my first-ever 10-mile race, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how it went! 🎉 This was a race full of new challenges, from the course itself to my personal goals. And yes, it’s a new personal record (PR) for me! 🔔

    Race Stats:

    ⏱️ Time: 1:45:27

    🏃‍♂️ Pace: 10:33 per mile

    The Course: Hills on Hills on Hills ⛰️

    The Green Valley Road Race certainly lived up to its reputation as a challenging course. The entire route felt like one big hill after another, which I have to admit, made me nervous at first. I even drove the course the day before to get a preview—and let’s just say, I might’ve freaked myself out a little bit seeing all those inclines. 😳 But honestly, it helped me prepare mentally and gave me a chance to appreciate the beautiful new scenery on race day. This is a course I would gladly run again!

    Race Day Weather Perfection 🌅

    The weather on race day couldn’t have been better for running: a crisp 42° at the start with sunny skies, warming up to just over 50° by the finish. This perfect temperature meant I could focus entirely on my running without being distracted by discomfort from either heat or cold.

    Focusing on Cadence Over Pace 🥁

    As I’ve been learning more about my running form, I decided to focus on improving my cadence rather than pushing for a specific pace. This was a shift in strategy for me, and I’m happy to say it paid off! I was able to maintain a much higher cadence of 163 steps per minute (spm) during the race. Just a few weeks ago, I was struggling to hit 150 spm, which I now realize was mainly due to poor form and over-striding.

    To work on that, I decided to play some faster-paced tunes to help me find a rhythm. Shortening my stride and leaning into each step felt so much smoother. My knees were grateful for the change in mechanics—though I can’t lie and say I had no knee pain at all. My runner’s knee from last week was still a bit sore, but it was manageable, and I was able to push through the race without a problem.

    Post-Race Recovery: Cold Plunge Magic 🥶

    After crossing the finish line, I made sure to take recovery seriously. I treated myself to a quick 3-minute cold plunge in 45° water, and let me tell you: that water was pure magic! 🧊 It was exactly what my body needed to reduce inflammation and soreness, and I felt pretty good afterward—almost like I hadn’t just completed a tough race.

    What’s Next: Rest and Recovery

    Now, it’s time to rest, recover, and prepare for the next challenge ahead. I’ve got a huge workload this month as I get ready for my upcoming half marathon in March, but I’m feeling motivated and excited to keep pushing forward. It’s all part of the journey!

    Thanks for following along, and I’ll keep you updated on my training. Until then, I’ll be focusing on continuing to push my limits and improving with each step. 🏃‍♂️✨

    brent pre-race
    brent stretching pre-race
    pre-race look at the sun rising over the finish line
    runners crossing the start line after the starters gun fires
    brent wrote a motivational "Keep Going" on his hand so anytime he looked down to check his watch, he would be reminded to push on
    brent running, almost to the finish line
    a tired brent racing to the finish
    brent running throwing up a shaka hand gesture
    post-race photo of brent and kellie with medals
    post-race stats - workout metrics
    post race workout stats - splits
    post race workout stats - map
    2025 green valley road race run signup results
    2025 green valley road race certificate
  • A Step On The Ladder: A Win Worth Building On

    A Step On The Ladder: A Win Worth Building On

    I laced up my shoes before the sun came up and headed downtown for a race I’d been preparing for but wasn’t obsessing over. It wasn’t the big one circled on my calendar — just another step in my half-marathon training plan. I’ve done plenty of 5Ks before, so I felt calm and confident, ready for the test ahead.

    The cool air was alive with the energy of other runners, all with their own reasons for showing up. Some were chasing medals, others chasing fitness. For me, it was simple: I came to get better. I came to run fast. A light rain had started to fall, adding a sharp edge to the cold morning. It soaked the pavement and clung to my clothes, but it didn’t matter. Rain, cold, or discomfort — they were just part of the challenge.

    When the race started, the rhythm came easy. One step, then another. Downtown Greenville blurred around me, the familiar streets transformed by the pounding of feet and the cheer of onlookers. I wasn’t thinking about the finish line, not yet. I focused on breathing, pace, and staying steady.

    Midway through, that familiar tug of doubt crept in. My legs ached. I glanced at my watch and noticed how far ahead of pace I was. My mind whispered that slowing down was fine, that I’d already done enough. But here’s the thing about training for anything worth doing — you learn to quiet the voices that beg for comfort. I kept going.

    When I crossed the finish line, I looked at my watch: 28:38. A new personal record.

    It felt good. Better than good.

    But not because of the number itself — I know a PR isn’t the goal. It’s a rung on a much taller ladder. The real prize is still 32 days away, on a longer course, with a bigger test waiting.

    32 days.

    32 chances to show up.

    32 opportunities to grind.

    Every training run, every mile logged, is a step closer to the race that matters. The lesson I took from my last race is simple but powerful: Progress doesn’t come from chasing perfection; it comes from relentless persistence.

    I’ve got 32 days to embrace the work. To rise before the sun. To push my limits.

    I proved I’m stronger than I was before. And next time, I’ll be stronger still.

    The work continues...

    GTC Rundown 5K - brent's results - chip time 28:38 - pace 9:14 - overall place 297 of 735
    post-race apple fitness stats - workout details
    post-race apple fitness stats - splits - map - weather
    post-race apple fitness award - faster 5K
    GTC Run Downtown 5K Certificate - Finish Time 28:38

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