Tag: Personal Record

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

  • 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. 🏃‍♂️✨


  • 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...


Categories

Home Improvement (1) Movies (1) Music (1) Personal Growth (6) Pickleball (1) Running (5) Travel (1)

Tags

Belonging (1) Cancer Awareness (1) Community (1) Connection (1) Creativity (2) DIY (1) Empowerment (5) Fear (2) Films (1) Fitness (6) Friendship (1) Future (2) Giving Back (1) Goals (2) Growth Mindset (10) Half-Marathon Training (4) Home Repairs (1) Hope (2) Journaling (1) Letting Go (1) Life Transitions (1) Mental Health (4) Mental Resilience (3) Motivation (8) Movie Review (1) Moving (1) Music Video (1) NF (1) One Tree Hill (1) Overcoming Fear (1) Personal Record (2) Pickleball Resources (1) Pickleball Tips (1) Pushing Limits (5) Reflection (4) Running (5) Self-Acceptance (1) Self-Awareness (3) Song Lyrics (1) Therapy (1) Top Gun (1) Transformation (3) Trauma (2) Wicked (1) Wilmington (1) Writing (1)