Which races from last year were my favorites? Here they are in descending order:
8) Hot Chocolate 15k, Oct 30 - A PR by 8 seconds, but considering how sore and tired I was three weeks post Chicago Marathon, I'll take it.
7) Lakefront 10 Miler, Mar 19 - First race of the season, one minute PR and a harbinger of the good things to come for the rest of the season.
6) Grim Mile, June 11 - Racing all out on a track for a mile? Count me in! I beat my PR by "only" four seconds, but extra seconds are hard to come by when the race distance is this small.
5) Shamrock Shuffle 8k, April 3 - Twelve days before my marathon PR, I lined up for this race with no expectations and came out with a minute and a half PR. To quote Lynton: "Dude, you were running 5 minute miles!"
4) Run For the Animals 10k, June 4 - A PR by well over a minute in hot windy weather.
3) Ravenswood Run 5k, Apr 24 - A scant eight days after setting my marathon PR, I annihilated my 5k PR by 33 seconds. I've raced so many 5ks and to beat my best time by such a large margin still blows my mind.
2) Carmel Marathon, Apr 16 - A "woulda shoulda coulda" sub-three of 3:00:20. Nevertheless, I beat my previous PR by almost 5 minutes.
1) Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon Chicago, Jul 17 - Broke my "unbreakable PR" by two minutes. At this race, I was the fittest and fastest I've ever been.
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| Finishing the RnR in July |
Honorable Mention:
Oui Run 5k, Sep 25 - Not a PR, but I won the inaugural edition of this race and got some sweet prizes to boot!
How will 2017 pan out? Well, based on how low my mileage has been lately, I'd say that each of these PRs will be safe for another year, but who knows? Maybe I'll break one when I least expect it!
2016 was epic for you and it was fun to follow! Maybe this will be another great year? Or you could just have fun like the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to do the Lakefront 10 miler? I'm planning on it but I can't get anyone to sign up...
Thanks! As for my 2017 plan, I'm leaning towards having fun (like the rest of you!) at some races instead of ramping up to the requisite weekly mileage I need in order to PR. I am seriously considering the Lakefront 10 miler, but probably won't sign up for it for another month or so.
DeleteLet me know!!! I've got a taste for some Lagunitas IPA...
DeleteI'll let you know. I could use a Lagunitas as well! :)
Delete2016 was the year of Pete!!!
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! Thanks!
DeleteThanks! Yes, having fun is the most important thing!
ReplyDelete2016 was such a great year for you, replete with so many training and racing accomplishments and no doubt, tons of mental victories, too. It was a blast to follow along :)
ReplyDeleteThanks and thanks a lot for your support over the last year! :)
DeleteYou had such a great year! And it was inspiring to me to follow your training!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm inspired by your training!
DeleteCongrats on an amazing year, Pete!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle!
DeleteWow, a PR during the RnR Half in July? Awesome!! I PR'd at that race when I did it years ago as my second half marathon ever :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I guess we share a half marathon PR course! It may have been hot for the RnR Half, but since I had been training in sunny 80+ degree temps in June and July, the shady 70 degree start temp was actually acceptable!
DeleteWow! I'm gonna agree with Maggie - RNR Half PR is amazing! I had PRed it as my second or third half, when you're making a lot of progress. But for experienced runners? Not so sure I could!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a great year!
Thanks! Like I told Maggie, I had been training in hotter temps so the early morning 70 degree temp at the RnR actually felt okay! Thanks again!
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