What's in a time?

So what's in a time anyway? When most people set running goals, it's mostly about wanting to get their time down and setting a new PR. We're  both gonna talk a little bit about our thoughts on racing for time.

1. When I first started running, I had two goals. 1) to run a 5K in under 30 minutes and 2) to run a 10K in under an hour.  To many people these are not very tough goals to reach, but I admit I worked hard for this and I crushed it! But now I am perfectly fine being consistent at this pace. Does this make me lazy because I don't strive to get my 5k time under 25 min? That would be the next logical step right?  (M)

2. I recently had a running friend ask me about my marathon times. I told him that I ran Big Sur in 3:51 and Shamrock in 3:50 ( last year was 3:47). He asked how in the world I could run the flattest course and the hilliest course in practically the same time.  Does this mean that I did really well on the hills at Big Sur? Or does it mean I could have stepped it up a notch at Shamrock?  I think it just means I am consistent and that's okay.  As long as I keep my full marathon time under 4 hours and my half marathon time under 2 hours, I am happy!  ( L)

3. One of our favorite running books is Running  Like Girl by Alexadra Heminsly. In the book she makes this statement ""Why should I be trying sooo hard to get twenty minutes faster? What's the purpose? What would I ever do with that extra twenty minutes?"

 (I found that part to be extremely funny because it is the raw truth, but as runners we are always trying to improve our times)

But maybe you've found out, 20 minutes can mean the difference between having post race food and not having any post race food left by the time you finish.

At Disney races, 20 minutes can mean the difference between getting a pictures with your favorite Disney Character or not, ( or waiting for that character and having a secondary one come out to replace him or her).

20 minutes can also mean the difference between getting a post race massage, and just missing the tent as it closes up shop.


4.There has been a lot of talk around the interweb lately with people saying "I didn't run this race to "race" it". And that's ok! Sometimes we have "off" days, sometimes we are running with a friend or family member who doesn't run at our pace so we run with them just for the experience of running together, and then there are times where we just wan to take in the scenery and just have fun like at a Disney race!

5. And just for fun, we want to tell a quick story about our friend David. David ran the Jacksonville Bank Marathon without a GPS or any other timing device. He said he wanted to just run on how he felt. He must have felt pretty good not having that "worry" about his time because he ended up qualifying for Boston with that race. Good job David!

So what are your thought on time? Do your running goals often include improving your time?


Thanks to Courtney and the gals for hosting the Friday Five link up where the theme this week is goals.




38 comments:

  1. I often strive to improve my time, but its also important to remember that you're not going to PR every race. I have yet to run a sub 30 minute 5k, and would love to reach that goal soon! I've been slowly getting faster, I have two 5ks coming up and I usually run a bunch at the beginning of September. Hopefully soon I'll break the 30 minute mark!

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  2. With all the running and training you've been doing I have no doubt you will be going sub 30 very soon!

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  3. Sometimes I do think we need to leave the electronics behind and listen to how we feel. That doesn't mean I'll get rid of my iPod, but I'm one of those that just goes out and runs. I'm fine with my time right now.

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    1. I know that every run doesn't have to be about time and i'm okay with that but I have a very hard time running without my Garmin cause I like to know how far i've gone and i'm not very good at gaging distance!

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  4. As runners, it is hard not to focus on times, but I do my best to only have a few important races every year, and year, sometimes I run a race just for fun, especially at Disney. My Princess Half this year was my personal worst time in a half, yet I had a blast, and my goal race was three weeks later!

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    1. Same here! I had the slowest times during all three races at PHM but I had a great experience that I wouldn't change! I am hopefully going to be in a position to really try for a good time during TOT this year! That will be my only race I will try to "race" this year. ~M

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  5. I loved that book too! So funny! I try to pretend that I'm not focused on a time but it's always in my head. One day I would love to be under a 2 hr half but that seems far away right now. Fun being part of the Friday five with you. Look forward to reading more! Deborah @ confessions of a Mother Runner

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. That book by far is one of our favorites! And I know what you mean, I always say I don't care about time on a training run, but when I get with in a few miles of the finish I think " I can make this under x amount of minutes" I have to stop that!

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  6. Ha, that's my GPS watch! :)

    Lately I haven't been running super well, so my goals have been consistency rather than time. Once I get my mojo back, I'll revisit!

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    1. I've been injured lately so I am in the same boat right now. I love that GPS watch. I got it last year for my birthday!

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  7. Believe it or not, even with 3 Disney races under my belt, the one I had the most fun at was our local Tunnels to Towers 5k last year. No watch, no pace, just me any my camera phone. I just kept sprinting up ahead to take pictures and then jump back in with everyone. Of course it was my slowest 5k ever by about 10 minutes, but the most fun. I think sometimes we do need to just "unplug" and enjoy our surroundings. Especially when surrounded by a bunch of good-looking cops and firefighters! Lol!

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    1. Haha! Totally agree! I bet you sure got a lot of great photos!

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  8. I used to be focused on times, but then I decided taking pictures along the course was more important. If I just focused and ran, I'd probably PR. I feel like the exercise benefit is the same, no matter your time. I would love to close in on a 2:30 half, though. I have a friend who just made a 2:00 half. I'm not quite that fast, but my time could certainly use a few minutes shaved off.

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    1. We agree! I love having some kind of picture from along the course! Those are the best race souvenirs!

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  9. Pretty insightful post - I giggled at #3! Congrats to your friend David, what an accomplishment!

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    1. That book is a hoot! You should check it out. It is very insightful as well! Thanks, David ran Boston last year!

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  10. When I started running (run/walk) I had one goal – to finish the PHM with my sister. Until one year ago, I had never run. I never played sports. I hated gym class, although I was a dancer. Today I am 50+, overweight, and need to use an inhaler. And in 2014 I completed the GSC! My current goal is to consistently be able to achieve a 16:00 min/mile pace. I want to be able to sign up for a race and not have to read the fine print in the instructions to see if there is a time limit. I want to be able to run and not have to look behind to see if they are closing the course behind me. Yes, I have been last with an escort across the finish line. I was over the moon the last weekend when I PR’d a 10K in 1:37 and came in 5300/5350 runners (pace 15:38). I am out there training 3x a week with a goal of going C2C pink in 2015. And most importantly I have inspired many in my personal network who want to lace up and come running with me this summer. Yes I watch the time, I have to. But I am also having the “time” of my life. Signed, a voice from the last corral.

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    1. Wow, you are truly an inspiration to all runners! Earning that pink coast to coast is something we are hoping to do as well! But most importantly we are going to do it while having fun!

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  11. I ran my first 5k since high school (20 some odd years ago) in February, and then another one in April. I made a 12 minute mile average at the first one and was OVER THE MOON. I was equally thrilled when the next 5k showed an improved time over that.

    I'm not terribly athletic. I have no aspirations to an 8 minute mile. I'd be lying if I said I probably wouldn't keep racing if I was the last one off the course, but I have no aspirations to win. Something in me just wants to be out there now.

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    1. I hear ya! I'm definitely more of a recreational runner. I know i'll never win anything!

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  12. Geez, I'm always trying to improve my times. I have some bizarre ego thing with running, like I need to prove that a non-skinny girl can still be pretty fast. I'm also crazy competitive naturally, so caring where I place is a big deal to me. I will say that the one race I ran that wasn't even timed (Color Me Rad) was amazingly fun!

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    1. It certainly does feel good to always improve our race times, but we don't get upset if it doesn't happen! You've really been rockin those races you've been doing! Good job!

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  13. i love this -- i think it's hard as a runner and a type A personality to not be kind of obsessed with time. not in a way where i'm competing with others (ahem, usually... :)) but more about pushing through my limits.

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    1. We agree! For us, it's always about competition with in ourselves!

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  14. These are all really great points! I'm really competitive and have a hard time with running because there's no way I'm winning races any time soon. For me I think I just want to get faster because faster=better in my mind, but I think running consistently and getting more miles are measures I can use to get to a place where I care less about the time.

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    1. It is hard to not always think about time. I'll soon be embarking on distance i've never run before so just completing them will be an accomplishment for me. -M

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  15. I am at the point where I have to really train to beat my current PRs. I was fortunate to PR in most distances within the last 17 months. So if I'm racing something, I pretty much have to decide I'm going to race it as I begin my training. I feel like in road races, there is pressure to PR. I enjoy running trail races because there is no pressure for that. All courses/terrain are VASTLY different so there would be no way to compare two courses of the same distance. Even if you ran the same race a couple years in a row, conditions could be quite different due to rain. I have found myself assuring people I'm just running Boston "for fun". When they tell very seriously "good luck" I feel like I need to say- don't worry about me, I'm taking my time!

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    1. That's funny! I often feel like saying that! I actually enjoy trail running and wish there were more trail races in our area. I know there is a night time race over the summer but it's certainly not a trail I would want to run in the dark!

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  16. Oh my gosh.. I needed that line about 'what would I do with my extra 20 minutes anyways' :) I would literally CRY over my time before... & now that I'm injured, my times are no where even close - like 20 minutes behind... back then, I'd slit my wrists over that. Now, I'm like - whatever.

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    1. I have a feeling i'm gonna be in a similar situation once I am healed and start to race again!

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  17. I usually have a conservative time goal when I race and a reach goal that I try not to really think about until close to the end of the race. While time isn't a major deal to me, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to beat my best time!

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  18. I've fallen into a trap with being obsessed with time, so I don't focus on it anymore. I'm more about being consistent and being happy with my effort level. If I think about time I get too sad/disappointed if I don't reach my goals.

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  19. I do run for time now, but last year for the Nike half marathon in DC, I just wanted to come back post-third-baby and have a great race with something to train for. It is fantastic to set new goals but also doing the same finish time and being consistent is really GREAT!

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  20. Interesting post! I like the ideas you have about your time.
    I am currently working on increasing my pace. I will never be a speedy runner and I am okay with that. I love to run races for the experience and the running community. If I PR, it is a great bonus :)

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  21. Meranda, I had those two same goals when I first started running! I've been able to meet them, next I'm aiming for a 2:10 half and to completed my first marathon. Lately, I've been running and racing for fun with no time in mind, but I'm getting back to my speed. :)

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  22. I think I'm in the not-running-to-race category. I'm pretty happy just finishing upright for most of my races, but I do have secret time goals.

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  23. I think we always strive to better our times because if you don't keep pushing your limits, how do you know how far you can go?! It's similar in other parts of life... school, work, personal relationships... if we never stopped striving to be the best we can, we can't continue to grow! Just my 2 cents :0)

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  24. I wish I could get time out of my head, but it just won't go away. I'd love to think I could throw the Garmin in the trash and never look back, but we all know that ain't happening :)

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