I have been itching to set a new 10k PR for a few years now. I’ve only done a few 10ks over the years, and most of them were not PR opportunities. Like the Dreaded Druid Hills…I was lucky I survived that one with the steep climbs after being sick! My best 10k was set in 2013 at the Sole of the City (47:31). I had run faster 10ks than that in training runs, but did not have the chance to set an official PR.
I signed up for the Sole of the City again as part of the B3 series. It turns out this will be the only race of the series I can run, but that’s a whole different story. I really wanted to set a PR in this race but knew I would need to put in some work after the off-season. I spent about 6 weeks slowly adding in speed workouts and tempo runs focused on 10k pace. I wasn’t thrilled with my progress, but was getting more comfortable holding a 7:30 pace for several miles.
Pre-Race
As I mentioned Monday, Friday evening was a bit stressful and not the ideal way to prepare for a race. I think I was a little distracted which helped to avoid getting too nervous. After Rob and I dropped off my car to get serviced we walked about a mile to the start line are and then ran a mile warm up. I did some drills, used the bathroom, and lined up to start. It was warmer than I expected, and I regretted wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt (although it was really light).
Mile 1
I started pretty far up front and didn’t get boxed in. There was a bit of a hill in the beginning but then that was followed by a nice downhill, and the rest of mile 1 is flat. I didn’t look at my watch until it beeped..7:14 but I was a little ahead of the mile marker.
Mile 2
I tried to hold on to the same pace, and this mile was flat and took us around the harbor. I ran this in 7:24.
Mile 3
I think this was the hardest mile of the race, most of it being uphill. I focused on maintaining the same effort but knew I would slow down a bit. This was 7:45, and would have been slower if it weren’t for a little downhill at the end.
Mile 4
We continued to get the benefit of the downhill as we made our way around Fell’s Point and started looping back around through Harbor East. From living in the city and running there all the time I know my satellite connection there isn’t great, so I ran a 7:12 but it was probably not quite accurate.
Mile 5
This is where things started to hurt, but it was a flat mile so I tried to push a bit, and ended up with 7:25.
Mile 6
This part of the race had a long, steady climb (although not as bad as the hills I run now), and it was a tough place for this at the end of the race. Once we got up the hill, it was downhill to the finish. Mile 5 was 7:32 and the last .2 (my watch measured .35) was a 6:35 pace.
Garmin results were 46:58 for 6:35 miles (7:24 pace), official results were 46:58 for 7:35 pace, 9th in my age-group, and 184th overall. Although my results were initially missing, it got resolved pretty quickly!
I think considering my goal pace was 7:30 I did pretty well. I do think I have a faster time in me, but considering it was my first race of the season, I’ll take it!
Post-Race
After the race we grabbed some food and beer, and ran into some people we knew. I was starving before the race started (9:00 is such a late start time for me!) so I made sure to eat even though I wasn’t hungry after running. Then we walked to the harbor and got an early lunch.
Surprisingly, I wasn’t sore the next day, but I still took off Sunday so I could start Monday out feeling refreshed. I am glad I finally got in my first race of the year, and finally set a new 10k PR after 3 years!
Are there any distances you have been itching to PR in for a few years?
Do you get hungry after a race?
Awesome race, congrats on your finish time!!!! I love a good 10k but they are so hard to find to run on a more often basis. I am glad they found your results! I do feel I have a PR in me for my half next week and if I run another 10k soon, I think I have a PR in me for that too but like you said – I haven’t had the opportunity to go for one. And yes, I am usually hungry after a race because the start times are later than when I typically run lol. I hate that about racing!
I really need to look out for another 10k, otherwise it will probably be a year and I’ll just do this one again!
You did absolutely amazing, congrats! I’m inspired to sign up for a 10k now lol! Except for that whole training thing. I think I need a break of several months before thinking about PRs. Maybe for fall 🙂
Thanks! And I think a 10k is a good distance to run after a break from running..it really didnt require too much training so it was a good way to ease back into things after a break!
GREAT work! I do love a good 10k–they hurt a bit less than 5ks, haha
Thanks! I definitely agree with that!
Congratulations on finally setting that new 10k PR that you have been trying. I always think hills make it more challenging. But you have been training on them, so looks like you still did pretty well. I have been trying to run them more so my body gets used to that.
Thanks! Yes, hills can make a race more difficult but these really weren’t too bad, especially since I have been training on them.
i want to give the 5k another go, but i’ve only ever ran one 10k–so that could be interesting too! Congrats on your PR and some really great race photos!
The shorter distances can definitely be fun once in a while! And I like that they don’t require as much training or recovery!
CONGRATS on the PR! Way to kick off your 2016 racing season with a bang!
Thank you!:)
Great time! Races with hills are more challenging than I give them credit for, so maintaining a 7:25 pace is impressive! Later races are great for sleeping in a little more but it does make a normal routine eating schedule more difficult.
Yes, it was nice to have more time in the morning until I realized I was starving before the race even started!
Congrats on your PR! You kicked off your 2016 racing so strong! I really want to run a 10k this year and try to PR. My 10K PR is from a virtual race and I’m not sure how much that one counts!
Thanks! I definitely think you could PR the 10k, especially after the fast half marathon you just ran!
Awesome job Lisa! Obviously I’ve been itching for a sub 2:00 half marathon, but I’m stressing less about it. It’ll happen when it happens! I’m almost never hungry after a race/run but try and force myself to eat a little something since I know I’ll crash later if I don’t. Usually oatmeal or eggs–anything that’s easy on my tummy!
Me too, I may not be hungry after I run but I try to eat something anyway!
Awesome PR!! I’ve actually never run a 10k lol…it’s on my list for this summer though, so will be a nice “automatic” PR. Then I’m sure I’ll want to sign up for more to try to beat it!
Automatic PRs are fun! And the 10k is a great distance.
Great job! I’m not normally hungry directly after a race, but wait 30 to 60 minutes, then I’m starving. I like it when races hand out snack boxes so I can take that with me and eat when I’m hungry.
Snack boxes are great! They gave out wraps at this race and I really wasn’t in the mood for that so we decided to get something else to eat.
Congratulations! I’ve now set PRs I am really happy with in short (4-mile) and half marathon distances, but a 10K would be great. It’s just that since my very first 10k (aka my first race ever) I’ve only run 10Ks in Central Park (essentially a giant hill) and then at Disney races where I’m all about the photos and fun, whereas the very first one was on a flat two-loop rather boring course. Maybe I need to head back there if I want the PR 🙂
I definitely think it helps to have a good course!
Congrats on the PR! Sole of the City is one of those races that always hurts at the end with the uphill. I ran it the last two years and I always got passed by the owner or one of the GMs at the end haha for a flat course, those hills at the end are no joke! Great race- your splits were way more consistent than mine ever are 🙂
I always feel like the races in the city manage to include the only hills and incorporate them into the races! I knew the finish would be tough so I tried to save a little energy for the last mile.
I thought I might run into you there! Congrats on a great race and new PR! It was a warm day but not as bad as last year when it was ridiculously humid. I wish they would start the race a little earlier though. No PR for me but I was happy with my time and pace considering I haven’t been doing any speed work. Last year Covington wrecked me so I was glad I felt pretty good by the time I got to that climb this year!
Congrats to you too! I had no idea who else would be there and I didnt stay too long after the race. I was really worried about Covington so I definitely saved a little energy for that part of the course!
Atta girl! Nice job on that PR. I’m not hungry after a long race but after 5 and 10ks I’m starving because I don’t eat before I race those. I love your sunglasses. Are they special running ones? Do they slide around or fog up or anything? I need some new ones.
Thanks! I feel like you asked me about the sunglasses before:) Or maybe it was someone else. They don’t move at all and I think I got them either from Running Warehouse or Road Runner Sports. I’ll try to figure it out and let you know!
Ummm… yeah. I think I did. Don’t worry about it, seriously no big deal. Apparently I’ll forget anyway. 😛
what a great time to start the season with! i really like the 10k distance but for whatever reason tend to run halfs instead. i tried to get a sub hour 10k a few weeks ago but the hills took me down. but oh man after a race i want to eat all the things! luckily Im usually at Disney where there is no shortage of good food!
The hills can definitely make for a tough race! And a place like disney would be great for eating after a race:)
Wow – what an awesome race! That a killer time – congrats on the PR!
Thank you!
Congrats on your new shiny “official” PR! I am glad they found your results. 🙂 I agree I think you have more in you, especially since you weren’t sore the next day! You surpassed your pace goal so that’s awesome. Now you know what you can do!
Thanks! I do think I could have pushed a little harder but overall I was really happy with how it went!
Congrats, Lisa! You nailed your goal pace! It feels so good to break through an old pr that you know deserves to be updated. Awesome!
Awesome job on the PR and love your pace! You know you can just keep getting faster….
Thanks! I hope so:)
So awesome! Great job! I’m never hungry first thing after a run, and definitely not after a race. (An hour later, though, I can eat my body weight in junk food, lol.)
The hunger definitely takes a little while to kick in for me too!
Nice job Lisa! Congrats on the PR. You nailed that goal pace and only your first race of the year!
Thank you!
Awesome job and congrats on the PR! It must feel awesome to finally have that redemption of a PR after a few years. That’s how the 5k feels for me. I set my PR in 2014 and was hoping for a new one last fall when I ran a couple of 5ks – I came close but didn’t make it. Now I’ve set new PRs for a 5k during longer distance races so I should have a faster time now but it’s just not official haha 😀
Thank you! I know you will definitely PR the 5k soon. You did so well in your 10k that I have a feeling you will surprise yourself with your 5k time!
Congrats again Lisa! Way to hang in there with a strong, consistent pace. I know both my 5k and half PRs are soft. One was run on a hot, hilly course and the other 6 days after a full marathon. 10ks are getting hard to come by around here.
I kind of wish there were more 10ks available. I do alot of 5ks during the summer months but I think it would be nice to change things up with other shorter distance races.
Awesome race, Lisa! It’s awesome to see that your training this winter/spring has paid off, and to feel like to you still have a faster time in you! Only B3 race? Guess that means no Chuck 12 for you 🙁 It is on a hard weekend – there are a few that weekend that I have to choose from.
Yea so I had to miss the Shamrock 5k for a baby shower, and then Rob’s parents planned a family trip to Hawaii the week of the Charles St 12. Sow while I am disappointed to miss the race, I can’t really complain about the reason for missing it:)
These are great race pictures of you Lisa! I hate it when there is a tough hill so close to the finish. You rocked it though! That is an awesome pace and you did great sticking to your goal! Congratulations on your PR! I don’t believe it will stick long, you will PR in the 10K again, I just know it. I’m going to be jealous of yall because our season is winding down and yalls is just starting good! Hungry after a race??? Do pigs like mud??? Lol Thanks Lisa for your recap of this race!
Thank you! Not sure when I will run another 10k, but hopefully soon!