24 January 2013 - Distance vs Speed and PB's

Today on the treadmill using sprint intervals, stamina and determination I beat my personal best 10km running time. When I ran the Twilight 10km race last year I came in at a finishing time of 1:01:45. Today on the treadmill I pressed the "cool down" button after 10km and 56:50. That's nearly 5 minutes faster!

It felt amazing. 

I have always been a runner who focuses on going the distance rather than on increasing their speed. In primary school I actually agreed with a friend to skip rather than sprint during the speed based races because they frustrated me so much. But when it came to cross country I would be determined to tough it out. 

So after completing the 10km race last year the next logical step for me was to work towards a half marathon  then a full marathon. I was talking with a friend the other day though who has achieved competitive results in running and triathlons who said her next logical step is to to do it again, but FASTER. 

For the first time today I think I really understand that competitive spirit and it struck me that I could go faster if I put my mind to it; and train hard for it. Will I emerge a "winner" because of it (the fastest female in my age category for 10km at Twilight last year completed it in 41minutes and 39seconds!) maybe not. But will I continue to chase the feeling of beating a Personal Best Time? YES. 

Because that's a sense of achievement worth fighting for.