Does a PR count if it wasn't in a race? (Read 1148 times)

Thanks!

At times like these I can only revert to that great philospher Ty Webb of Bushwood Country Club (aka Checy Chase of Caddyshack lore) when asked how he measures himself against other golfers when he doesn't keep score - His utterance => "By height". Its all relative as we run against oursleves and the clock. Well done on the new PR. Now go knock another 1:30 off!

I dropped off the face of the earth for 2 days and did not get a chance to reply to individuals. So here is my generic "Thank You" to all the congrats. I actually was asking a rhetorical question (or so I thought). To me if you run the distance in the time then, yes, it counts. I have run 16 races in my 2 years of running and none of them have been certified distances. I am sure there is some kind of governing body in Mexico that certifies race courses, but no race I have been in has claimed to be a certified distance. According to Google Earth I have run "5K" races that were 3K in length. Some have been 5.2K. I have one "10K" that I have run twice. The course was different each time. Once it was 9.2K and another time it was 9.1K, but both times it was called a "10K." I know my measuring with Google Earth may not be 100% accurate, but it certainly isn't going to be too far off. As far as "signing up for a race to remove all doubt" you can see that I would still have doubts if I depended on the distance given by the race organizers. I have, however, run one 5K that was within 10 yards of what I measured with Google Earth. I guess if I were running 14 minute 5Ks and the newspapers were reporting on me, then yes, I would agree that a PR would only count if it were an official race with official timers. But for the average person, I would say that if you ran a certain distance in a certain time then it counts as a PR. The question then is whether you are reasonably convinced that the distance you say it is is accurate. Driving it in your car is not very accurate. GPS would be much closer to right. Some of us in this world have only read about timing chips and certified courses. I have never seen a timing chip, much less raced with one. I have never run on a certified course. I count all "best time over distance" as PRs whether they are at races or not. I did not realize that there would be such varied opinions. But, I guess it makes sense if you have the luxury of official times and certified distances. Not all of us have that though.

As far as "signing up for a race to remove all doubt" you can see that I would still have doubts if I depended on the distance given by the race organizers. I have, however, run one 5K that was within 10 yards of what I measured with Google Earth.

Hate to say it, but I agree. If you really want to "remove all doubt," hit your local high school track and run 5000 meters. No doubt at all. Well, hopefully. The second best alternative is probably to ask around your local running community. You'll probably find some races that have been around a long time, and on the same course, and that the veterans know are close to perfectly accurate. (They'll also know which courses might be a little questionable). Third best might be your Garmin. In fact, it might actually be MORE accurate than just signing up for a random 5-K. I sadly have my suspicions about my own 5-K PR. I ran it a week after a hard marathon, and ran it a full 1:15 faster than my previous PR. With the first mile supposedly at almost sub-6:00 pace. I'm skeptical but I dang sure ain't checking. It's a PR, dammit. Bottom line is still the same: its your log. Do what you want.

#2 - I love your avatar. It cracks me up every time I see it.

That was from my failed attempt at making it as a football player this last summer. When I was in high school I always played as a lineman because of my size. That was 20 years ago. I have lost weight and am much skinnier than I was in high school. Now I am expected to be able to play the faster positions in football. Problem is, I have never learned how. I played for an arena football league this summer and we won the championship. But, not because of me. I only played 5 plays the whole season.

If you really want to "remove all doubt," hit your local high school track and run 5000 meters. No doubt at all. Well, hopefully.

JakeKnight, I have never seen a track at a high school here in my city. Sports programs are handled outside the realm of most schools here in Mexico (therefore I get to play football as a 38 year old). There are two tracks that I have run on here in town. One is at a University and I suspect it is pretty close to accurate. The other one is at a park with a bunch of XC type trails (too bad it is on the other side of town). That one could be accurate too. Those are both dirt/gravel tracks with no lanes. There is one track I believe to be totally accurate. It is at a state owned facility where they train their athletes for the Olympics. But, unless you are on one of the state blessed track teams, you don't get to touch the track except at track and field events. That's not to say there are no tracks here, but that they are not as plentiful as they are in the US. Whether my 5K route is exactly 5K or not, it is the same route I have been running for 2 years as my own personal 5K route. I have not checked my PR on that route, but I know I beat it by more than 3 minutes. I am happy with my time over the distance. And I am showing to myself that the training I am doing is paying off. Thanks for the good discussion.

Oh - and yeah, your avatar cracks me up, too. Seriously.

Quit aping my comments you Cohiba-loving gorilla.

Dude - cool that you're in Mexico! I checked your profile - what kind of missionary work are you doing? For how long? What's it like running south of the border? If you run races down there, make sure you post your race reports.

Yes, it is cool here. Was only 93 today. We work with the Deaf. www.dpeach.com Been here 3.5 years. Will move back to the States in August for a year and then back down here for 4. 4:1 cycle. Running south of the border? I really don't know what to compare it to. I started running after I got here. I did get a chance to run along Long Beach, California this summer. Awesome! Compared to Long Beach, it stinks here. But, I don't imagine everyone is running in 72 degree year round temperatures like they do in Long Beach. I run races when I can find out about them. There is a pretty tight knit running community here. Everyone knows about all the races if you keep your ear to the ground and participate in the community. Those of us on the outside just have to know someone who knows someone and then you might get info on an upcoming race. I rarely know about a race more than a week in advance. I guess my new avatar is a hit. I may start using it on other forums.