My Reality-Based Running Goal

My running buddy told me:

"10k in 40 mins ... that's about a 5:50 pace ... in other words, it's an all out sprint for 40 minutes."

My new goal then is 10k in 50-55 minutes. That's an 8-9 min per mile pace. And as my running budy reminded me, "a 9 minute mile is a sub 4 hour marathon".

Hey, I'm not a running expert. But I've worked in a marathon. Elite women athletes finish 26.2 miles in a little over 2 hours to 2 and a half hours. That's extraordinary. Call me whatever, but I felt teary the first time I saw up close as that first woman athlete crossed the finish line. Can you just imagine how amazing you have to be to do what that woman just did (and does quite consistently). Unbelievable.

A sub 4 hour marathon is a bit above the ordinary runners. In last year's NYC Marathon, the 100th female finisher completed in 3:14:51. I don't know if that gives you any more clarity to distinguish ordinary vs. extraordinary. Over 30,000 runners in every age and level join the NYC Marathon each year. By the way, I'm not running the marathon quite yet. Just 10k.

So 10k in 50 minutes. I can still be inspired by that. I'm going for extraordinary.