Competition Drives Fast Times

Guest Blogger:
Reno Stirrat
Age 55
Dorchester, MA
Accountant, Coach
Family: Susan - wife (senior PR of 22:45 for 5K!)
2009 USATF National Masters 5K Champion (M55) - 16:45
Senior PRs ...
5K - 16:51
10K - 35:04
Marathon - 2:44:46


Competition Drives Fast Times

Watching Meb win the NYC Marathon we see the epitome of competition and a fast time. Meb did his PR at NY. Running, we all strive to win in our own way… 1st place, age group, beating Joe or a PR.

When we were younger our goal may have been to be the first runner across the tape, then we started to chase times. Chasing times can lead us to a dead end because we are more concerned about racing a ghost. We cannot see the time but only have an awareness of it.

Competing against our fellow runners gives us a tangible object to compete against. To see someone in front of you that looks tired brings out the best runner in us. With the crowd yelling at us to catch them it adds to our energies. With these new energies we forget about the pain of pushing our bodies and move to a new level and faster times; ah the ghost.

When running the Masters 5k National Championship in Syracuse, NY I knew the course was fast and there would be a lot of competition. I decided I wanted to try to win my age group. Each age group had their own color on their back. My age group, (55-59) had blue racing bibs. At the 1k mark there was a blue tag runner about 100 yds in front of me, and another one 10 yds further in front. I pulled up behind the first one and then passed him at the 1/2 way mark and had gained on the other blue tag. Knowing that I was gaining gave me new energy and hope, so I pushed and with about 600 yds, caught the lead runner in my age group. After the last turn and a downhill finish, I kicked and won. Much to my surprise I had run my fastest time since turning 50 years old by 12 seconds.

In all my years of running, all my PR's came from Championship races and ones that I got my butt kicked, never when I won. Now being older I don't win many races overall, but when I do they tend to be slower.

In your next race don’t think about how you’re feeling but concentrate on the runners in front of you and go after them. You might surprise yourself with more PR's!

Reno Stirrat

distancerunningtips.com