I Think I PRed in Tucson Today...

Basically ideal racing conditions and a very fast course today. Either I PRed by 5 seconds or missed it by 2. I'll know when the official results are posted. I hope the chip time I saw in the race tent afterwards was accurate at 2:55:31.

I really had to work the last four miles. It wasn't pretty out there but I never gave up even as I swore off running more than usual today.

I'll try to post a longer report soon as this course and setup is one many should consider for a PR attempt.

Happy running everyone.

Nice job, Ben. Tried getting to their site a couple hours ago, and it seemed to be down.

2:55:31 looks to be official. That's a 5 second PR. I only checked total elapsed time once, at half. Then saw it again with less than 50m to go (weird, final 90 degree turn). Satisfied with today's effort....but I still think I can go faster.

Congrats Ben!

Congratulations, that's a great time.

Nice work, Ben! Congrats. That's great work, especially in how you had to maintain your pre-race peak with the cancelation of NYC and the monsoon in Sacramento.

Well done, Ben. That's a nice time.

Well done Ben. You're a young guy and will have many more perfect opportunities so I think it's safe to say that you'll better that time.

Nice race and come back over the last 10k, Ben. Personal bests are always awesome.
Do I get a prize since I thought you'd run 2:55-2:58?

Way to go Ben, PR's are great!

Jerry wrote:Congrats Ben!

Thanks Jerry. You still being lazy??

JohnP wrote:Congratulations, that's a great time.

Thanks John.

Mark B wrote:Nice work, Ben! Congrats. That's great work, especially in how you had to maintain your pre-race peak with the cancelation of NYC and the monsoon in Sacramento.

Thanks Mark. But to be fair I only had to extend my race plans one week from CIM. NYC was a fun run. And since I was sick the week before CIM I was probably just about at my peak this past weekend.

Chris Coleman wrote:Well done, Ben. That's a nice time.

Thanks Chris.

T Miller wrote:Well done Ben. You're a young guy and will have many more perfect opportunities so I think it's safe to say that you'll better that time.

Thanks Tim. I hope so.

I'm finally going to focus on other distances for a year I think. 50K and longer trail runs as well as a 3-4 month block for a fast half. I probably need to be faster than 1:20 at the half to take a crack at 2:50 again.

Diego wrote:Nice race and come back over the last 10k, Ben. Personal bests are always awesome.
Do I get a prize since I thought you'd run 2:55-2:58?

If only I could have run 2:54 just to prove you wrong Diego!

I'm headed down to Alabama next month for MM50K again. You'll be there too I assume??

fostever wrote:Way to go Ben, PR's are great!

They sure are - even 5 second PRs! Like my buddy said after the race - a PR means improvement no matter how you look at it. That resonates quite well with me today

Ben: Given the hands you were dealt this marathon season - from NYC to CIM - your ability to adjust and set your sights on Tucson, and then PR, is impressive. Well done my friend.

Nice work, Ben. Congratulations!!!!! Wish I could have been out there to see it - but of course, I would have been an hour behind you.

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:Nice work, Ben. Congratulations!!!!! Wish I could have been out there to see it - but of course, I would have been an hour behind you.

I would just be at the halfway point.

Gratz, Ben!

Great job! Congratulations!

Wow, that's fantastic, Ben! Congrats on the PR! Oh, to run that fast for so long!

Did you know that Jerry is a sub-3 marathoner too?

Bam awesome job Ben!

dot520 wrote:Wow, that's fantastic, Ben! Congrats on the PR! Oh, to run that fast for so long!

Did you know that Jerry is a sub-3 marathoner too?

Ha, yup. But Jerry's lazy. I've run faster than him three times now

Congrats Ben! Any PR is a good one.