It is funny how arbitrary numbers (usually round ones) can take on undue significance in a sport like running. When I began running half marathons, I became fixated on the goal of finishing in less than 2 hours. While the number is arbitrary (would my performance have been a failure if I’d have run the race in 2 hours and 10 seconds?), setting a goal and striving for it is an extremely valuable motivational tool that keeps me pushing and, ultimately, succeeding.

Now that half-marathon season is over, I decided to run in the Capital 10K race in Austin on March 29. But what goal to set? My first race ever was a 10K last August, and my time was a disappointing 64 minutes (granted, it was my first race and it was 95 F at the start of the race). My best 10K split during a half marathon was 55 minutes, so I decided that a goal of 50 minutes made sense. That would mean that I would have to trim my half-marathon pace of 9 minutes/mile by about 1 min/mile – not an easy task.

With the goal set, I began to train for that goal. Then, my father-in-law had to make his opinion known (something he is very good at): “You know, anyone over forty should be able to run a 10K in their age in minutes.” I was perfectly happy with my 50 minute goal, but this new challenge kept haunting me: I would need to run the race in 48:54 min (yes, I counted the days/seconds). Only about a 1 minute difference, but that can mean a lot when you are running at your limits.

So on race day, I ended up with two goals, the “official” one and the more aggressive one that I couldn’t get out of my mind. The final result? I finished the race in 49:42, for a pace of exactly 8:00 min/mile. I was very happy with the result (after all, it was a 15 minute improvement over my last 10K), though I didn’t meet the “run the race in your age” goal. Maybe next year.