Reflections on my personal record and what it taught me

Setting the bar

Last spring, I shaved two minutes off my 10K time, a result I now call my personal record. It did not arrive with fireworks; it arrived with steady pacing, a quiet start, and a strong finish on a windy river path.

How I prepared

I built a plan around three pillars: consistent mileage, strength work, and recovery. The boring parts-sleep, stretching, and logging splits-mattered more than the flashy intervals.

• Consistency: four runs a week, no hero sessions.
• Feedback: short notes after each run to track effort.
• Recovery: one full rest day, plus light mobility.

What the clock can't capture

Beyond the numbers, the record gave me proof that small choices compound. It also taught me to measure progress by questions: Did I start calm? Did I finish curious?

1. Set a clear but flexible target.
2. Break the goal into tiny, repeatable actions.
3. Let the result be a by-product of the process.

I’m proud, not because I was fastest, but because I learned a repeatable way to grow.