Written by XX2i Optics Athlete Natasha LaBeaud Anzures. Natasha holds the Canadian National Record for the 15k distance, and continues to inspire healthy living and active lifestyles through her non-profit, 2nd Recess. She's also a RunRabbitRun Elite ambassador.
Personal records (PRs) are often considered to be elusive, mythical creatures that are hard to find and, if captured, difficult to find again. Fear not! There are ways to not only gain a new PR, but to keep improving.
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Consistency is key- while this tip might not seem overly exciting, it is the most useful. You cannot expect radical results from little sporadic training. Everyday is an invitation to build consistency and strength.
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Challenges make perfect- while we all know that ‘practice makes perfect,’ challenging yourself to work on elements that are outside of your comfort zone are necessary for achieving new personal bests. You may not like speed work and focusing on key mechanics, however those are the skills that you need to challenge yourself to refine to keep moving up the personal best ladder. Small changes and overcoming challenges can ultimately be the deciding factor between continuing to improve and hitting the dreaded plateau.
- Set a goal, then reset- goals are meant to be fluid and ever-changing. It is important to review what personal records look like for you, and be willing to reevaluate and shift. For example, your initial goal may be to hit a specific time for the marathon. If you achieve that goal, your next goal may be to get faster, or, it may be to achieve a new best in a shorter event. One distance improvement does not have to be the sole focus-- the goal could change all together. Instead of hitting a time PR, your new goal may be to become stronger in the weight room. Setting quantifiable goals that you can review and adjust throughout time will allow you to set PR’s not just in athletics, but with work and family too!
