December 24, 2011 (Updated February 1, 2023)

Home for the Holidays Virtual 10k

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

11 comments
This morning I ran a virtual 10k race! IMG_0915

Want to save this post?

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you great content every week!

Save Recipe
 A few of my blogger friends set up the virtual 10k as a fun way to motivate others to stay active during the holidays. Great idea! I was clearly on board (and was happy that they reopened registration this morning for those of us that missed the original boat). Interested in joining in on the fun? Click here for more info and to register; Stephanie also has a post up with reports of how other’s races have gone so far — check it out! There are even prizes up for grabs. virtual_10k The virtual 10k was exactly the motivation I needed to work on speed. I’d let myself settle into not pushing myself as hard pace-wise on runs lately and was excited to challenge myself and see just what I could do! I treated it like a real race and went out to my favorite trail determined to remind my legs that they could still be fast. IMG_0920

Compression sleeves get bonus points for acting as leg warmers this morning!

So, guess what? I set a new 10k PR (personal record) this morning! Does it count if it’s not a “real” race? 🙂 I ran the 6.2 miles this morning in 50:22 — an average pace of 8:07. Woohoo! My old PR is 51:34 from last year’s Jingle All the Way 10k here in D.C. (sadly I didn’t make it home from school in time this year to do the race again). IMG_0914     Here are my splits. I was proud of myself!
  • Mile 1: 8:27
  • Mile 2: 8:28
  • Mile 3: 8:23
  • Mile 4: 8:00
  • Mile 5: 8:01
  • Mile 6: 7:35 (!)
  • Final 0.2 mile nubbin pace: 7:19 (!)
As you can see, I got progressively faster as the race went on. The first couple miles I was feeling a bit tired and stiff, but at the turnaround point, I started to feel really good. I thought to myself “I should try to do the last mile in under an 8:00 min/mile” — and apparently just thinking about that challenge looming had me running faster for miles 4 and 5, too! When I saw on my watch (my splits pop up every mile) how close I was to being under 8:00 mins for those two miles, I was even more determined to make the last mile speedy. Well what do you know — I blew my own challenge out of the water! I’d forgotten how good it felt to really push myself and then achieve a goal. Apparently these legs have still got it, I just needed to remind them. 🙂 IMG_0917 Whew! Great run. This is my “I’m tired now” face. I wish I’d had a cute holiday-themed outfit to wear on the run — I was not very festive! Ohhhh well. 🙂 IMG_0916 I came home feeling triumphant and proud. Next time you’re working out or getting in a run — whether it’s today, or tomorrow, or the next day — challenge yourself. See what you can do. You might be surprised. 🙂 IMG_0921     Are any of you planning to participate in the virtual 10k as well? You have until December 26th; let me know how it went! Merry Christmas Eve — I’m off to enjoy some hot chocolate and a movie. 🙂
- anne

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

you might also like:

leave a comment

11 comments
  • Anna
    Way to go!! I am doing my virtual 10K tomorrow morning!
    Reply
  • Amy
    Great post of your Virtual 10K! And congrats on your PR :)
    Reply
  • Alaina
    Great run!! I'm doing my 10k tomorrow. I have a 7 mile run on my training plan and the 10k is a great motivator. :-)
    Reply
  • Adventurer
    Awesome job, Anne. Very impressive. Excellent idea to push yourself like that. Now you can enjoy Christmas dinner even more, too!
    Reply
  • Jasmine
    Wow! Great job. That is super impressive (especially since I am a super slow runner). I did the jingle all the way this year (I promised myself if I survived the hot chocolate 15K I would sign up for the race the next weekend) and they changed the route and it is only an 8K now (but then that is my favorite distance).
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Good for you! How was the 8k? That is a good distance!
      Reply
  • Jasmine
    It was a well run race (as are all of Capital Running's races from what I hear) although it did start 15 min late (for which we were sent a very sincere email apology). The route is now the one that starts at Freedom Plaza and heads over to the capital and past the botanical garden before looping back -- a good flat route with some DC appeal. I was a little slower than I would have liked but astounded at how easy 8K is when you ran 15K the previous weekend. I started reading your blog this year when I started running to try and keep me motivated. So, thanks for helping me focus.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Ohh that's the same route I think that I did for the St. Patty's Day 8k here in DC. Cool! I'm honored to hear I helped motivate you. Keep it up - and have fun! :)
      Reply