The background is that I did my first half-marathon in 2004 and my first 10K not until a year later. When the “ultimate distance” is marathon-42.2K (nevermind ultramarathoners and the like because I can *NEVER* do that), 10K seems so piddling.

This year, I got “suckered” into the Sun Run again – yes, it’s hard to go for a personal best – because we were getting *long*sleeved*technical*shirts* and that incentive can sucker me in again next year. =D I will be doing more 10Ks this year in July and probably September.

The shorter the distance, the faster you need to go (that kind of made sense in my head if it doesn’t to anyone else) and I’ve never thought of myself as sprinter-type. 10K isn’t sprinting and so I’ve grown to like it. Right now, I’m really a half-marathoner with the occasion marathon and 10Ks peppered to “spot-check”: to me 10Ks are likened to long speed-sessions and a “test” that I’m on track in a race situation. No doubt I’m open to that changing in the future as time and health issues change.

So far, I’ve been really fortunate to not have debilitating injury (something to be said for not training like a nut, teehee) and am taking steps to stay injury-free by getting personal attention from a professional.

My half-marathon goal (sub-2:00) has been most elusive which makes me want it so much. I’d like to see how much time I can shave off 4:20 in a non-first marathon. And now I’ve got a new goal for a less-packed 10K race.

I can’t enter that many 10K races because as far as registration fees go, you get more race for your buck the longer the race you register for (e.g., the HBC 10K run is $38 and more than half the cost of the Scotiabank Half/21.1K that was $45, iirc). =D

There’s lots of 10k runs in the region that happen at a considerably more reasonable scale; the Sun Run has as its only attraction the (impressive!) mass participation element, and I suspect that gets old fast for people serious about stuff like personal bests.

I’d bet that on a similar course with about 49,000 fewer people you might shave some time just because of the lack of crowding.

Also, I’m no expert on running (except for my extensive collection of jogicides) but at your present speed I think you should focus on 10k runs as opposed to longer distances.

You have (please don’t take this the wrong way) plenty to gain in terms of 10k performance, the training is less onerous and less likely to drive you to a premature use-injury sidetrack, and if you ever revert to marathons, becoming a faster 10k runner is superb base training for becoming a faster marathoner.

You can think of the 10k distance as intervals-in-slow-motion for the 40k.

My fastest 10K was in 60 minutes exactly. And that was 3 years ago…