Pushing Limits at the Polidor 5k Race: My Fastest Time and New PR

Polidor 5k race: It was more than just a run—it was a battle of grit, determination, and proving that yesterday’s limits have no place today.

Another weekend, another grind. This time, I was out for the Polidor 5k race in Columbus, Indiana. It’s a race with a purpose: to support the Alfa literacy program in Haiti. It’s a cause I can get behind, but let’s be honest—when the gun goes off, none of that really matters in the moment. The crowd fades, the purpose fades, and even the cheering fades. Out there, it’s just me versus me. Every step. Every breath. Every doubt I’ve ever had is trying to claw its way back into my head.

Fourth place out of 111 runners? Sure, it’s a nice stat to throw around. But let me tell you what that doesn’t show. It doesn’t show the battle I fought in the weeks leading up to it. It doesn’t show the sweat, the discipline, or the fact that I was 38 seconds slower two weeks ago in Martinsville. Yeah, that’s right—38 seconds gone. That’s the real prize. I came in at 24:01.02 this time. That’s a personal best with a pace of 7:44 per mile. Fastest I’ve ever run. And you know what? That felt damn good.

But this isn’t about the clock or the placement. It’s not even about the race. It’s about the mentality that gets me to the start line in the first place. People think these races are about beating the guy next to you or proving something to the crowd. Nah, let’s cut the crap—it’s about proving something to yourself. It’s about staring down your own limits and deciding, “Not today.” Every single run, I battle that voice in my head that says, “This is good enough.” And every single run, I’ve got to choose to tell it, “Not a chance.”

That’s why the Polidor 5k race was more than just another event. It was another chance to redefine what I’m capable of. Running isn’t just physical; it’s a mental war. Your legs can handle more than your mind tells you they can, and your body won’t quit unless you give it permission. That’s the truth people don’t want to hear—your biggest competition isn’t anyone else out there. It’s the person in the mirror. And if you’re not running to beat that guy, what’s the point?

Every second I shaved off that time, every step I pushed a little harder, I wasn’t thinking about the 110 people around me. I wasn’t even thinking about the finish line. I was thinking about last week’s version of me. The one who might’ve thought 24:39 was the best he could do. The one who had to learn the hard way that limits are nothing but lies we tell ourselves to stay comfortable. And let me tell you, comfort is the enemy. You don’t grow in comfort. You grow when you’re out there hurting, pushing, and demanding more.

The Polidor 5k race gave me a platform, but the real work happened long before that starting gun. It happened in the early mornings when I laced up my shoes and hit the pavement while the rest of the world was still asleep. It happened when I wanted to stop, but I didn’t. When my legs screamed, I kept going. That’s what this is about—building something inside you that doesn’t quit, no matter how hard it gets.

Do you want actionable insight? Here it is: Stop running for someone else. Stop chasing approval or recognition. Run for you. Run to see what you’re made of. And when you get to that point where you think you’ve hit your limit, dig deeper. You’ve got more in you than you think. That’s not just running advice—that’s life advice. Limits only exist if you let them.

So yeah, fourth place is cool, and a personal best is even better. But the real victory? It’s knowing I didn’t leave anything out there. That when I crossed that finish line, I did it on empty, having pushed through every bit of doubt and resistance. That’s what the Polidor 5k race gave me—a chance to prove that the best version of me is still out there, waiting to be unlocked.

Every race is a chance to show up, shut up, and put in the work. To keep pushing until there’s nothing left. To remind yourself that you’re not defined by where you’ve been but by where you’re going. That’s the game, and the Polidor 5k race was just the latest battlefield. The question is, what’s next? Because I’ll be back. Faster, stronger, better. That’s the only way I know how to live.

Stay disciplined. Stay resilient. Live with PRIDE.

Jim Lunsford

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