What is "personal best"

n. A person's best performance at a task to date.

Personal Best is a 1982 movie centered on a group of women trying to qualify for the American track-and-field team bound for the 1980 Olympic Games. Despite their commitment to their training regimen, their dreams are thwarted when the United States announces its boycott of the Games for political reasons, leaving them with only the informal "personal best" marks they achieved during training to connote their achievements.

The movie starred Mariel Hemingway and real-life track star Patrice Donnelly, along with Scott Glenn as the coach of the track team. It was written, produced and directed by Robert Towne.

The film was praised by critics for providing a realistic look at the world of women's athletics, for exploring the complex relationships that can exist among teammates and their coach, and for its sensitive portrayal of the relationship between an older lesbian (Donnelly) and a younger bisexual woman (Hemingway). Despite good reviews, it flopped at the box-office.

Many of the scenes were filmed in San Luis Obispo County. While the sign on the track said "Cal Poly", which is a university in San Luis Obispo, it was filmed at the track at Morro Bay High School. There are also two scenes filmed at restaurants in downtown San Luis Obispo; the Cigar Factory and 1865. Filming locations in Eugene, Oregon, included Hayward Field and the nearby Track Town Pizza restaurant.

Personal Best is the debut studio album by the United States punk band Team Dresch. The album was released in January 1995 on both singer/guitarist Jody Bleyle's label Candy Ass Records and bassist Donna Dresch's label Chainsaw Records.

Washington Post writer Chris Richards called Personal Best "a fiery, all-but-forgotten punk masterpiece".

Personal Best may refer to:

• The best time or score ever achieved by an athlete in a particular event commonly termed in athletics as a PB.
• Monty Python's Personal Best, a 2006 miniseries
• Personal Best (film), a 1982 film
• Personal Best (Team Dresch album), 1995
• Personal Best, a 1990 album by Selena