More Newb Questions - 5k Edition

[wawa]

Ok...I've kinda asked this before.  But I need some additional hand holding if anybody is willing to humor me. 

So for the first time I'm running a 5k with absolutely no question of whether I can successfully run the whole thing without having to take a walk break.  I've done that twice before, but the first time it was touch and go and required a lot of internal pep talks just to keep running, let alone put much thought into pace.  The second time I just kept saying to myself, "ok, run a little faster..." and did in fact manage to run a little faster. 

So that race is my current PR.  It's from last year's turkey trot (31:37, which was gun time and I started kinda far back.  MapMyRun says my pace for that was actually 9:41 so my chip time if they'd had chips *might* have been just under 30.)  This year's black Friday/turkey trot is pancake flat, so I should be able to go pretty fast, right?  (my neighborhood is not flat.  I'm used to moderate hills)  I did a 10k a few weeks ago at a 10:40 pace and was tired at the end, but not dying.

I have no idea what to aim for.  Do I just go balls to the wall and run as fast as I can?  playing on the treadmill I honestly max out right around 8:30.  That's my all out sprint.  I am SLOW LIKE A TURTLE.   Training runs are generally in the 11 minute range.   

I don't know how to RACE.   I can run.  But I haven't not yet figured out racing.  (eta: not that I'm like...in contention or anything.  But still.  Racing.  Against myself at least.)

[al320]

5k is always go ballls to the wall.

Then slow down if you have to.

Then push it again at the end.

Puke if you have to.

Youll break 30.

[scm1011]

Nov 24, 2015 13:28:51 GMT -5 al320 said:

5k is always go ballls to the wall.

Then slow down if you have to.

Then push it again at the end.

Puke if you have to.

Youll break 30.

Yup, all of this. Good luck!

[wawa]

Nov 24, 2015 13:28:51 GMT -5 al320 said:

5k is always go ballls to the wall.

Then slow down if you have to.

Then push it again at the end.

Puke if you have to.

Youll break 30.

I thought that might be the answer... <)

Can I admit that the thought of actually trying to go fast instead of just finish is making my palms sweat?  Half scared and half excited.   Is it Friday yet?  I want it to be Friday so I can do this.  I will about die from excitement if I actually break 30. 

God I'm such a dork.  A slow excitable dork. 

[bostonmichelle]

Nov 24, 2015 13:28:51 GMT -5 al320 said:

5k is always go ballls to the wall.

Then slow down if you have to.

Then push it again at the end.

Puke if you have to.

Youll break 30.

Pretty much all of this. Oh and when you feel like dying just hang on for a bit longer.

[runblondie26]

Nov 24, 2015 13:28:51 GMT -5 al320 said:

5k is always go ballls to the wall.

Then slow down if you have to.

Then push it again at the end.

Puke if you have to.

Youll break 30.

What she said.

I always line up at a 5k expecting much pain.

[EnchantedSoul]

I just came in to say that you are much faster than me. If you are even considering going all in, you've got this. Make sure to report back after your race!

[shauni27]

wambam I have only "raced" one 5K. The first time I ran the same 5K, it took me 30 minutes. The very next year, I really pushed myself. I was uncomfortable. Granted, during that year difference, I ran a half marathon and trained much more. But still, I really pushed. It was NOT enjoyable. BUT, I did it in 26 minutes.

TAKE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, as I have never again been able to come even close to being this uncomfortable without stopping haha.

[skwcm80]

Nov 24, 2015 14:36:06 GMT -5 runblondie26 said:

Nov 24, 2015 13:28:51 GMT -5 al320 said:

5k is always go ballls to the wall.

Then slow down if you have to.

Then push it again at the end.

Puke if you have to.

Youll break 30.

What she said.

I always line up at a 5k expecting much pain.

This is why I hate 5ks so very much.

[juliabug]

"Race smart, finish strong." For a 5k, I prefer to start a little slower and pick up the pace after the first mile. I get a really sick pleasure out of picking off people the last mile. You will always be faster on the road than a treadmill and even faster in a race. Good luck and have fun!

[itsme]

You know, I've been contemplating this very thing with my turkey trot. I want to go balls to the wall but I don't! It sounds like we're similar in pace and one of the last flat 5k race I did I broke 30 and ran at a 9:10 avg. It hurt. It really hurt but it's only 3 miles and I think you can do it holding a fast pace.

[melodramatic26]

Nov 24, 2015 13:25:17 GMT -5 wawa said:

So that race is my current PR.  It's from last year's turkey trot (31:37, which was gun time and I started kinda far back.  MapMyRun says my pace for that was actually 9:41 so my chip time if they'd had chips *might* have been just under 30.)  This year's black Friday/turkey trot is pancake flat, so I should be able to go pretty fast, right?  (my neighborhood is not flat.  I'm used to moderate hills)  I did a 10k a few weeks ago at a 10:40 pace and was tired at the end, but not dying.

I have no idea what to aim for.  Do I just go balls to the wall and run as fast as I can?  playing on the treadmill I honestly max out right around 8:30.  That's my all out sprint.  I am SLOW LIKE A TURTLE.   Training runs are generally in the 11 minute range.   

I thought you were "slow". NONE OF THIS IS SLOW. The 2 5ks I did and was right around 31:30 was exactly middle of the pack for my age group and usually close to stop 1/3 for women.

that aside, breaking 30 is totally possible! I'm still chasing that dream, but you can totally do it!

[wawa]

Nov 24, 2015 22:32:43 GMT -5 itsme said:

You know, I've been contemplating this very thing with my turkey trot. I want to go balls to the wall but I don't! It sounds like we're similar in pace and one of the last flat 5k race I did I broke 30 and ran at a 9:10 avg. It hurt. It really hurt but it's only 3 miles and I think you can do it holding a fast pace.

So what did you end up doing?

As i aw'd in the friday thread I went for it. Went out a little too fast and/or wasn't able to make myself keep it up when it started to hurt so my splits went steadily up (8:57,9:15,9:45) but it was enough to just break 30. I could see the timer counting down from 29:40 as I turned the last corner and sprinted in.

Now u need to set myself a new goal. I'm thinking sustaining an 8:xx pace?

[wambam]

I'm just now seeing this, but shauni27 it was wawa not me

[wawa]

Nov 28, 2015 18:07:10 GMT -5 wambam said:

I'm just now seeing this, but shauni27 it was wawa not me

I was wondering if that was an auto correct. My phone has learned a bunch of screen names and suggests a few every time I type a @

It's not the first time it's happened though.

[itsme]

Nov 28, 2015 17:13:54 GMT -5 wawa said:

Nov 24, 2015 22:32:43 GMT -5 itsme said:

You know, I've been contemplating this very thing with my turkey trot. I want to go balls to the wall but I don't! It sounds like we're similar in pace and one of the last flat 5k race I did I broke 30 and ran at a 9:10 avg. It hurt. It really hurt but it's only 3 miles and I think you can do it holding a fast pace.

So what did you end up doing?

As i aw'd in the friday thread I went for it. Went out a little too fast and/or wasn't able to make myself keep it up when it started to hurt so my splits went steadily up (8:57,9:15,9:45) but it was enough to just break 30. I could see the timer counting down from 29:40 as I turned the last corner and sprinted in.

Now u need to set myself a new goal. I'm thinking sustaining an 8:xx pace?

You did awesome!! Proud of you. You did about a minute better than me! I started at 10:26 (this is where I screwed up) then bumped it down to 9:22 and ended at 9:45 or so. I was in the 8s here and there but I wasn't able maintain it. Finish was 30:53 which was a course PR but not overall PR.