The 20th Annual Leprechan 5-Miler
Madison, CT
A friend of mine at the gym asked me to join him at this race. I figured it'd be more fun making a short road trip with him and running together than to go to an alternative local 5k on my own.
With that said, I have never raced a 5-miler. Should it be just over my 5k pace? Should it be well over? I have no idea. Granted, my best 5k time was the first one I ever ran and that was in 2010, so I'm not sure I can use that for gauging current paces. Therefore, I decided to test myself.
Two one-mile out & back loops.
The first mile would be a faster than normal warm up pace (knowing my body will still be 'warming up'), the second at a solid pace, the third and fourth attempting to push the pace harder each time. Keep in mind that the 'out' portion of the loop is net uphill and the 'back' is downhill. My guess at mile times were 7:20, 7:00, 6:40, and 6:20. Here's how it went...
Mile 1 - 6:24
(Holy be-Jesus!)
Mile 2 - 5:59
Mile 3 - 6:13
Mile 4 - 6:01
Average pace - 6:12
With those paces, my goal for this weekend's 5-Miler is at least sub-32:00 (6:24 pace) if not 31:00 (6:12 pace).
I also want to point out that my fastest 5k time is 19:30 (6:14 pace). I just broke that on a training run!! I guess I'm going to have to fit in a couple individual 5ks this year to see where I'm at.
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Questions
1. Have you ever run a 5-Miler? If so, do you race it any different than your 5ks?
My plan is to go out at roughly 6:20-6:30 pace and try to negative split the back half. Sound reasonable or should I just gun it for the goal pace from the start line?
2. Do you test your PRs every year at each distance or do you focus on one or a few at a time?
Last year I didn't race anything shorter than a marathon. I'd like to keep a range of distance races in my schedule this year - 5k on up to full iron.
Swim fast. Bike smart. Run hard.
6 comments:
So what'd you think of the 5 miler? New favorite distance? haha
I am so restless and wishing I could race this year. 2013 will be my comeback year!
I haven't run a 5miler, but a 10k. I have a 10 miler race on the 1st.
Sounds like you are ready and should be on pace for a great time!
Our yearly turkey trot is a 5 miler. I think you go out a little slower than all out 5k pace and pick it up near the end (but depends on the course, I guess). Have a great race! :)
I normally run my 5 milers at 5K pace. It's about the same anyway really. Only another mile and change.
Good luck with the 5miler! I've never raced one, but I've always wanted to!
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