Booked my first 10k: Timing advice

[wisely]

Booked my first 10k for the 20th May in Bangkok. (I live in Singapore).

My 5k time was around 24-5mins - what should my target and stretch goals be? My Garmin watch is saying 52 mins but that seems too ambitious to me?

Any advice or prior experience?

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10]

My first aim of any event is to finish it, especially if it is the first time I'm doing that distance in an event. That might not sound too helpful right now but training plans like MyAsics and garmin will predict your time and give you training schedules to try and reach that target but I always think for your first event listen to what your body is saying through the training sessions. If you haven't done a 10km yet or your not comfortable with them that that is the first priority, building yourself up to the distance. Just like the C25K the speed will come after. I always aim for my best 5km. X 2 and add a couple of mins in after that. So Garmin could be right but don't train at that level as you start to build up as it will be too fast for you.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

I agree with rfc - don't get too caught up on times for your first 10k race. Just enjoy the occasion. 🙂 That said, I always seem to run a bit faster on race day, I think the adrenaline of the occasion helps! Are you already running 10k's or do you need to increase distance too? This will have a bearing on what sort of pace you will be able to sustain over that distance. Good luck with your training.🙂

[wisely in reply to Sandraj39]

Ran 8.4k the other day but was a flailing mess! Haha

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to wisely]

I bet you weren't 😀 That's great news. They say if you can run 7km you can do a 10km event. So at 8.4km your well on your way to being ready.