Today I had planned to run a 10K which would have been my last before my entry into the Middlesbrough Tees Pride 10K run on August 31st. However, my last two runs have resulted in slight niggles in both of my knees so today I didn't want to risk running a 10K distance so opted to run a 5K instead.
I haven't ran a fast 5K for a few weeks now as I have been concentrating on interval and strength/hill running. Bearing that in mind, I thought I would see if all that interval and strength running could pay off today in a 5K PB attempt.
My current 5K PB time is 28 min 28 sec so my plan was to run the first 2k at a pace of 6 min/km then up the pace to 5.30 min/km for the last 3k. That would be a time of 28 min 30 sec. Obviously, that wouldn't be a PB but the plan was to get me round about the 28 min 30 sec area and then push on for the last 0.5k which, I was hoping, would result in a PB. All very easy in theory of course
As usual, I set off at a faster than ideal pace but I managed to reel it in and keep it round about the 6 min/km pace with regular checks of my Garmin. Upon reaching the 2k mark I upped the pace as planned and managed to keep it around the 5.30 min/km for the rest of the run until approximately the last 0.5k and then went for it. There wasn't much left in the tank but just enough to achieve my goal of a new 5k PB of 27 min 46 sec, that's a 42 second improvement on my last PB Yippeeeeeee Not a huge difference I'll admit but, as they say, a PB is a PB and I'm happy
Hope everyone is enjoying their running, too, and remember, get the miles in your legs first, then the speed will follow
Written by
paul2014
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Thanks I could have just gone out and ran it but I wanted to work out roughly what pace I would need to run at in order to beat my previous PB. That then gave me a ball park pace/time to get me somewhere near but knowing I would have to push the last 0.5k if I wanted to get a new PB. Of course, I didn't know whether I could do it or not until I actually attempted it ;),
Thanks I probably achieved the maximum I was capable of today for my current fitness levels. I was extra pleased as I was also running against a fairly strong head wind fir a lot of the route so maybe capable of knocking off a few more seconds
Thank you Knees seem fine after today's run. I think I may have overdone the hill workout the other day
There ya go! Another PB this week... amazing isn't it mate? You put in the miles and the speed is a result of the workouts before... great time there!
And I suspect you're right on the knees - those hill sessions can play a bit of havoc with them so need to take them easy.. mine are okay today and I've got 15K up tomorrow so time (and distance) will tell..
Thank, Aussie yep, it's amazing getting a PB I'll prob reduce the amount of climbs on the hill until after my Middlesbrough 10k, just to be on the safe side.
Good luck on your 15k, Aussie. I'm certain you'll be fine. Looking forward to reading all about it.
Well done, made a plan, stuck to it and PB achieved! I do something similar: plan - trainers on, out the door, jog around and try not to die. So far working for me
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