Friday, June 12, 2009

5K PR: I think I can, I think I can

In my last two 5Ks, I've used my Garmin 305's "Virtual Partner" feature to run reasonably consistent splits -- basically, to keep me from going out too fast in the first mile and dying at the end.

But a couple of veteran-racer buddies have advised me to do just that in my attempt to break 22 minutes for the first time: Go out as fast as you can, they say, and then just hold on for dear life.

I'm scared of how the third mile -- even the second, for that matter -- will feel, but I'm gonna give it a shot tonight at the China Grove 5K. I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, tell me: What's your preferred 5K strategy?

6 comments:

Brian said...

beat that 7 year old girl

Anonymous said...

real runners don't need fancy smancy garmin equipment to set their pace.....just run man

Anonymous said...

For a 5K I just go all out the whole way. I have come out real fast and done well and also held back a bit and then brought it for the last part and done well also. No rhyme or reason to it either way. Like dude above said...just run. Use your gut. Get a good warmup in so you aren't warming up the first mile. Get out of the gate strong, then will it on home. PRing is more in your head then your body. You have trained well so be confident.

Unknown said...

i used this exact strategy when I got my PR, started out in the front and just went as hard as I could for as long as I could, and then just made sure i finished.

Anonymous said...

For a 5k? Sure, why not. Of course it goes without saying that you will NOT use that same strategy in NYC :)

Albert said...

Do a good warm up. Largely, the training you have done will kick in, and you will have a good feel for how fast you should go. Focus on 2 things 1)relaxing your mind 2)listening to your body.