5K PR. Finally I have done it!!! (Read 981 times)

I have just got to share this with you guys, as I feel on top of the world, no exaggeration. For a while I have been thinking about if I could go sub 20 for the 5k, and tonight, I (foolishly, after a very hard track session last night), set out and had a go at it. So it was not an official race, it was a time trial on my own with my garmin.In actual fact I stepped out of the door with the intention of just going by feel, and to my suprise without even pushing it I did the first mile in 6:30. It was then I thought, well to run a 5k sub 20 I need to run at 6:27 pace, so it was only at this time that I decided to try for the 5k PR. Mile 2 was covered in 5:50. It was fast, too fast I thought, as I though that I was not going to be able to sustain the pace for the rest of the route. Mile 3 felt a lot slower, as I was tiring, breathig was laboured, yet more controlled. I was focusing on breathing from my diaphragm, and it helped. I covered mile 3 in 6mins flat. The last part of the 5k was uphill, and I gave it my all, and covered it in 37 seconds, very quick. I clocked my Garmin and screamed to myself, as it read 18:57!!!!!! That is 63 seconds under my 2008 goal! I have finally got it, and it want even a race, and I did it on the back of a really hard track session. I am not saying that if I was fresher I may have done better, or even in a race, but I would think it would be a bit quicker. Also it averages out at 6:06 mile pace, compare this to a race I did 17 Jan 2007, where I averaged 7:31 mile pace. Ayhow, who cares, I have done it, and I am over the moon. Whats next??? Sub 18? God, I dont think I will be able to do that! Please leave f/b. Thanks guys.

DANG! I think we need to call you Speedy G from now on.

Nice work Eddy. Congratulations.

Awesome!!! I'm inspired by your improvement since my 5k pace is at 7:39 and I want to run fast. Congratulations. I think you can hit 18:30 in a race now.

Good lord!! Way to go!!!

Congrats, I can relate. After months of steady work it's pretty surprising how deep you can dig when it's finally race time again, eh?

Eddy, I think you are still only scratching the surface of your running potential. Best of luck to you and keep it up! It must feel good to know that all your discipline paid off.

It feels great allright. How do you mean, scratching the surface? Do you have recommendations?

Yeah. Keep doing what you're doing. If I remember right, you've only been at this for a year or so. If you stay consistent and keep working, you'll keep improving for years to come. As you've learned, making progress in running is a long-term endeavor with peaks and valleys. If you keep at it, you'll look back at this 5k just like you look back now at those runs a year ago...it's only in that sense that you are scratching the surface.