Notes
First 1k split was 3:09, and my mile splits were 5:08, 5:09, 5:05. I wanted to just break 16 but more importantly, run really hard and make myself suffer to learn how the 5k feels again. I was having a little bit of trouble with the pace early on and the course was impossible to run fast on. The surface was mainly pavement but also had some gravel/mud parts as well. Anytime I would get rolling, I would have a sharp turn, and most of the road was slick, so I had to slam on the breaks a good bit. I really wanted to run hard the last mile but there tons of very short straightaways combined with sharp turns, so I couldn't get in any rhythm at all and with about a half mile to go, my shoe came untied. I backed off the last 400m or so and wasn't tired at the finish at all.
I think I can run a good bit faster but I also have a lot of work to do. My body needs to get used to what sub 5:00 pace feels like but I'm still just working on my base, so hopefully I'll come around in a few weeks.