Sport Today

I've been lurking around here for a while now and I really appreciate
all the good info I've seen.  I started running regularly 6 weeks ago,
and I've got my first 5k on Saturday.  I know that I shouldn't start
too fast, but I don't want to start too slow, either.  My last 2 weeks
I ran 15 miles/week, and I usually go ~9:45 per mile on my long day (6
miles) and ~8:15 per mile on my fast days (2-2.5 miles).  This is what
I'm thinking for my splits on Sat.:

1st 1/2 mile: 4:20
2nd 1/2 mile: 4:10 (totaling 8:30 for the first mile)
2nd mile: 8:20
3rd mile: 8:10, split maybe 4:10 and 4:00.
last .1: 30-60 seconds, depending on whether I'm about to drop over.

This should get me in under 26 minutes, which I'll feel pretty good
about.  Or, should I just try to make all 3 miles the same pace and
sprint at the end if I have it in me?  Or should I try to start even
slower and finish even faster?  I figure I'd want 8:20 splits, in that
case.

Thanks for the help, folks.  I'll probably be so nervous that I can't
read my stopwatch anyway, but I want to give it my best shot.

considering that this is your first 5K,
how are you going to pay attention to the splits?
correct pacing is a difficult task and comes from years of practice.
it'll be even more difficult in your case since you are planning
on 1/2 mile splits on 6 weeks of regular running experience.

a related question: do you know they have 1/2 mile markers?

i'd say, since this is your first 5K, just go with the flow.
forget the watch. you can still record your splits.
that'll give you a target to shoot for the next time.

you could start in the mid-pack so that you don't
bolt out like a stud. you don't want to start like
a stud and end like a dud.

instead of having to worry about 1/2 mile splits,
just go out easy, increase it to a steady pace,
and the last 1/2 mile give it all you've got.

you said it. ;-)
practice recording splits without looking at the watch. :)

if the force is with you, and the planets are in the right
alignment, you'll probably run faster than you think.

good luck.
jobs

First, good on ya for running that sucker.

Second, I agree with Jobs. While speed isn't my thing (good wine works,
though), chances are that the e***ment of the event is going to urge you to
go out like a ***age boy (young man, mature male, BOF, elderly gent, they're
all the same here) on Catch Me, Kiss Me Night. By trying for even splits, my
guess is that you'll still have a prettyy quick first mile. If a quick time
is your goal (and it's a very good one), try to run even splits then bust a
gut in the last .2 mile. It's been my (slow) experience that the last .1 mile
is too late.

:-) Third, you're probably right. Don't worry about the nervousness (?). Go
with it. As Jobs suggested, Use the Force. If the Force happens to be
nervousness, so be it. The main point here is to enjoy it and end up
thinking, "I know I can do it faster next time."

Of course, we'll want to hear how you did and how much you enjoyed it. :-)

Kick it!
Layne

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The rec.running report archives may be found at http://SportToday.org/

congrats on the 8:15...very good...especially since you just started.....but
you are just starting and thinking way to advanced/ahead of yourself for your
first race.  keep it simple.  just think in your mind at the start you want to
be greater than you've even been before for 24 minutes........and kick
ass....it's that simple, it comes down to just that...going all out 110% for 24
minutes.   just know in your mind that every step, every stride counts.  don't
"mail it in".   go all out and you'll feel great regardless of your time.  

Andrew.....

As others have suggested, enjoyment should be your first and only priority.

Time for the stopwatch in the months and years ahead.

Please post you finish time and your race impressions here.  It would be
interesting to see how the raceday atmosphere affects your performance.

Thanks for the tips, everyone.  I had a great time and finished in
24:56.  This was 1:04 better than my goal time, and I didn't even feel
it.  In fact, my first mile was 8:50, so I finished the last 2.1 miles
at 7:40 pace, if my calculations are accurate.  The adrenaline and
nervous energy really makes a person runner faster than they think.

The course was flatter than my typical running routes.  I think
training on hillier courses really made a difference.  The first mile
of the 5k was a gentle hill, but it was much easier than some of the
hills in my neighborhood.

I think I started too far to the back.  The first 1.5 miles I was
bobbing and weaving around slower runners and walkers.  This race was
pretty casual, so I think next year I'd be okay starting 1/3 of the
way back rather than 1/2 of the way back. I only remember one runner
passing me, and that was a strong runner who started at the back
because he had a stroller.

What took some getting used to was hearing footsteps and breathing
besides my own.  It made it sort of tough to find my breathing rhythm
until the pack thinned out a bit.  I guess I just need to learn to
focus and tune everbody else out.

Thanks again, everyone.  My wife's school has a 5k in a month, so I'm
going to watch some football and eat a hamburger today, then get back
to it!