Last Thursday evening I raced 5000 metres on the track. Finished 9th out of the 10 who ran 5k. The race was combined with a 3000, so us long-distance nuts continued on for 5 more laps. Crazy people! Time was 21:50.7. Sort of OK with that, as it was a season's best and my fastest 5k since November 2008.
I felt tired warming up, so decided to practise running as evenly as possible. I didn't want to hit the wall in the 4th kilo due to an early attack of the 'Steve Prefontaines' (I was going to say 'Scott Browns', but Scott is now the master of even-paced running). My tactic was successful, but perhaps detrimental to a faster final time. After the first 200 metres, I detached myself from the runners ahead (Jim, Bronwyn, Thea and Janene) as I felt they were running too fast. I ran the next 8 laps about 30 metres behind this group. In still conditions this would have been fine, but there was a noticeable headwind in the home straight. Nobody to draft behind — not that I like doing that, but I'd have been happy to share the work into the wind. My km splits were 4:22, 4:19, 4:21, 4:27 and 4:21.
I said in my last blog post that I'd start trying longer Saturday runs to see if I might enjoy training for a marathon. Bugger that! Something is whispering to me, so I'm listening. I'm excited — just haven't decided which marathon to target. Greg reckons my 5k on Thursday is worth 3:32:51 for the marathon. What would he know?! I've never been the best at converting 5k times, but if I follow a good training plan I know there's room for improvement!
I felt tired warming up, so decided to practise running as evenly as possible. I didn't want to hit the wall in the 4th kilo due to an early attack of the 'Steve Prefontaines' (I was going to say 'Scott Browns', but Scott is now the master of even-paced running). My tactic was successful, but perhaps detrimental to a faster final time. After the first 200 metres, I detached myself from the runners ahead (Jim, Bronwyn, Thea and Janene) as I felt they were running too fast. I ran the next 8 laps about 30 metres behind this group. In still conditions this would have been fine, but there was a noticeable headwind in the home straight. Nobody to draft behind — not that I like doing that, but I'd have been happy to share the work into the wind. My km splits were 4:22, 4:19, 4:21, 4:27 and 4:21.
I said in my last blog post that I'd start trying longer Saturday runs to see if I might enjoy training for a marathon. Bugger that! Something is whispering to me, so I'm listening. I'm excited — just haven't decided which marathon to target. Greg reckons my 5k on Thursday is worth 3:32:51 for the marathon. What would he know?! I've never been the best at converting 5k times, but if I follow a good training plan I know there's room for improvement!
34 comments:
What if there's a wind blowing? You might only run 3:32:52?
So what training plan will you follow? It is exciting deciding which marathon to run when there seems such a very small possibility that Canberra will go ahead. Christchurch is nice and flat! Well done on an excellent 5000m.
I can sympathise with you on your 5k race. The wind has been gusting up at the worst times lately and I always find myself running at a pace that is foreign to most leaving me in no mans land aswell.
Good luck trying to decide on a marathon, and who knows I might see you at Melbourne.
yep can well imagine you enjoying a mara
Good splits. Perfect, I would say.
anyway "9th out of 10" doesn't tell the full story, it's a good time.
Christchurch sounds great. Can you get us there Strewth? Tickets in hand would help.
No complains on Season's Best or fastest 5K since 2008! Congratulations! All your racing is paying off, great job. And I'm loving the whispers you're hearing, can't wait to see what they finally decide on.
I hate wind. Seriously. Its very annoying to run into a strong one. Marathon her eyou come , eh? Will you do it with someone else or alone?
excellent run! you probably would have beaten me at the moment by at least a minute I reckon, probably being a bit more PRE-ish at the startand maybe staying with that bunch for a little longer, and a better kick home would have seen you around the 21.30 or better mark, but thats an excellent run for sure!
Im thinking about maybe doing a track race at the Australian Masters at the new $73 million AK reserve track here in Perth in April, entries close 5th March, and you have to be a member of a Masters club.
Have to use the wiunds to your advantage...drafting can be handy.
Christchurch sounds good, maybe Perth,Melbourne, Gold Coast, Townsville, Great Ocean Road, Seoul, Japan, USA whatever suits the budget and time constraints. All the best with ramping up the distance, having a better base in place will probably help your 10k to Half times too...
I can hear the siren call of the marathon all the way from here. Nothing like the slow burn of it! Nice effort on the 5k.
Well done with the 5K. Keeping in contact with the group might have made it a bit easier, but it is not easy to make the right call when you feel the group is going a bit too fast. Pre would probably have tried to crush the spirit of group. In general that is only a good tactic for the extremely strong minded, and rarely leads to really good times though it sometimes wins races.
I am pleased to hear that the whispers are gaining strength You usually cope pretty well with high volume training so it makes sense to have a serious crack at the marathon again.
Congrats on the 5k. I like how you focused on even splitting the race, and it worked! That's a hard thing to do. I look forward to reading about your marathon decision.
We are quite possibly living opposite lives here in that I may leave marathon training for a spot to take a crack at the track this summer since the National Masters Championships are in my town this summer. Go figure.
That's sounding more decisive ;-). Bring on the marathon. Christchurch or Melbourne would both be great options, but yeah so many choices .....
It's better than my SB! or my PB for that matter, because right now my SB is my PB
Following me?!
Only 10 on the track, probably preferable to the 61 we had last Thursday!
Didn't make the 5000 last Thursday, but will be there for the one hour this week. How about you ? If that is too long, just run around for 60 minutes and then quit.
The marathon converter is right as long as your body conforms to the formula used - mine never does, and adding between 5 and 10 minutes to the calculated time usually gives you my real time.
I ran a 4 miler a few weeks ago and stayed with the front runners, hanging on for dear life, even though I felt they were running too fast. The tactic paid off later in the race but boy was it painful!
Good one Ewen. Faster, faster.
Way to go Ewen! Good job on the 5k. The best part of a marathon is the training for it.
Your turning back the clock of father time, so you should be pretty dam pleased with yourself Ewen.
Keep doing what your doing :]
I think that was a good 5k race plan well executed.
You have got to love those whispers in the head. Marathon here you come. Wooohooo!
Ewen, 21:50:7 is good. Yup. You'd beat me and really that's all that matters.
(I had written this really long comment and blogger ate it. So if it appears somewhere, just know I'm not insane. Well, I am - so just pretend I'm not.)
On the other hand Runner Susan, Ewen is quoted as saying after the 5k: "No shame in being beaten by a good woman". Just between you and me, this could be a starting point for negotiations between you & Ewen.
nice job on the splits ewan. Last time i tried a 5k at the track the splits were a slow degradation which mimicked the pain. It definitely shows that not running with the group was a good decision.
Now wait for a day with better conditions and a bit more training under your belt and you'll have yet another PR :P
The marathon is a beast, considering your track training now, a half might be better suited for you. Enjoy that little curveball :)
Speedygeoff, I'd be OK with 3:32:52 ;)
Strewth, most likely the Hal Higdon Advanced 11, but moving the long run to Saturday.
Shane, I'll probably be in Melbourne anyway, even if I run an earlier marathon.
Jojo, only as much as you enjoy a 1500 metre race ;)
Bob, thanks. I'd like to run that evenly in the 10,000.
Speedygeoff, If Strewth buys the tickets I'll be there ;)
Flo, your encouragement and fast racing is an inspiration.
Chad, I'll probably travel with someone else, but will run my own race. Too much pressure running with a friend.
Jonathon, I would have liked to have gone out a tad quicker, AND had something for the last 600m - don't have the leg-speed to kick like you can.
Mike, thanks. 5 years is a slow burn for sure!
Canute, good observations. If I'd rested for that race I might have been more aggressive. The training should be OK - it's the race I'm worried about!
Jaymee, that's exciting! You should have a crack at the track - you'll do well. Shouldn't harm your marathon aspirations.
Janene, I've signed up for a night course at Woden TAFE: 'Decisiveness 101'.
Em, it's great to have an SB as a PB - you're racing better than ever. 61 on the track would be a nightmare!
Steve, maybe you wouldn't have lapped me this time ;) I'll lap-count and enjoy watching you suffer.
Thomas, you're right. I had to add 20 minutes in the old days. Adding 5-10 would be a dream.
Flake, thanks!
Andrew, I agree. And you're the expert at training for marathons ;)
Rick I am pleased - just have to keep on building!
Robert Song, even if I run one earlier, might see you in Melbourne if the whispers are strong enough.
Susan, you beat me in the comedy stakes - and you're not insane (I think).
Speedygeoff, Susan could beat me anytime... if the race was 400 metres.
Ron, thanks. Running evenly is usually the best tactic, but damn difficult!
Sorry mate just catching up. Test week and I've been busier than a one armed taxi driver with crabs.
I reckon that 5K time is pretty good and if it works out to around a 3:30 marathon at this stage then I think you'd be excited about the prospects for a marathon run in the future.
What does Strewth mean when she says this in the comments: "there seems such a very small possibility that Canberra will go ahead"
Are they cancelling Canberra's marathon?
That seems odd having a 3000 and 5000 taking place simultaneously. It would make it tough to pace yourself appropriately. But, it looks like you did -- Nice even splits.
Happy to hear you're thinking about the marathon.
There's a very small chance of the scheduled Canberra Marathon going ahead but the organisers are not saying so and are happy to continue taking entry money. And they offered early discount entry for the first time, which Ruth happily paid. Hence her concern
Robert, they do that so the meet doesn't drag on into the night. There would have been 20+ running the 3000, so 30+ on the track at the start, which is OK. If someone suddenly speeds up when there's "6" laps to go, you know they're running 3k ;)
Scott, you could always cut back on the 30k a day training and you might have time for the crabs. To expand on what Speedygeoff said, the "ownership" of the Canberra Marathon is in dispute -- there's a court case between the club and the race directors. Moral of the story is always enter, buy merchandise and make travel plans at the last minute -- unless the race is Six Foot, then enter at the first minute!
You run a fast 5km and faster than my!.
So you can do the marathon in 3:30!.
But i think you run < 3:40.
Thnaks to viset my blog and i can run and make a movie of the Newyork marathon!.
Rinus.
www.rinusrunning.nl
Nice race - time wise, in a strongish field by the looks of it. I dont blame you for doubting whether you want to train for a marathon right now - looks like you've got it pretty hot over there right now!
Thanks for the spam tip - never realised I was so popular!
If I only had one marathon it would be Gold Coast and 3:30 is a great target. Good preparation and lock in that time.
So I'm slow. I just post on the prior post and then moments after doing so I see you've decided to go for the marathon. That should be a good experience.
And nice job on the 5000. Particularly with the wind.
Rinus, thanks - I like your positive attitude! I'm looking forward to your movie of the New York Marathon.
Bruce, yes it's hot - 38 yesterday was a killer. For a while I thought you were the most popular blogger in all NZ.
Toasty, my only problem with Gold Coast is hitting a possible warm day. I'm crap in hot weather.
Joe, running 2:40-something, I wouldn't call you slow ;) I can get my head around a 5000, but the marathon has me worried.
Congrats on the 5k! Very impressive time. I haven't raced a 5k since November 2007 and am interested to see if I could run anywhere close to that time. I might run one on Feb 13th so we'll see! I'd be VERY pleased to run your 5k time, as I've never broken 22:00. Well done Ewen!! :)
Post a Comment