The sub-20 minute 5k run thread?

KingstonGraham · Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 7555

Try doing the first km 15 seconds faster, and see how well you can hang on. It hurts a bit, but you might go quicker. You might not.
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iwaters · Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Posts: 387

Looking to get back on this target. My fitness slipped over Xmas and I put weight back on. Getting back into the swing of things now. Interestingly last year I did 22:53 weighing 15 stone. Couple of weeks ago I did 22:52 weighing 16.

I'm trying to shed what I put on over the winter and then hopefully a bit more. I think if I can keep the fitness up and lose another couple of stone I should be pretty close to the 20 min mark.

I don't have any 5K races or TTs in my plan now for a while as it is nearing race season so it might be towards the end of the season I find out.

Also hoping to go sub 5:30 on my swim 400m towards the end of year too.

Jgav · Joined: 06 Dec 2016 Posts: 251

Went out and ran 4.5km this lunch time at an average of 4.30min/km, more importantly my average HR was 148 which is much lower than it used to be when running this course. My threshold HR is about 175bpm. The other positive was that it was negative splits, so the paces towards the end were closing in on my target 5km race pace.

All looking good for my next 5km test on Monday. Let's see if I can get closer to that 20 minute mark.

Adcoulter1 · Joined: 31 Mar 2017 Posts: 9

Thanks all. KingstonGraham I took your advice and managed to get a number of PB's. 4:00 1 k, 6:33 1 mile and 20:26 5k! I found that starting off quicker led me to try and maintain the faster pace rather than reverting to my slower normal pace. There is obv a very thin line to tred with maintaining the pace vs not blowing out too soon. Have a Parkrun this Saturday on a flatter course than my usual route, so hoping to creep closer to the 20:00 min mark!

KingstonGraham · Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 7555

Jgav · Joined: 06 Dec 2016 Posts: 251

Did another good session today of 800m/400m reps (4 sets) at 3.10m and 1.30m.

Been out doing some longer runs than my normal stuff i.e. 6 and 9 mile runs last week. Feel like I'm getting closer to that 20min goal.

smitters · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 8:56 am Post subject:

Continuing my theme of a-grade lurking, I shall pop in to say I have done absolutely no specific 5km training, instead preparing myself for a solo 24 hour race in July by doing long slow running, including a 12 week MAF block with an hr limit of 139, then chucking in a weekly steady state run midweek from late Feb. I usually push my boy round parkrun in a buggy, in a respectable enough time of ~24 mins, given it's a grassy course, four laps and has plenty of corners, so imagine my delight when I went out for my first ever flat out parkrun effort and nicked a parkrun pb of 20.39. The game is truly on for 2017, once I get my A race out of the way.
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Jgav · Joined: 06 Dec 2016 Posts: 251

smitters · Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 9:00 am Post subject:

Jgav · Joined: 06 Dec 2016 Posts: 251

Another attempt at a 5km PB last night. Set off on the normal route to find the path completely blocked, so had to run up stairs cross 3 roads and add 150m on to the total distance grrrr.

Completed in 5 seconds faster than normal, so pretty decent speed but I just can't compare to last time. Could be as much as a minute to 90 seconds quicker overall.

blindcider · Joined: 12 Sep 2013 Posts: 248

Haven't really been specifically training for 5k but my times have consistently dropped to between 21:05 and 21:40 this year.

I then did a 20:45 last week in a flat out and back two days after a tough 4 mile trail race so whilst that last 46 seconds to break 20:00 is still a hefty chunk it now feels achievable if I properly target and train for it.

I have a 24hr race coming up in a month though so can't focus on it yet Mad

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SGreg · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 938 Location: High Peak

Ok I have 3 weeks off my IM Wales training plan so perfect time to get this monkey off my back.

I have 3 <21 park runs and I'm pretty sure I have a sub 20 in me, Its just a case of putting it all together.

My problem is pacing I just always always always go out too fast. The Park run event I do starts on a big grassy down hill, and its almost impossible to not get off to a very hard start. The Stava segment is even called "you've gone off too fast" Laughing

So I guess my first task is learning to Settle quickly, Last time out it didn't feel overly hard however the first mile was all Sub 6 mm. Way too fast and I just couldn't hold it. So going by feel isn't enough.

gingerbongo · Joined: 21 Sep 2012 Posts: 1443 Location: Devon

Buzz_ · Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 283

SGreg · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 938 Location: High Peak

I'm pretty sure a different Parkrun will bring a sub 20. But to me that's not the point its about progress, once I have gone sub20 for MY Parkrun I can start looking for the faster courses. But at this stage it will feel like cheating.

As for finding an unofficial pacer yeah that was going to be my strategy. My rather aging Garmin (305) doesn't have quite give the necessary feedback, especially under trees and such.

Last time Out I noticed a girl runner was up near the front and when the horn went, she was like me off like a bullet, about 500m in she suddenly slowed drastically, I obviously dropped her, to try and hang on to the fast group. The thought went through my head she probably knew what she was doing and maybe I should match her pace. but as I said, at this stage it really didn't FEEL hard.

Mile 2ish as my body was failing and my run falling a part, she predictably came sailing past, and yes checking the results she was sub20. So clearly this theory is sound.

Think I will find another runner to stalk as intentionally stalking a young woman round the course may be a bit ...creepy Laughing