Fulfords 5

Having never raced a 5-miler before, I did my first one yesterday.  I was using my 5K PB from Wednesday as the pace target and I pretty much nailed it today as I got 34:03 - McMillan suggested 34:09 from my 5K time.  I did have a "Garmin malfunction" due to human error though.  At the start line I must have missed the start button as I noticed after about half a mile that the time was still on 0.  I could still see my pace though, and I pressed the start button at the 1 mile marker so my Garmin only shows 4 miles.  However, the results have been published and I got 34:03 so I'm pleased.  The splits for those 4 miles are below, and the profile for the whole 5 miles, so not quite as flat I had hoped.

Splits 2-5:  6:48, 6:49, 7:07, 6:34 = 27:30.  So my first mile must have been 06:33

In summary then, I got a pretty big PB on Wednesday at a 5K where my average pace was 6:38min/mile and quite a strong run out yesterday where the average pace was about 6:48.  So, I've got to be pleased with this, and I am hoping that I am on target to get under that 1:40 half target that I've set myself.  The predictors show I should do this comfortably, but I don't want to be greedy!  1:39:59 will be fine with me!

This week it will be lots of very easy miles, and then an easier week the week after to prepare for my first Half of the year.  I was tempted to do a cross country race next weekend, but I've decided that I won't do that as I don't want to risk injury before my first "A-race" of the year.

I have picked up a slight back issue as my lower back feels quite tight.  I'm really wary of my back after having issues in the past, which is another reason for the easy mileage.  I am not sure if the two short races so close together have contributed but I need to be careful with that.