First 5k - help with race plan/goals

[Dangerscouse]

I did a 6k recently instead of a 5k and I was really happy with how it went so I thought I would post here, because why not.

Goal was 2:12 splits which is 3 seconds lower than my 5k split avg (2:15)

I averaged a 2:11.7/500m for my 6k split which means I could definitely do 2:10 or lower for a 5k, and I beat my goal, so I think the 6k went well. Did it at a 24 stroke rate

Final time 26:20, still need to drop it but for my first ever 6k it's not too bad imo. I probably could have gone harder as my HR wasn't that high, but I wasn't entirely sure how to pace a 6k. I'm going to do a 5k retest sometime in the next few weeks and see how it goes.

Thanks everyone for the help and support when I was planning my first 5ks.

Well done, and 6k is a strange distance, but it sounds like your 5k should be started at circa 2:09, especially if you weren't gasping for breath at the end of this 6k

[iain]

Great improvement. I would say that 5k is only 1-1.5S faster than 6k, although I note that you rated 2 lower, so you might have a bit of improvement from taking this back up if you kept the same stroke. Having struggled in many 5ks, I would say you always want to hit 1km to go thinking that you might have gone a bit quicker. A 5k is around maximum sustainable aerobic pace, so only slightly too fast and you crash horribly. Best of luck with the attempt.