Streford 5k Fest

This was my chance to go quick, I was hoping for a pb and to get into the 13:40s, maybe even dip under if things went really well on the night. 

After my 3000 I was full of confidence knowing I could go through in 8:07-8:10 and feel fine then it would just be a case of really working the last 5 laps. It sounds so simple when you think of it like that but it never is. 

On the night I felt good warming up, the usual aches and pains but they soon go once you get properly warmed up. I did my strides and drills to get ready for the 7:45 start. The pace was set to go to at least 4000 and then he'd see how he felt to maybe go further. 

I set off running 65's as planned for the first 3000, the pace slowed marginally over the 3rd km but this didn't bother me. I think I went through 3000 in 8:10/11 which was perfect. Moumin took up the running 200m later as the pace decided to move as his manager shouted 1 more lap at 7 laps but he then ran another lap behind me? He might as well have just carried on for the full 9 laps. It didn't matter in the end really as 4 or 600m later I began to get dropped from Moumin. For some reason I found myself starting to struggle which I didn't expect in the 4th k.

I tried to push on through it but I couldn't shift the bad patch. I think I went through with 2 1/2 laps to go just over 11 minutes and thought a 2:38 will get me 13:40. It didn't happen. I fell off the pace over the next 400m and my head went with the race. I just wanted to get round and see it out. I remember coming up to 300 to go and the Belgrave lad came past me and not reacting was probably the wrong thing to do since i'd been running so slow for the past 600m! He kicked on hard as he was chasing a pb and I just seem to cruise round the last 400 without a care in the world. 

I crossed the line in 14:02, another 14 minute run but not what I wanted so I was very disappointed. Hopefully I can bounce back in my next race.

Race video: