Distance running question...?

Question

Why is it that I can run five miles at an 8:00 minute mile pace, but I can't do this for 3 miles. I did a practice 5K today and it took me 25:28 to do, that OVER 8:00 minute miles. Why can I do a longer distance faster than a shorter one? Did I go out too fast?

Guys---thanks so much, you don't know how much this has helped me!

Answer 1

Adrenaline control is the key to races.
I remember one 10k race where I expected to average 5:50/mile where my time for the first mile was 5:15. OK, maybe it wasn't a mile, I rationalized to myself, but at four miles a bear jumped on my back and I was doing like 6:20 for the last 2 miles. And it was painful.
I later learned that going ten seconds slower than my goal pace for the first mile had the opposite effect; your body is just plain less efficient "cold", when you start. Once you get "warm", your can push a little harder and go a lot faster. So save it up early and you'll have more juice later.

Also, when you go a little slow, you start to pass people that went out too fast. That feels good! When you go out too fast, people start passing you and that doesn't feel good. So it's better to hold up early.

If you can run on a track, keep track of each lap to see if you're going out too fast. as you change your pace to keep the pace steady, your performance should improve.

Make sure to get enough rest; a day of rest before a race is essential.

Answer 2

Mostly good answersso far.
1. Pacing is a major factor. If you didnt have someone at each mile to let you know where you are it can be tough.

2. Running alone makes it hard as well.

3. In your head. Need to get through the mental block.

4. You didnt give us your first mile, but by the way you said it, maybe you did go out too fast. Next time go by mile 1 at 7 minutes, and by 2 miles in 14:30-15 minutes (7-7:30) and then by mile 3 at 24 minutes (9-9:30). Ill bet you will finish before 24 though.
Also until you get used to the pace, run on the track or find a half mile loop so you can check your pace a little more often than just at the mile spots.

Hope this helps.
Best of Luck!!!

Answer 3

I think that maybe you are used to paceing for a 5 mile run, so you no how to run and how to pace but if your doing a 5k run and your not used to it you probably dont know how to pace for it and you either went out too fast like you said and wore your self out or you just arnt used to it so you didnt know when to speed up and when to slow down, i suggest you run a 5k more often and once your comfortable with the distance you will probably be used to the 3.1 miles and you will be able to pace yourself better and you should be able to average probably about a 7:45 mile. Also remember that their is an exter .1 mile at the end of a 5k so that will add about another minute so when you did your 5k in 25:28 you averaged a 8:09 mile so thats not that far off your 8:00 mile range but since the distance is shorter you should be able to average a faster mile. Just practice and you will get thier.
hope this helps

Answer 4

It's all a matter of pacing- a 5 mile race and a 3 mile race are two different animals, and they have to be paced differently. You've got the pacing down for a 5-mile (you're about the same as me), and I was able to do a 21:48 5k with practice. I'm sure you'll be able to do the same with practice as well- just keep running 5k's and it'll come to you. So from one trackie to another, good luck!

Answer 5

I think you answered your own question, you start out too fast for the 5k, probably because it's a shorter race. I often finish a long run much faster than I start because it just takes my body that long to warm up and get into a "rhythm". A nice warm up before a race does help with this, at least a mile or so.

Answer 6

Im not really sure when it comes to more attractive when comparing the two, but usually a sprinter is really big and ripped and a distance runner is lean and cut up. Personally i think distance running is more fun than sprinting cause it really takes some heart to do it and sprinting is more physical then mental where as distance running is almost full mental ability rather than physical. One should probably pick distance running cause i myself do it and from my experience its the best thing that has happened to me. In distance running it is usually not that hard to improve your times unless they are already really good.

Answer 7

Lots of reasons.

1. You didn't have your splits memorized, so you had no idea where you were nor whether your time was where it should be.

2. You may have been running under different weather conditions. In South Texas, the humidity and temperature can make all the difference in a good run/bad run.

3. Yes, possibly you did go out too fast.

Good Luck

Answer 8

Yes id say