I started at the front (4th/5th row), which helped to avoid slower people during the first few yards.

I started with the fast runners and my first 1/2 mile pace was very fast, which could've costed me at the end. However, I realized about the fast pace and I settled at a hard, but sustainable pace.

During the second mile I was following a faster runner as I was trying to keep a fast pace. However, I didn't realized that during the last 1/2-1/4 mile, the guy I was following started to slow down significantly. This cost me a few second, since I think I could've run a faster split for the second mile.

The third mile I run it by myself and I was pushing at a hard pace. I didn't train for this short distance nor didn't race it in a long time, so I didn't know what to expect in terms of fatigue.

At the end I sprinted to leave all I had in the field. I am not definitively a fast runner, since I couldn't move my legs faster, even though I didn't feel exhausted.

Now that I know what a 5k distance feels like, I guess I would've pushed a little harder during the 2nd mile.

But I am very happy with my result (I broke 20 min!!!), considering that I am not training for this distance. I did this race as it was a charity event for my wife's company.

Nothing. I bent down a little bit and I drank a bottle of water.


Lack of speed training. All my training is focused on long distance.


I was very surprised with this race. I thought it will be a small race, but it turned out to be a 2,000 participant race with great post-race activities (way better than in many more "fancy" triathlon races I participated in).

I wish the course had less turns, but other than that, the race was perfect. If I was a 5k runner, I will definitively do it again.