Ran a track 10k in 28 degree weather...Is that why I did poorly?

Are you used to running in spikes a this stage of the season?

Unfair wrote:

Are you used to running in spikes a this stage of the season?

Yeah I actually did a passable job of keeping on my mid foot/toes. I ran in Carrera XC's to avoid damage to my calves though. Felt fine there but my thighs, particularly hamstrings felt insanely tight and crampy throughout the race.

I doubt it was the cold unless you didn't warm up properly. In the past 48 hours did you do something you usually don't do that stressed your legs, like a vigorous bike ride, thorough washing a car and its wheels, heavy lifting with your legs?

Maybe you didn't run that bad, you just had too high expectations. I am more of a strenght oriented type of runner and ran a 33:40 out of a 9:20, so honestly a 34 flat doesn't sound too bad. In a better day you might be able to run a 33:30 and certainly you can improve much more in the future, but i don't see anything that alarming about your 34 flat.

I wouldn't say a 9:15 guarantees you a low 33. 5:30 may be too fast for a true tempo pace for you. 28 isn't ideal but I doubt that was the culprit.

28 degrees could have easily cost you 30 seconds. Not ideal.

Very mixed thoughts from people, I like it. I had in mind more of a time around 33:20 because that is what Daniels indicates for 9:15 and I am very much a strength guy. I do think that if I am in 33:20 shape*** the 34 was not just because of the cold. I ran practically the entire race alone (led first 2 miles then a hard move was made that I didn't go with so I was only from behind the rest of the way) This was my first track 10k as well, so I think I underestimated it. I feel as if a field with a large group to latch onto would yield better results, not to mention 45-50 degrees instead of 28.

Spaghettimonster wrote:

I do my tempos around 5:30 so something clearly went wrong as I was very tied up and tight in the legs despite feeling fine aerobically.

Sounds like how you might feel when the race is earlier in the morning and you're used to training and racing late afternoon/evening. Anyway a 10k is less forgiving if you go out too fast. If you are in mid 33' shape and you go out at sub 33' pace (especially in the cold) it's not surprising you end up running 34:00. If you started above 5:20 pace and negative split you may have run in the low 33's but it obviously wouldn't get you the time qualifier you wanted.

HardLoper wrote:

Spaghettimonster wrote:

I do my tempos around 5:30 so something clearly went wrong as I was very tied up and tight in the legs despite feeling fine aerobically.

Sounds like how you might feel when the race is earlier in the morning and you're used to training and racing late afternoon/evening. Anyway a 10k is less forgiving if you go out too fast. If you are in mid 33' shape and you go out at sub 33' pace (especially in the cold) it's not surprising you end up running 34:00. If you started above 5:20 pace and negative split you may have run in the low 33's but it obviously wouldn't get you the time qualifier you wanted.

That's a solid point. My coach wanted me to open the race in 16:15 which I knew was probably suicide pace since I was already only confident I could run 33:20 (Daniels has been pretty accurate for me in the past) So running a 5:13 to open was simply following the plan rather than running the race I should have run to get my best possible time.