I want to break 20 minutes tomorrow. What should my opening mile be?

Only weaklings have to pace themselves in a 5K

6:30

6:26/12:56

6:22/19:18

Pure Hate

Stick with eharmony wrote:

6:15?

6:20?

I usually slow down as the race goes

Thanks

If you usually slow down as the race goes on then you should go out and run your PR in the mile. You'll save the most time this way

Stick with eharmony wrote:

6:15?

6:20?

I usually slow down as the race goes

Thanks

It doesn't matter. You won't break 20.

I was trying to break 20 last year for the 1st time. What I did was go out at about 6:15. The first mile is usually the easiest bc you are excited about the race and it doesn't seem that hard for the 6:15. My 2nd mile was a little over 6:30. That gave me a few seconds to play with on the 3rd mile, and I ended up with a 19:52.

Is the first mile flat or uphill?

Even pace is the best strategy.

21:17

Not my best stuff

6:40

7:20 (uphill)

6:40

Bank time. 4:50 or so should do it:

Good time for a grade 8 girl

I also went out in 6:17 in my first sub 20 and ran 19:49. Anywhere between 6:15 and 6:25 would be a good first mile. No faster than that however. Don't go out sub 6:10 even though it will feel pretty relaxed. I went out in 6:06 when I ran a 19:59 but a week later I ran 19:29 off 6:10 so that just shows how much pacing matters.