is it harder to even or positive split?

For anyone wondering this was a fast course so the first mile being fast was not due to it being downhill.

Okay I’m a fucking idiot *flat

If "easier" means "don't think about what you're doing, just do what other people are doing, whatever," then yes, it's super easy to positive split. It's what 90% of the guys around you in any give race will do.

If "easier" means "run faster with less effort," then even splits are just what you're looking for. It requires having a realistic view of your own fitness, a sense of pace, and the discipline to hold back at the beginning and to push on miles 2 and three. It can be risky in a huge XC invitational where you won't have many opportunities to pass later in the race, but there can be a huge payoff if you do things right.

It’s really easy to positive split, so I’m going to go with even.

Even splits require great precision. Doing a positive split is easy - just keep going out too fast and it will happen automatically.

kungfustart wrote:

Even splits require great precision. Doing a positive split is easy - just keep going out too fast and it will happen automatically.

Any advice on how to positive split?

my 2c wrote:

If "easier" means "don't think about what you're doing, just do what other people are doing, whatever," then yes, it's super easy to positive split. It's what 90% of the guys around you in any give race will do.

If "easier" means "run faster with less effort," then even splits are just what you're looking for. It requires having a realistic view of your own fitness, a sense of pace, and the discipline to hold back at the beginning and to push on miles 2 and three. It can be risky in a huge XC invitational where you won't have many opportunities to pass later in the race, but there can be a huge payoff if you do things right.

Most of my meets are very big which is why I’ve been afraid to try. Should I use a watch for this? Also does 5:20 seem reasonable?

I think you mean "negative split" as in going faster as the race progresses.

I wouldn't put too much weight into split times. I know of courses where the 2 mile split is just outside of the woods (good for coaches and fans) but kids will run a 5:30 first mile and a 6:30 second mile and not lose any placement in the pack because the 2 mile should be in the woods.

My concern is what place are you in at 1 mile v. the finish line. If you go from 100th place to 50th, you are starting out too slowly. If you are going out at 50th and ending in 100th, you are going out too fast.

Nice first result.

Assume this is track and not road, so it's easy to know/adjust pace and accuracy/terrain are not factors.

5K is long enough that you don't really need to worry about boxing.

The problem with an even or positive split strategy is it requires you have a reliable assessment of your fitness that day. Most people are overly optimistic about that.

Monitor your indicator workouts and adjust expectation for your next result +_ 16:50 based on degree of improvement (or lack of it).

Your last lap will be a faster pace as sprint out with what's left, so for pace planning purposes, exclude that.

Ernest wrote:

Nice first result.

Assume this is track and not road,

Why would you assume that? Given 1) it's not track season, 2) it's cross country season, 3) the first mile is "downhill." The logical assumption is it's cross country, not track or road.

Fair points. The part about it being downhill was added in a second post, which I didn't see. Date of the 5K result isn't mentioned, but All-Comers (track) meets are common throughout the Summer. In case of XC, I'd add terrain (traction, elevation, turns etc.) and lack of accurate markers make "splits" in XC rather less meaningful. Run based on hard even effort and position.

are you serious? wrote:

Ernest wrote:

Nice first result.

Assume this is track and not road,

Why would you assume that? Given 1) it's not track season, 2) it's cross country season, 3) the first mile is "downhill." The logical assumption is it's cross country, not track or road.

If you are going to have a time goal for a mile in your race, first and foremost it should be the last one.

Say to yourself, I’m gonna run 5:20 for my last mile. Whether that’s in a 16:40 race or a 17:40 race, make that your goal.

I spent 7 years (all of HS and most of college) of my life worrying about hitting my first mile split just right. Once I learned that it’s the last mile that counts, I dropped my 5k time by almost 90 seconds in about 2 more years.

Faststarter wrote:

kungfustart wrote:

Even splits require great precision. Doing a positive split is easy - just keep going out too fast and it will happen automatically.

Any advice on how to positive split?

Go out fast.

Slow down.