Learnings of a 10KM race…
Here’s a breakdown accompanied by my thoughts and learnings from my 10KM race debut at the Big Series 10. Finish time: 36:38.
PRE RACE
I felt relaxed. No stomach distress, no heightened heart rate. Legs (hamstrings) felt heavier than normal off some accumulated fatigue in the build up.
Warm up: Felt heavy legged, but I knew it was my mind telling me I’m carrying fatigue. Coping mechanism incase of a failed race? Perhaps. After-all, it was the first time racing the distance - and all I had been hearing was how horrible the 10KM distance was.
RACE
Lined up, clashed knuckles with fellow racers and kept my eyes peeled on the 37 minute pacer, Niels - a highly experienced veteran runner. He stood 5 or so meters ahead, but his tall frame allowed me to keep sight of him and hunt him down once the gun went off.
Seconds later… BOOM! The gun goes off and the sound sends a rippling sensation through my now sensitive eardrums.
A collection of watch time activation amasses around me and we set off. My initial thought - ‘chase the long slender frame in red and hold in the pack for at least 6km.’ A reminder pre-race from coach, Cal. Jostling ensues, and the pace groups on the heat begin to form around 150m in. I recall Declan saying ‘stay on the inside of the bends’ before the race. And so, that was my second priority. Stayed on the inside, and within the first turn, I get clipped by a lanky Dutchman’s stride. I hold my self up and press and decide it’s personal, thinking to myself ‘right, if anything, I’m beating you’. We move on, the effort feels controlled but I make a glance to my watch as I march in the pack. 3’33/km my watch reads - panic sets in! Am I gonna blow?
I call out to Hung - “Hung, wtf is your watch reading?”. “3’25’’, he replies!”… right before Niels interrupts loudly from the front “YOUR GPS IS INACCURATE, if you wanna run sub 37 you stick with me!” … Re-affirmed, I ignore my watch and run to the pacer and effort. Game changer. I set in and I am feeling very comfortable. 5KM passes and I’m in a flow-state - controlled breathing, relaxed stride. 7KM arrived quick and I’m noticing the pacer press a bit and some of the pack, I don’t bite. I stay put and let them pull away knowing they’ll pay for their early greed.
Every now and then I make a strong 20m surge to let them know I’m still there. Thanks to Deccy’s advice. 8KM sets in and I start to feel a bit tired in the legs, but aerobically sound. For a split second I considered a DNF but told myself “don’t DNF, even if you slow down here you’ll finish a strong time.” And so, I listen to my inner monologue and make another few surges, and begin overtaking multiple people, knowing there’s about 1-1.5KM left to the finish.
From there, I remind myself to drive with the arms and stay controlled. 600m - pacer pulls back to push on the few racers who are within the goal time - he sees me and runs beside me. I say “Thank you Niels”, and drop the hammer to overtake one more and chase to the finish line on what had appeared to be a perfectly executed 10k race.
LEARNINGS
• The 10KM is an exercise in discipline. Patience first, aggression later.
• Surges are powerful. They shake others, but more importantly, they build confidence in yourself.
• Never DNF.
Moayed Atlas
Endurance fanatic
Peak Performance Endurance Athlete
