Wednesday was the sixth and final (points-scoring) event in the 2024 Atlanta Track Club Grand Prix series: the Grand Prix Cross Country 5k. This was my first year running it in person instead of virtually.
- Official time
- 25:32
- Average pace
- 8:13 min/mi
- VDOT
- 38.6 (@ 77°F)
- Splits
- Lap 1
- 12:27
- Lap 2
- 13:06
- Ranking
-
- Overall
- 55/192
- Male
- 48/109
- Age Group (M40–44)
- 10/14
- Event Page
- 2024 Grand Prix Cross Country 5K
- Strava Activity
- ATC Grand Prix Cross Country 5k
As I’ve been slowly working myself back into running fitness, I’ve approached races with a goal pace. After several 5ks now, I felt I’ve gotten my feel for 5k race pace again and decided to start racing 5ks that way again. That was particularly good for this course. I find cross country courses to be slower and harder than road. I can’t zone out and focus on pushing through the pain. I have to keep constant focus on the terrain and my footing instead. That and the twisty turns and all the ups-and-downs contribute to a slower race.
There were no mile markers for this course. We ran two loops for the race, so that’s what I have recorded for my splits. I definitely went out too hard. Both by those splits and by Strava’s record of my mile splits, I positively split the race. I consistently slowed throughout the race, not even having enough gas for a kick at the end. I didn’t have the same feeling of being completely out gas like I did at the Winship. By focusing on effort, I just slowed down.
I’ll have to focus on going out easier at my next race.