For your first ever 10k that's a great goal ("just" getting round).

For your second you'll probably be looking at some kind of time goal, a lot of people go for sub-1hr (so about 9:40 miles) which is a great intermediate target - but first things first, just get round the f**ker.

It's *fine* to walk a bit on your way round if you need to.

Most common mistake I see in "mass races" is starting too quick. People get all worked up, the adrenaline is pumping, you're fit enough to run (in this instance) 10k so the first 2-3k should and does feel "easy", so people push the pace too much and then really, really pay for it later on.

No world record in any event longer than 200m or so has ever been run other than by doing a "negative split" - running the later portions of the race faster than the earlier portions. Most people in a mass race though will start faster and finish slower. This is very understandable but it's a mistake.

Posted By: Old Man, Jan 23, 14:45:18