I've been stuck for a while on my running pace, I was started to get worried I would never break a 6 minute kilometer again. I know this pace probably isn't worth righting home about and my goal is to eventually get my 5k time down to 25 mins. That would set a new personal best. When I was running a few years ago, I was usually able to fluctuate around the 5min and 30seconds/km pace and my old personal best is 5:12/km over 5 km. 

https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/07/26/istock-636342222-dfdae3ccda7619165d470f319c927a74b7e627d9-s600-c85.jpg
[Source](https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/07/26/539458731/running-and-your-heart-is-there-a-too-much)

<h1> Not me, I look more like this guy after a run!</h1> 

![IMG_5747.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZKzBEj1EvGtByj1gxJnwhTQEULNxqvoH6iD67dRFsTy1/IMG_5747.JPG)

It's a bit cold here recently.

Anyways I'm in this steem fitness contest I'm hosting and my goal is to run a 5:30min/km pace over 5km by the 4th of March, so I'm really starting to get nervous. I figured I need to change it up, so I tried running without my voice feedback, thinking that it was working against me, and sure enough that seamed to help. 

I think the next step is going to be to run with a partner. I know that competition is highly motivating for me, and it the past many of my best times were with a partner. It's amazing just how psychological running can be. It's really about pushing through the walls in your own mind.

![IMG_5763.PNG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTJRqpGhMk2KjVUqmUQftJ4BGouyMJFFL6RbT9WjWXGKd/IMG_5763.PNG)

In fact look at this my last 5km was actually my third best split time for this run. Although I was also running down hill!

![IMG_5762.PNG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRyxya6ynkuggqpNvcrU5wZpERMVUDzmkYYRqjD84tCN1/IMG_5762.PNG)

I wonder how good it would have been if I wasn't climbing up hill for most of the 15-20minute mark, that seamed to really kill the pace so I also think it may help to find a slightly different route as well to help change it up. 

The other thing I did on this run was change up the music I was listening too, generally I just listen to my country play list but this isn't really pump you kinda stuff and my wife suggested some Heavy Metal. Don't tell @crimsonclad or the rest of the full-force Thursday fans, but I don't really know much metal. (PS if you don't know it's an awesome fun, heavy metal show on MSP-Waves Radio on Thursday night.) Well actually all I knew on the top of my head was Halestorm, (mostly because she sang on Lindsey Stirling's "Shatter Me") maybe it's even super embarrassing admitting that here, but I pumped some of that while I ran, Maybe it helped too, but maybe next time I'll need something even heavier. (any suggestions)

https://www.moondancejam.com/img/bands/460/13-Halestorm.jpg
[Source](https://www.moondancejam.com/bands/2013/Halestorm.html)

Either way 5:51 is a new personal best in the last couple years, since I've taken some time away from running. I'm feeling a bit better, but also still quite worried about shaving off another 21 seconds/km or a full 2 mins and 5 seconds over the entire 5km in the 6 weeks!

<h1>This is where I ask if anyone has any other advice for pushing out that last little bit over the next 6 weeks?</h1>