Louth runner Niall Fergus shares his experience of racing in Fitzer's 5k

Fitzer's 5km, what a race!!! Got a great time of 17.23 minutes - I have not ran that fast in three years so I was delighted!!

I finished 13th so very happy with that too. Very happy with the result overall.

Coming into the Fitzer's 5k race I was confident.

10 days beforehand; I ran one of the fastest races in the world, the Armagh 3km, and I managed to dip under 10 minutes; I got 9.57minutes. That is basically running every kilometre in appropriately 3.20 minutes.

The Armagh race gave me confidence but it also told me I had to run well in the Fitzer's 5k. The pressure was on!!!

So I arrived early for the race, maybe a bit too early. But anyhow, I think it's always good to arrive early and take in the atmosphere.

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First thing I noticed was the finish line had moved position. It was a good move, from the finish line moving the start line had also moved. After 11 years they made a great decision.

I arrived at 9.55am and the race started at 11am.

My team mates from North East Runners said it was too early to start warming up. So I chatted to them about conditions wind and what good athletes would turn up.

Then we started to do a few kilometres. We did 3km, then it was near time to go, so I striped off, just into shorts and vest.

I had my sunglasses on too which was unusual. Back six years ago I was flying doing sub 17 minutes in every race and I wore sunglasses, so I really felt I was coming back to my old ways wearing sun glasses and getting quick times. I always said that when I wore sunglasses that I was in the zone.

Then once ready I headed for the start line; everyone had to get accustomed to the new start line.

It took five minutes or more to get everyone in position on the new start line. Peter Fitzpatrick he is a funny man. Normally there would be a shout from race organiser "two minutes to start time" then they would count down from 10 to 0 and go, but he just said "Ready steady go!!!" So we took off.

I didn't want to go super fast or super slow; basically maintain the same pace for the whole race.
I was looking for 3.25 minutes as a marker and I got 3.26 minutes for 1km. Kilometre one felt grand, pretty easy, it's kilometre two,three and four that are the tough - kilometres one and five normally are grand.

While running kilometres four and five you are usually saying to yourself 'well I'm nearly there the pain will be over in three minutes'.

Kilometre two was again 3.26 minutes, the exact same time and the first kilometre.

Then three and four was a bit slower at was 3.34 minutes and 3.35 minutes. Then I did a good quick kilometre for the last one, which was 3.21 minutes.

So overall I got 17.23 minutes, which I was very happy about- I was looking for under 17.30 minutes.

My last 5k was the Dromiskin 5k and I got 17.43 minutes, so to get 20 seconds quicker was great, I was very happy!

Next race looks to be the Dundalk half marathon the end of March and I can't wait!!!

Anyone looking for training advice or Couch to 5k training give me a shout on 0861542192.