There may be only be 5000 metres between them, but experienced runner James Barker says there's a world of difference between training for a five-kilometre race and a 10-kilometre race.
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"There's a bit more speed work involved in training for the five kilometre," Mr Barker said.
"Instead of doing long distances, you might do lots of one-kilometre efforts with more intensity and slightly longer breaks. With long runs, it all stays the same."
After many years of placing in the 10-kilometre event in The Canberra Times Fun Run, the Canberran is setting his sights on the five-kilometre run.
This year's event on Sunday will mark a return to the fun run for Mr Barker after a hiatus from running due to injury.
The 42-year-old said while he may not be able to run as far as he used to, he was hoping for a competitive time for his "last hurrah".
"If there's good conditions I would like to get under 15 minutes. I'm going into the event with that goal in mind," Mr Barker said.
This year will be Mr Barker's sixth Canberra Times Fun Run and he's placed competitively in his past five attempts.
His best results have seen him place second, third and fourth, but said he was aiming to go one better in the shorter distance this year.
"In 2002, I got third place with a time of 29.55," he said,
"I came 13th one year when I was just jogging it, but I've never been on top of the podium."
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A keen runner since he was seven years old, Mr Barker took several years off from his favourite sport due to multiple injuries.
However, Mr Barker is back at it again, focusing on shorter distances.
"I used to do around 150 kilometres a week in training, now I'm doing around half of that," he said.
"A change in technical coaching got me to understand my body a bit better and to reduce the injury strain on my body."
Now training five or six times a week, Mr Barker said he was ready to go for Sunday's event.
While he said he was looking to get a good time, he said there were many strong contenders in Canberra's running community who would give him a run for his money.
"Canberra's got a very strong running community, and some of the young blokes are very hard to beat," Mr Barker said.
- The Canberra Times Fun Run is on Sunday, November 10. Entries are still open for the two, five and 10-kilometre events, with staggered starts.
- Online registrations have closed, but race weekend registrations will be open from 12-4pm, Saturday and from 6.30am, Sunday at Rond Terrace.
- For more information visit canberratimesfunrun.com.au
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
