Seasons Circuit Race (Winter Edition) - 5K - Vicente López (Buenos Aires).

Second race of the series for 2026, the winter stage. This year I didn't run the full series like last year, so my mandala medal will be incomplete (just like what happened in 2024). I signed up for the 5K, and this year there were way more runners than last year—over 1,800 for the 5K and almost 3,500 for the 10K. It was cold, but not as cold as last year (around 5°C); this time it was about 11°C. I wore shorts, a thermal shirt, and a beanie. I was one step away from taking off the thermal top and running in short sleeves, but I decided against it due to the proximity to the river and the chance of rain. The forecast called for an 89% chance of rain, but luckily the weather shifted, the clouds cleared up, and it didn't rain at all—in fact, it wasn't even cloudy anymore, and the sun even came out.

Last year I had a "problem" with the timing chip—the recorded time differed by a few minutes compared to my apps (the only time that ever happened to me). This time, however, give or take a second, they matched up (chip and apps). The official chip time was 27:15, making it perhaps my fourth or fifth fastest 5K race.

I stayed near the back of the pack at the start, as I always do, and then began running at an easy pace—even slower than "normal" due to the crowd. It went on like that for the first kilometer, but without realizing it, I kept moving forward and passing people. By the end, I finished in the top 14% (246th out of 1,856).

1. Performance and Pace

I completed the 5.12 km in 27:54 at an average pace of 05'26"/km (11.0 km/h). The race strategy was progressive: I started with a soft, warm-up first kilometer (05'54"), picked up the pace sharply in the second (05'10"), and maintained a very stable cruising speed between 05'16" and 05'25"/km for the rest of the course.
2. Biomechanical Efficiency and Environment

I maintained a notable average cadence of 169 spm with an average stride length of 1.11 meters, ensuring low joint impact and high energy efficiency. The race took place on flat terrain along the riverbank, accompanied by ideal running conditions (11.0 °C and light wind).
Conclusion

A cleanly executed 5K session: a prudent start, a decisive change of pace in the second kilometer, and a steady holding of effort around 05'20"-05'25"/km with an efficient cadence.