The last time I ran 10 kilometers was five years ago. Although I have been intermittently sticking to 5 kilometers, with age, my pace and other metrics have lost the ability to recover to what they once were. In fact, two years ago, my average monthly running distance dropped to 2 kilometers, and I thought I might never be able to run that far again...
This time, compared to the past, my physical condition is not advantageous. What has changed is my mindset and strategy: in the past, I always calculated how far the finish line was, but this time I focused more on the step in front of me and adjusted my breathing in the moment.
P.S. I registered for this month's K marathon and am waiting for the lottery.