One of my coaching clients, Alison, ran a 10K last night and finished with a negative split. That means she ran the second half faster than the first. It sounds simple, but it takes real discipline. It’s very easy to get carried away at the start of a race when you feel fresh, everyone around you is moving quickly, and your target pace feels comfortable. The problem normally arrives later. Starting too fast can turn the final few kilometres into survival mode. You slow down, lose confidence, and finish knowing you didn’t get the best from yourself. Alison did the opposite. She controlled the early stages, trusted her pacing and still had enough left to get faster during the second half. That’s intelligent racing. A negative split isn’t only about fitness. It shows patience, confidence, and the ability to stick to a plan when it would be easy to get carried away. Brilliant work, Alison. 👏 When you race, which usually sounds more like you? A) Controlled start and strong finish B) Fast start and hold on for dear life Be honest! 😂