text: You can check out www.runnersworld.com for other info, they have advice from some current and former running stars that might help. I'm not sure if you're asking about racing or completing the 3-5k. If you want to complete the 3-5k then I'd suggest start slow and gradually increase your pace over the duration. \nIf you're trying to race it then ...I ran crosscountry and track in college in the US and my tactic for the longer races (3km,5km and CC) was to hang with the leaders of the race as long as I could. Over time, and with specific training, I was able to keep up with the leaders and be competitive. My opinion is that trying to hang back in the early going and sprinting at the end was a bad tactic, because I was so far back I was never going to catch the leaders. Go out fast with the leaders..if you sense the pace is going too fast for you then begin to settle into the pace you can handle (but remember, the winner is the person who can handle the pain for the longest, so your handling pace should still have you in some mild discomfort). Always look ahead and see if you can pick off the runner ahead of you. Some of this depends on your goals - do you want to win, do you want a fast time, are you training enough etc. Anyway, hope this helped.