I checked the website for your run and the winner finished under 16 minutes last year and faster the year before. Some people just fly.
Steve is usually waiting for me at the finish line. He says a lot of the really fast people cross the line and vomit. The shorter the run, the more people tossing at the finish. Gross huh?
My best time is 22 minutes and change for a 3.5 mile run, sub 7 minute splits. Can't maintain that for much longer than that though. My splits go to 7:30 for 10K, 8:40 for half marathon. I'm still working on running a full without injury. Shooting for Rock and Roll Arizona in January, with a finish under 3:45.
Best advice? Start somewhere in the middle of the pack. The people in front will just push you around so let them go first. Find your comfortable pace and have fun! You'll do great. Everyone I've talked into a 5K has run faster than they thought they could.
Rachel