Absolutely.
Thats what the long aerobic training is for.

Speed was much more important for 5K's.
I would make sure I had a good base.
No problem with carbs. Just had to do
more speedwork to raise that anaerobic
threshold level.

400 and 800 repeats.
Sometimes mile repeats.

To run a good 5K I had to be on the verge
of going anaerobic. It was quite interesting
to play on that border line of pain.

I ran very hard. Too hard. Probably got
some joints on the verge of failure due
to too much hard surface running. If I had
to do it all over, would train much more on
trails, soft stuff. Fewer steep hills and less long runs
on the asphalt streets.

Fun to talk running with someone who has done it.
Unfortunately I dont anymore. Back and knees.
Running was the best sort of mental exercise
I have ever done. I might try to get on some
fancy machine that takes the pounding away.
But it is not the same as a good long run out
and back through new territory. Absolutely refreshing.