For new runners
It seems lately more and more people are setting a goal of finishing a 5K or running a 5K, which to me are 2 different goal that you can do together or seperately.
Finishing a 5K requires no more than the commitment to show up and do the distance running, walking or crawling. I believe that ones first 5K shouldn't be about beating a certain time, it should be about doing something you haven't done in years or never had done at all. While hitting a set time feels awesome there is a rush you will get from just finishing your first race, and probably something you will remember for your whole life. I still remember how I felt crossing my first finish line almost 12 months ago and seeing the smiles on the faces of my wife and kids.
Running a 5K to hit a specific time, which I do now can sometimes take the fun out of running a race you get so focused on the time and if you don't hit it or beat it you can sometimes get a sense of let down that it no longer is fun. I am doin my next 5K next week and this is the first 5K I am doing where I have set a time to beat, and the time I am out to beat is my time from last year 46 minutes and change. If I hit another sub 30 or set a new PR I would love that but I simply want to do better than I did at this race last year.
Make your race experiences fun and you will do more of them and maybe eventually shoot for longer distances. I remember telling a friend of mine last year that there is no way I could run the Peachtree Road Race, which is the worlds largest 10K with 60K runners. At the time I said this 5K took me 46 minutes. This past July 4th I completed the Peachtree with a time fo 63 minutes and actually placed within the top 15% or so. I have enjoyed this so much that I do at least 1 race a month and my distances are increasing. This time last year I was wondering if I could finish 3.1 miles (5K), today I am training for a half Marathon 13.1 miles and have 2 within 2 months along with some 5Ks and a 15K.
So if your thinking you could never do something like a 5K give yourself some credit just try it and have fun with it.
Here is a link to help those who want to run a 5K get started.
http://www.active.com/running/Articles/How-to-Train-for-Your -First-5K.htm
Have fun and good luck!
Finishing a 5K requires no more than the commitment to show up and do the distance running, walking or crawling. I believe that ones first 5K shouldn't be about beating a certain time, it should be about doing something you haven't done in years or never had done at all. While hitting a set time feels awesome there is a rush you will get from just finishing your first race, and probably something you will remember for your whole life. I still remember how I felt crossing my first finish line almost 12 months ago and seeing the smiles on the faces of my wife and kids.
Running a 5K to hit a specific time, which I do now can sometimes take the fun out of running a race you get so focused on the time and if you don't hit it or beat it you can sometimes get a sense of let down that it no longer is fun. I am doin my next 5K next week and this is the first 5K I am doing where I have set a time to beat, and the time I am out to beat is my time from last year 46 minutes and change. If I hit another sub 30 or set a new PR I would love that but I simply want to do better than I did at this race last year.
Make your race experiences fun and you will do more of them and maybe eventually shoot for longer distances. I remember telling a friend of mine last year that there is no way I could run the Peachtree Road Race, which is the worlds largest 10K with 60K runners. At the time I said this 5K took me 46 minutes. This past July 4th I completed the Peachtree with a time fo 63 minutes and actually placed within the top 15% or so. I have enjoyed this so much that I do at least 1 race a month and my distances are increasing. This time last year I was wondering if I could finish 3.1 miles (5K), today I am training for a half Marathon 13.1 miles and have 2 within 2 months along with some 5Ks and a 15K.
So if your thinking you could never do something like a 5K give yourself some credit just try it and have fun with it.
Here is a link to help those who want to run a 5K get started.
http://www.active.com/running/Articles/How-to-Train-for-Your -First-5K.htm
Have fun and good luck!
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Thank you so much for this post!! I am one who desperately wants to start running after I have surgery. This was very helpful!
HW 307lbs SW 299lbs Day or Surgery 297.4
Life is a journey that has just been standing still for me.. I'm ready to start LIVING!
Month 1 [-29] Month 2 [-9.5] Month 3 [-14 ] Month 4 [ ] Month 5 [ ] Month 6 [ ]
Month 7 [ ] Month 8 [ ] Month 9 [ ] Month 10 [ ] Month 11 [ ] One Year! [ ]
Thanks, Paul! I always read your posts because I want to run a 5k in the spring. I have been increasing my distance walking at a good pace (for me...3.0) and the other night I jogged for a full minute. I was so excited! I walked a couple of minutes then jogged another 30 seconds. I don't think I have jogged for a full minute since high school 20yrs ago.
Most Active
Recent Topics