Race For Life 5K

nekoface

So, I just signed up to do the Race For Life 5K in Hyde Park. I'm following C25K.

Is anyone else doing Race for Life this year?

scb515

Ooh, a local! Hello! Not doing Race for Life, but I'm doing a 5K at the end of this month near St. Pauls. Did the JP Morgan (5.6K) and Run the River (5K) last year. I still don't consider myself a runner, I'm always surprised to make it to the end of a run and not be dead.

How's C25K working out for you so far?

x

nekoface

Ooh. Run the River looks fun - is it along the Thames Path?

I'm only on week 1, but I've been randomly jogging for a while for about 20-30 min with no fixed plan. I'm following C25K to give myself some structure and a clear end goal. It's definitely teaching me to pace myself. Week 1 feels pretty relaxed, but I guess it'll ramp up in intensity as I go through the weeks. I picked the Hyde Park run to give myself a good while to practice and get a decent time.

scb515

One big loop around the Thames - down Tower Bridge, past the Tower, past the Shard and back to the Scoop. It's not a "closed race", so you end up running through crowds of confused tourists and commuters. I prefer running on concrete (such a city girl), so I really liked the route.

I must admit, I didn't start running using any kind of structured programme (C25K sounds far more sensible), just bought a pair of running shoes and off I went. I think for your first 5K, the important thing to focus on is finishing - whatever time you get will be your PB, and you can then work on beating that next time.

x

nekoface

I prefer running on concrete too and I like walking around the Thames. That actually sounds like a fun route to do just casually and I might try it out one lunchtime soon. If my first 5K goes well, I might do Run the River next year!

Forest91

Hi everybody yesterday I signed up to do the race for life in Crystal Palace and of course it is going to be my first 5K race.

Becky_charles29

I'm not this year but have done the 5k and a 10k one before and they are good fun - although my 10k was in 31 degree heat!

I love running the Thames - I do it as part of my commute. Up past London Eye, across Westminster Bridge and back down towards the Tower along the North Bank is my fave route

nekoface

Forest91: That's great. Good luck! The Crystal Palace one is too soon for me.

Becky_charles: I've been meaning to do this! Every time I walk across London Bridge during rush hour I think about running the opposite way...through the suits and along the river.

rainbow1974

I'm just starting the C25K plan (day 1, wk 1 last night) I'm doing the Cardiff one with my daughter (13) as my dad has had oral cancer twice and we are lucky to still have him. I was very surprised that I could actually run for a full minute - I know it was on a treadmill, but still, it's a start...............