How do I know I'm ready for an outdoor 5k run?

dancing_daisy

I had to give up my gym membership for a few months due to expense

Over a year I built my indoor running up from only doing 5-6 minutes jogging to doing 5k in 30 minutes on a rough terrain program. Now I'd like to join a free outdoor 5k at my local park but I've done little to no exercise in the last month and I've never done an outside run.

How do I know if I'm ready to do this 5k park run? Will my time in the gym plus the recent break be sufficient preparation?

EDIT: I would do 5k in the gym 2 - 3 times in the last few months.

tinkerbellang83

Go for a test run on your own?

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

Just do it!

Take it slow, don't run for a time and just enjoy it.

MeanderingMammal

If it's a Parkrun just go along. If you need to walk, then do that. It's a low pressure event, just don't forget your barcode.

The tailrunner will stay with you if you need that.

girlinahat

presumably there's no time limit on the outdoor 5k?

just go for it. Personally I find I'm slightly faster outside (maybe because I'm less bored) and I would every single time take the outside run over the treadmill run. It's much more satisfying and probably better for your body.

go for it. Go slow, enjoy the run, then do it again the next week.

dancing_daisy

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I've signed up and got my barcode at the ready. Thank you for the much needed encouragement.

TavistockToad

just do it... walking is completely acceptable if you need to.

Pamshebamm181

Just do it. Take it slow, walk if you have to.
I'm sure there will be plenty of other walkers, including people who walk the whole thing.
Don't be intimidated.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I like to sign up for one every couple of months for encouragement.

MeanderingMammal

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

I like to sign up for one every couple of months for encouragement.

Parkrun is something that happens every Saturday morning. Personally I treat it either a benchmarking exercise or as the middle part of a long run. I live about 6 km from my local one so I get a decent 17Km session from running out and back, or adding a longer loop out afterwards to get up to 26km.

I generally don't if I'm doing longer than that though.

The big advantage is, it doesn't cost anything.

JeromeBarry1

I thought of suggesting that you are ready for an outdoor 5k run if the sun rose in the morning, but then I remembered I did my first 5k in a nighttime run, so the sun had set. I weighed over 300 lb and was completely out of condition. So, you're ready.

MeanderingMammal

dancing_daisy wrote: »

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I've signed up and got my barcode at the ready. Thank you for the much needed encouragement.

Fwiw the Parkrun that I usually go to is a double loop of 2.5K each and most people are really encouraging. The key is not to go out too fast and burn yourself out.

I'll generally pick someone that seems to be going about my pace and stick with them, as a way to manage my pace. There's some satisfaction in then reeling them in on the final 400 metres when you pick up the pace.

I'd suggest a couple of times in the real world though, is somewhat different to the dreadmill.

Sunshine_And_Sand

Just get out there and run it. If you have to run some/walk done it's not a big deal.

Sunshine_And_Sand

Sorry typo above. Run some/walk some.

girlinahat

dancing_daisy wrote: »

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I've signed up and got my barcode at the ready. Thank you for the much needed encouragement.

my local parkrun is up a hill, along a bit of a flat bit, then up a hill a bit more, then you get to come down again. It's one of the hilliest b!tches of a parkrun there is. I've tried to incorporate it into a long run, but it wipes me out so I don't enjoy the rest of my run.

Everyone is really friendly though - they see you in a race t-shirt and talk to you about that race, they'll encourage you to join in when you happen to time a 'normal' run through the route at the same time they're finishing. It's a great non-competitive* and free timed practice.

*Parkrun is not a race. Honest. Nobody is racing.

Tacklewasher

girlinahat wrote: »

*Parkrun is not a race. Honest. Nobody is racing.

I race against myself. And my neighbor (who kicks my *kitten* everytime and she's 15 yrs older than I am).

Park runs are great.

BruinsGal_91

girlinahat wrote: »

dancing_daisy wrote: »

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I've signed up and got my barcode at the ready. Thank you for the much needed encouragement.

my local parkrun is up a hill, along a bit of a flat bit, then up a hill a bit more, then you get to come down again. It's one of the hilliest b!tches of a parkrun there is. I've tried to incorporate it into a long run, but it wipes me out so I don't enjoy the rest of my run.

Everyone is really friendly though - they see you in a race t-shirt and talk to you about that race, they'll encourage you to join in when you happen to time a 'normal' run through the route at the same time they're finishing. It's a great non-competitive* and free timed practice.

*Parkrun is not a race. Honest. Nobody is racing.

A friend of mine runs the Hilly Fields parkrun. I guess there's a clue in the name.

ipmac22

I'm with the others. Just do it! Even if it's not as fast as you'd like or you have to take a walk break, it's a great way to gauge your level and you may be better off than you thought.

MeanderingMammal

girlinahat wrote: »

I've tried to incorporate it into a long run, but it wipes me out so I don't enjoy the rest of my run.

When you pitch up at Parkrun with a race vest, 2 litres of Tailwind and proceed to run it at Frolic pace and people wonder what you're playing at...