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Running my first 5K this weekend on August 4!
lucasmoten
Posts: 143 Member
I'm so excited. This Sunday I'll be running in my first 5K ever.
I started training on June 2 first using the C25K pro app by Zen Labs (was FAOTD on Amazon), then switching to AccuTrainer (free), and eventually just sticking to non-interval runs with RunKeeper (free) after week 6. The hardest weeks were week 4 and 5 for me, but I never repeated any of them. Part of the problem with those weeks was my foolishness to try to go as long as I could on the final run for week 3 which is still intervals. I went 9 minutes, and then my knee was hurting for the next 2 weeks. Eventually I resolved my knee pains by only running outdoors once a week, and doing the other 2 on the elliptical at the gym for low impact.
During this time frame, I started at a weight of 260 pounds and now weigh 228-230. The first time I timed myself covering the distance of a 5K was over a year ago, mostly walking, at around 50 minutes. This gave me the confidence to know I'd be able to finish in the 60 minute windows and a little running should have me handling the 45 minute windows of other races. When I first started training in June, I was hoping to beat 40 minutes. Then about 2-3 weeks ago, I was starting to feel confident that I could beat 35 minutes as my times are showing it. Another help is that my training outside is on hills of varying grades, while the race I'm doing on Sunday is comparatively flat (total climb of about 120 feet I think vs the 400+ I've been training at). What amazes me most is how the body adapts so well to running over this short period of time.
So here I am on Friday, not having run today, and not running tomorrow, all excited for Sunday. Trying to sort out my final prep work. What to eat between now and then. Whether I should try to get more sleep or just continue life as usual.
For everyone out there running a race this weekend or in the near future, good luck! And if you're just starting with the C25K program, as long as you're committed to it, I'm certain you'll be just as pleased with the results as I've been!
I started training on June 2 first using the C25K pro app by Zen Labs (was FAOTD on Amazon), then switching to AccuTrainer (free), and eventually just sticking to non-interval runs with RunKeeper (free) after week 6. The hardest weeks were week 4 and 5 for me, but I never repeated any of them. Part of the problem with those weeks was my foolishness to try to go as long as I could on the final run for week 3 which is still intervals. I went 9 minutes, and then my knee was hurting for the next 2 weeks. Eventually I resolved my knee pains by only running outdoors once a week, and doing the other 2 on the elliptical at the gym for low impact.
During this time frame, I started at a weight of 260 pounds and now weigh 228-230. The first time I timed myself covering the distance of a 5K was over a year ago, mostly walking, at around 50 minutes. This gave me the confidence to know I'd be able to finish in the 60 minute windows and a little running should have me handling the 45 minute windows of other races. When I first started training in June, I was hoping to beat 40 minutes. Then about 2-3 weeks ago, I was starting to feel confident that I could beat 35 minutes as my times are showing it. Another help is that my training outside is on hills of varying grades, while the race I'm doing on Sunday is comparatively flat (total climb of about 120 feet I think vs the 400+ I've been training at). What amazes me most is how the body adapts so well to running over this short period of time.
So here I am on Friday, not having run today, and not running tomorrow, all excited for Sunday. Trying to sort out my final prep work. What to eat between now and then. Whether I should try to get more sleep or just continue life as usual.
For everyone out there running a race this weekend or in the near future, good luck! And if you're just starting with the C25K program, as long as you're committed to it, I'm certain you'll be just as pleased with the results as I've been!
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Good luck tomorrow! I'm sure it will go well!0
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So I did my 5K this morning! It was a very fun event. I thought I'd be more nervous but turns out things went smoothly from prep work the night before.
Of 192 runners, I came in 133rd place with a time of 32:01.6. Where I started in the back was right on pace. Only passed a few people at the first .2 miles and then my pace was fairly smooth. I didn't train for negative splits so I started faster and gradually tapered off to an average pace of 10:19.
Some key accomplishments making me feel pretty good today...
* I ran the entire distance
* I beat 40 minutes.
* I beat 35 minutes
* I _could have_ beat 32 minutes if I didn't slow right before the finish line (lol)
* My pace on runkeeper looks like the smoothest I've run thus far for all my training
* When I weighed myself after the race, I found that I'm now down to 225! So thats 35 pounds lost since June 2!
I can't wait to do another! I'm thinking September or October. Should give me enough time to work on lengthening my runs and some more speed work.0 -
That is an awesome time! I have a race coming up mid-August and that's what I hope to do *6 months* after graduation.
I'm glad you had a fun time and that you're inspired to do more!
One quote on Runner's World that I keep in mind "A new runner of average weight and fitness is completely capable of running themselves into an injury on their first run." As a new runner, it's a delicate balance between giving yourself room to improve, and not listening to your own excuses. That's why programs like Couch to 5k are so helpful - it gives you an upper limit that you really shouldn't push past.0 -
Congratulations on your race, speed AND weight loss!
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Great job!0
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Congrats on your first 5K!!! That's a very good time.0
This discussion has been closed.