5k Run Preparation?

lovelylela415
lovelylela415 Posts: 91 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,

I recently hit almost all of my fitness goals and on my last 5 lbs of weight loss (it's hard!)

My best friend invited me to run a 5k "color race" (huh?) with her the first week of october (october 8)

I have 18% BF +/- 2%, 5'10" weight 143 and I strength train 3x/ week, cardio 6 times a week (usually eliptical or rowing)

Question: What changes should I make between now and October 8 to run this 5k, if any. What is a "color race" ? She said it's common but I have no idea what she means.

I will use the google, but wanted to come here first and open up a discussion about how to prepare....

Replies

  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
    I'm not sure what changes you can make in such a short time other than just try to get some running in for your cardio sessions. It's a different kind of cardio than rowing or elliptical.

    A Color Run is a non-timed fun run where you run/walk through stations and get colored powder sprayed/thrown on you. They encourage you to wear white and by the time you're done you look like a tie dyed skittle! I'm doing one with my husband and 7 year old son on Sept 29th and really looking forward to the experience!
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    I'd start running intervals is you don't really run or haven't in awhile. Perhaps look at some training programs.

    A color run, to the best of my knowledge, is where you wear white, then get doused in a color powder as you run and come put multi-hued and dyed. They are a trend now, I think, and seem like they could be fun. I think they tend to be less competitive, it may not even be timed.
  • Loulady
    Loulady Posts: 511 Member
    Just go for runs - swap out whatever your usual cardio is for a run a couple times a week.

    You don't need any kind of serious training for a 5k, unless you're trying to beat a personal record or something. The color runs are especially just for fun - people on the 'sidelines' throw colored powder at the runners as they pass, and it's basically a big running party. Very few of them have timing systems.
  • RenewedRunner
    RenewedRunner Posts: 423 Member
    Go look up Couch to 5k. IT is a running plan. If you feel that you can already do some of the beginning weeks without any problems, move to a week where the training is hard. You are pretty well set to segue in to running.

    It is only what, about 3 weeks maybe, away? YOu may not be able to run the whole thing, depending on your cardio endurance. But if you want to make it a regular part of your exercise routine, Hal Higdon has some great free training plans.

    A color run-typically runners wear white and have colored cornstarch thrown at them. By the end you are colorful mess. MOst people don't run them for time (they aren't timed any ways) and do more of a fast walk/stroll through them. IT is more about fun than about a challenge IMO.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    A lot of people simply walk in the Color Runs, so I wouldn't worry too much. They are mostly for fun - I'm betting you will LOVE it!


    <<< -- profile pic was at my first Color Run
  • sevsmom
    sevsmom Posts: 1,172 Member
    This is an "event" NOT a race. You can walk when you need to. Do NOT stress out about it. I was all psyched to go out and run hard and found out quickly that it's about the fun of participating, not competing. Try a few short running sessions in the next few weeks and then just plan to show up. get colorful and have FUN!
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Hi,

    I recently hit almost all of my fitness goals and on my last 5 lbs of weight loss (it's hard!)

    My best friend invited me to run a 5k "color race" (huh?) with her the first week of october (october 8)

    I have 18% BF +/- 2%, 5'10" weight 143 and I strength train 3x/ week, cardio 6 times a week (usually eliptical or rowing)

    Question: What changes should I make between now and October 8 to run this 5k, if any. What is a "color race" ? She said it's common but I have no idea what she means.

    I will use the google, but wanted to come here first and open up a discussion about how to prepare....

    Regarding a "color" race or any themed 5K, don't expect a true 5K/race experience. It is really more of a social gathering/production with a handful of people actually running while dodging large (large) families, strollers, wagons etc. The one I did had us "running" through stockyards/fairgrounds and was pretty awful lol. Do it, have fun, and then come back and do a "regular" 5K that has a normal amount of people attending.

    Actually, imagine jogging up and down the fire lane of Wal-Mart. That's a color run.
  • RenewedRunner
    RenewedRunner Posts: 423 Member
    THis is color run. I am actually going to run one with my sons next weekend. And by run I mean mosey along at a regular pace.
  • senyosmom
    senyosmom Posts: 613 Member
    Start running! Outside if possible as that will be more like the actual race. When I prepped for a 5K I first mapped out a full 5K distance (with my car using the mile tracker thingy) so I knew the full distance I needed to run. I started with running half that distance for the first week and then 3/4 of the full distance for the 2nd week so that by week 3 I was running the full 5K. I ran it at least 3 times a week.

    Color run usually means you will be "hit" with colored paints as you run and in the end looked like a messed up rainbow :) Might be more like colored powders versus paints - but you get the idea.

    Have fun!
  • lcyama
    lcyama Posts: 209 Member
    I'm signed up for a Color Run 5K in October, too! It is an untimed fun run/walk, as the folks above me have described. If you plan to run with your friend, I would go for training runs with her. If you've been running on the elliptical, go for some runs outside, because it's a different feel.

    I've been running 5Ks so I'm trained up, but I'm planning to run/walk it with my youngest daughter. It's not about clock time, it's about having fun! I'm really looking forward to my race.
  • elisabeisme
    elisabeisme Posts: 308 Member
    When I switched from the elliptical to running outside for some of my cardio, I found two issues arose:

    1. my Achilles tendons are tighter than I realized. The elliptical doesn't stretch them out as much unless you've been good about using an incline setting (I tended to use resistence more)

    2. I have a bit of "Morton's neuroma" in my right foot. I hadn't noticed this on the elliptical because of how it removes the impact on your feet. the condition was amplified and became noticeable once I started landing mid-foot during my runs.

    Both of these problems are typical of high heel shoe wearers -- the bad things we do to ourself in the name of fashion!!

    The other thing that I've heard impacts people when switching to running is pronation/supination and knee strain but luckily neither of those was an problem for me.

    Basically, I would suggest some runs outside over the next couple weeks so that you identify any issues that might arise ahead of time and don't ruin your fun on the day of event.
  • Lyerin
    Lyerin Posts: 818 Member
    Just go for runs - swap out whatever your usual cardio is for a run a couple times a week.

    You don't need any kind of serious training for a 5k, unless you're trying to beat a personal record or something. The color runs are especially just for fun - people on the 'sidelines' throw colored powder at the runners as they pass, and it's basically a big running party. Very few of them have timing systems.

    Exactly that. I did one this weekend. It was really fun but was untimed. Lots of people walked or walked/ran. Just go and have a good time.

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