First 5k

RoyBeck

Your doing just fine. DON'T RUSH, listen to your body and things will get better. Your body is adapting to the new you but it'll take time. Get plenty of rest in between running.

mlogantra76

Congrats! I did my first one August 10th and I have done many since then. It is addicting! I have done two a weekend several weekends in a row and it caught up to me...Overly tired and feeling burnt out. So yes, get plenty of rest and don't overdo it:) I'm glad I had only signed up for one this weekend. I did it and am looking forward to doing some cross training tomorrow instead of running:)

allycolli

That's terrific! I just actually ran 4.25 miles this week (personal best), so I understand your euphoria

mg_89

wow! Congrats!!!

train4bane

Congratulations that's awesome I want to be able to 5k as well. At the moment I am having really bad problems with getting stitches. The furtherest Ive ran is 1.6k at the moment but occasionaly I barely get to 1k without having to stop from the pain. Can you help me out? I try not to eat or drink before hand maybe I'm not breathing right???

Domane1963

Congratulations! Those feelings of elation, achievement and pride are VERY addictive - be warned! lol I started C25K in May and have been regularly running 5K a couple of times a week since August. However, I recently joined a local gym, with a view to using the treadmill over the cold and wet winter, but have found it difficult to find my "distance" mojo on the machines. So for the last couple of weeks I have been "messing around" - power walking high inclines or sprinting on the flat for shorter distances, a bit of HIIT on the bikes, weight training etc, but not knuckling down to the REAL task of the long-distance treadmill run.

Woke up this morning with a positive mental attitude and decided today was THE day to run 5K on the treadmill. Got there to find them all in use, so I hit the pavement in the rain and found I now have a lot more strength and stamina.... I managed EIGHT km today! I can't believe it.... AND managed some hills that I'd previously had to walk. So my "messing around" in the gym is clearly paying off....

I'm definitely going to start pushing for 10K now... as a 50yo grandmother who only started running in May, I NEVER thought I'd be saying that!!!

Good luck.... keep running!!

mwilke

Congratulations! That is awesome!

Slatzuk

Well done.

Find you local parkrun at www.parkrun.com for a weekly, free, fun, timd event that welcomes runners of all abilities.

Since my first park run I've gone from a 5k personal best of 39 minutes to 31 minutes.

I'm going to beat 30 mins before Christmas.

Mavalicous

I too just started running a month ago. Initially I would jog (stopping a few times) to a point that was half a mile and then walk home. Soon thereafter I pushed myself and made it that distance and back jogging (with a few 10 pace stops to catch my breath.)

Once I knew I could jog the mile I recalculated the distance and jogged a mile out and walked the mile home.

Now I am jogging the entire way there and back and the last few days I managed to do it without stopping once!! Oh and I might also add I do this twice a day. Once in the morning and again immediately after work. There is just nothing sweeter than seeing the sweat dripping down my brow or nose as I'm jogging, hahaha!

I plan on running a 5k at an event in KC in June, but by then I may be ready for a 10k!! lol

brandon_2A

Congrats! There's something cool about hitting that magic number and setting a new goal.

Like you, I started the C25K app back in July or August, not positive. I followed it to a T up until the end of week 3 because my knees hurt so bad I could hardly walk. At this point I was using a treadmill for all of it. I abandoned the program and switched to ellipticals or stationary bikes for a few weeks until my knees felt better, then I started running one day a week outside. I still haven't run on a treadmill since then.

*Checking RunKeeper app*: I ran (well, jogged) 5k for the first time, without stopping on Friday, August 30. 3.22 miles at 12:39 per mile. Total time 40:46. It was on a rail-trail so it was flat and straight and I was still a huffing, puffing, sweating mess but I did it.

This morning I completed 3.2 miles at 10:21 per mile. Total time 33:01. This was on streets and sidewalks around town with a fair amount of hills. I still breathe heavy and sweat a lot but not anywhere near like I would have 7 weeks ago.

Oddly enough I don't know that I'll ever actually enjoy it; however, I do enjoy *being able* to do it, which is why I keep at it. Sounds dumb, but works for me.

CherylP67

You all are so inspiring!(Seriously, I love reading this stuff)

I just started running this week(more like powerwalking. I signed up to run a 5k in February and the slowest you can go is a 17:10 pace and you have an hour to get done. I tried the first workout on the Couch-to-5k app lastnight, got about 12 minutes in, and then my calves locked up. I stopped for a minute and then walked fast for another 25 minutes instead. I am severely out of shape but I am already starting to change that.

Do you guys have any tips or advice?

My advice.... RUN SLOW, even if you're just shuffling.

I speak from experience, I started couch to 5k SEVEN times and never got past week 3. I started it for the last time in August, and I graduated last week. The difference was I had some hills in my neighborhood that I had to take slow and I realized when I ran slow, I wasn't dying.

I'm now running 30 minutes 3-4 times a week with a 5 minute walk before and after (total 40 minutes). I believe that I'm going to do start making one of my runs a distance run and increase by 10% distance every week and if thats too much i'll stay put and when I'm ready, I'll increase by 5%. Ive also started throwing in a couple short sprints towards the end of my run. Today's run had the following stats, I use Nike Run;

Fastest 5k 37.50
Fastest mile 11:25
Fastest 1k 6:48
Farthest run 3.24 miles

I realize this isn't hugely fast but for me it is. I started running August 24, I love running, and I've come so far.

You can do it!

CherylP67

My first running 5k is October 22.

I'm hoping to do a 5 mile turkey trot on Thanksgiving and a half marathon on May 4, 2014. I'm going to do more 5k's and a 10k in the new year, just haven't found one yet.

Mavalicous

So I decided I was going to run my first 5k this morning. So last night my daughter and I went out and drove the route to calculate the route I would need to take to complete it. I just finished it a little while ago!! I did stop twice at about 2.25m and the 2.5 m mark but I managed to finish my run at almost 28 minutes on the dot!!

I am so freaking excited I think I texted all my family/friends, posted it on facebook and now here!!! haha

I can't wait to run in a timed event!!

Dancesintherain75

Congrats! It really is an awesome feeling. I started running in May of this year and now I'm totally hooked. I run 5k 3 times a week now working on improving time etc... but will be running my first actual 5k race this coming Saturday. Once I've got that under my belt... 10k it is!

Mavalicous

how bout this for an encore!! I just finished my afternoon jog. I knew I ddint wanna stop this time and I also had my son Stephen on his "formula schwinn" pace bike cheering me on..lol I DIDN'T stop and I finished this 5k at 26.5 minutes! Before anyone says I'm over doing it. I was a little tired initially but hand on the bible the last mile was easier than the first mile. My legs felt like they were on auotomatic and just kept going, I was just trying to make the rest of my body keep up with them...lol

jaysull21

Congrats to the OP and all others who are about to do their first or have done their first 5k race recently.

Once you start, you may not want to stop. When I could finally RUN my first 5k this year, It just got me started doing all kinds of races. I have done four 5ks since, and now a 10K and HM.

We never know what we're truly capable of until we try it! :happy:

yamsteroo

Congratulations that's awesome I want to be able to 5k as well. At the moment I am having really bad problems with getting stitches. The furtherest Ive ran is 1.6k at the moment but occasionaly I barely get to 1k without having to stop from the pain. Can you help me out? I try not to eat or drink before hand maybe I'm not breathing right???

Maybe you're dehydrated? You need to drink properly all the time so you are always hydrated rather than just loading up with water an hour before you go out running. Drink plenty all day long and you'll feel better for it, I promise.

If you feel a stitch coming on, make sure as you inhale, you draw it right down so your stomach goes out rather than your chest going out. Keep doing those big deep breaths, extending your stomach with each one and eventually they should ease. I found 4 or 5 was enough to at least ease it then after a couple more you realise it's gone. Good luck!

Nyksta

Well done you! (And everyone else who has posted - haven't read through all the replies) .

I'm planning on running my first 5K next week when I'm at my FILs (who lives in beautiful seaside town) - hoping the lovely scenery will be a good advantage to me rather than the grotty London streets I'm used to lol.

Until then I'm just about to head off on my 3rd 2.75 mile run.

Nyk

RunnerJones

Thank you. I'm having the weekend off firstly as I've had, not shin splints, but aches in my shins so ill see how I am Monday. I want to run 10 miles per week until Xmas including one 5k in that. Then start thinking about a 10k in January and I'd like to complete a half marathon in 2014. I think that's quite a realistic target would you agree?

What level are you at?

Hope your shin pain is nothing serious. A half in 2014 is a very realistic goal, but I'd recommend increasing your weekly mileage gradually from 10 to at least 20 per week. You really want to get to the point where 5+ mile runs aren't that hard anymore, and that's only going to come with more mileage. Best of luck to you, and keep aiming higher! With proper training, even marathons aren't that hard!

ellybeann

AWESOME!!!!



My first 5k was the Color Me Rad in Virginia Beach Va, this past summer, I have found running very addictive in a good way. Im running a 8k in December, the Christmas Town Dash.

Good Luck and Keep Running!!!

ellybeann

I was getting pains in my shins (shin splints IDK) and calves and a friend told me that comprression socks helped them with shin splints. So I got some and I see a difference, I'll wear them like every other run. They can be expensive but I found them for $20 on nomorerack.com

Good Luck and Keep Moving!!

Cruxthemystic

I'm doing a zombie run next week. I'm going to be a zombie, brains. lol I've done 4 5k runs in the last year and won a couple of medals. Would of never thought it being when I started I could hardly walk a mile much less run it. I want to do a 10k before my next birthday in April. I'll be 57. So it's never too late to start. Just get out there and do it.