Where do you put your mind for a 5k/advice?

goingthedistancexc
goingthedistancexc Posts: 40
in Fitness and Exercise
okay, so I have a big race this morning, any tips on what I should focus my mind on to get through it or any last minute advice about how I should pace myself to PR?

Replies

  • QuincyChick
    QuincyChick Posts: 269 Member
    Just take it one mile at a time! Relax, and have fun. You will feel great when it's all over- good luck! :smile:

    re: pacing-

    I have to FORCE myself to start slow at every race. I have a tendency to fly when the gun goes off and that leads to fatigue, cramping, etc.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    I use a phone app - rundouble.com - that tells me my pace at 30 second (configurable) intervals.
  • ALW65
    ALW65 Posts: 643 Member
    Good luck to you! I'm running in a local 5K today for the local SPCA. Because I'm a pretty novice runner I try to just concentrate on the rhythm of my breathing. When I get to the "what was I thinking when I signed up for this race" point I start picking spots up ahead and tell myself, "Okay, you can make it to that point, and then we'll see if we really need to walk" and then I (hopefully) pick a new point further up ahead. Hope you run a great race!

    *Edited to add - I LOVE your line on your profile about "I like long walks to the fridge" - I'm stealing that one!!!
  • Ainar
    Ainar Posts: 858 Member
    What helps me the most is not to focus on one mile at a time or finish, or race. What helps me is to distract myself completely from running. Listening music might do for you. But that does not takes a lot of brain and your mind is not busy, so it's not distracted. What helps me the most is to listen to audio books or repeat my studies in my head. So I am busy with that and don't think how hard it is, my body just works on auto pilot. So make sure your brain is somewhere else what has nothing to do with run.

    As of pacing you should start slowly for like first mile (kinda like a warm up) then increase to fast for 3 miles (majority of race, keep the pace) and when there are like 1 mile left run as fast as you possibly can (the fastest speed in race). That will help to maximize your use of stamina. Usually mistake what people do is that they start fast first and then slow down as race comes to end, that negatively effects your stamina and time, and makes race harder. You wanna do the opposite.

    ;)
  • ba502
    ba502 Posts: 54 Member
    Good luck to you! I'm running in a local 5K today for the local SPCA. Because I'm a pretty novice runner I try to just concentrate on the rhythm of my breathing. When I get to the "what was I thinking when I signed up for this race" point I start picking spots up ahead and tell myself, "Okay, you can make it to that point, and then we'll see if we really need to walk" and then I (hopefully) pick a new point further up ahead. Hope you run a great race!

    *Edited to add - I LOVE your line on your profile about "I like long walks to the fridge" - I'm stealing that one!!!

    I do this too!

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