10k run... OMG don't know if I can do it!!!

IsaCaliBel

I just recently registered for my very first 10k run at the end of Oct. I'm on week three of Hal Higdon's 10k training plan, and I'm nervous, lol. I can now run 5k straight, slow but I can do it. I just can't see the jump from 3-6 miles in a month!!!

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

I just recently registered for my very first 10k run at the end of Oct. I'm on week three of Hal Higdon's 10k training plan, and I'm nervous, lol. I can now run 5k straight, slow but I can do it. I just can't see the jump from 3-6 miles in a month!!!

Yes you can. Especially if you're already running 5k straight now. You've got this.

ynnad90

In April , I was running 5km , now I run 25k . Everything is possible if you put time and effort. You can certainly do it . Just take your time and start slow. No rush!

lilmiss_sunshine29

don't think of the whole number 10...coz that can be very overwhelming.
just think you've already got 5km in the bag....gently and slowly you can bag the other 5km...even if you must do them slower than the 1st 5..
I've just (in last 2weeks) started on The Active 5K to 10K... it's better than I feared actually...

Day at a time, step at a time

lilmiss_sunshine29

In April , I was running 5km , now I run 25k . Everything is possible if you put time and effort. You can certainly do it . Just take your time and start slow. No rush!

go you!

Helenad4

Keep in mind the first 2k of a 10k is incredibly slow because you have so many people at the start. After the first 2 k the crowd start to disperse and you'll find your comfort zone, the crowd always keep you motivated. Being able to run 5k now is brilliant regardless of how quick you move, you're doing it for you don't compete with others. You'll do great!

Ruedora

First of all, great job! Running a 10k is awesome. When you are finished you will feel a huge sense of pride and accomplishment (as you should!).
Second of all, savour it, because you only get to run your first 10k once! This means that no matter what your time is, it will be a personal best!
Third, you have already built up the stamina and strength to run 5k straight. If you slowed your pace from your average 5k time, you could likely run 10k tomorrow if you wanted to (I dont advise that though since you dont want an injury).
And finally, myself and many other runners will tell you that the jump from 5k to 10k distance is not nearly as challenging at the training you just finished (getting from 0-5k). You have already shown that you are committed to this so try to be confident, stick to the plan and you will have no problem finishing that 10k! Way to go!

IsaCaliBel

Yes you can. Especially if you're already running 5k straight now. You've got this.

Thanks!

IsaCaliBel

In April , I was running 5km , now I run 25k . Everything is possible if you put time and effort. You can certainly do it . Just take your time and start slow. No rush!

go you!

Inspiring!

IsaCaliBel

don't think of the whole number 10...coz that can be very overwhelming.
just think you've already got 5km in the bag....gently and slowly you can bag the other 5km...even if you must do them slower than the 1st 5..
I've just (in last 2weeks) started on The Active 5K to 10K... it's better than I feared actually...

Day at a time, step at a time

I think you're right, I'm thinking only as needing to DOUBLE my distance, lol. I need to stop that and just go day by day.

IsaCaliBel

0-5k was so hard for me, I was totally Couch to 5k. I struggled so much to run 30 seconds without dying, burning painful legs, struggling to breathe. I do have to remember where I am now. It's comforting to hear that it won't be as hard.
I've really come to love running. :happy:

Runs4Wine

I agree you can totally do it. Increase your distance by 1/2 mile/0.8KM each week between now and then and you've got it. Consider your race just another training run

Don't over-think it.

LoneWolfRunner

You will be able to do this easier than you think. When I first started running three years ago, I had no clue what I was doing. I ran my first 5k less than 3 months after starting to run, then three weeks later went out and ran ten miles, then a month later ran a half marathon, and then did my first 10k on a trail. My point: I was clueless, I didn't over-think it and I just ran because I was having fun with it. It wasn't until later when I started reading running magazines and talking to other runners that I realized there was a more organized way to approach these things. I have tried incorporating some of it, but mostly I just like to run as much as I can and sign up for really long races for the sheer fun and joy of it.

505_runnergirl

That was my same thought for my first 10k..that was one year ago in May. Since then I have run 4 half marathons.. Just run. Mind of matter.

Daisy471

You can do it! Follow your plan and you'll be fine. I'm a big fan of Hal Higdon's training plans. Right now I am in week 8 of my half marathon plan.

emmaxbon

I used Hal Higdon's 10k plan for my first 10k race. It's a great plan to follow.

You can do this.

jrline

You can do it just stay positive. I do the run walk thing and finished my last 10k in 56:35.

Good Luck

Unknown

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TavistockToad

you'll be fine... i'm training for a 10k in november and i'm not a runner... decided to see what happened if i tried running 8k.... it was fine...

your body can do it, its your head that says no!

JoRocka

You can do it- you just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Don't over think it- you're literally already half way there.

There is no right or wrong when you enter a race- you just start and then come out the other side. You can totally do it.

MinnieInMaine

Have you run any races before? Someone made a good point that the first 1-2k tends to go slow as the crowd thins. I'll give you a piece of advice that can be hard to follow - go with the flow, stay slow, don't try to get a head of the crowd. I've done this in two races where I ran with other folks and got so worn out going faster than my usual pace, I had a hard time finishing and had to tell my friends to go on without me. And that was only a 5k!

Also, as someone else said, with running, as you may have noticed, a lot of it is mental. It's so easy to get negative thoughts in your head and want to quit. Shut them out!! Listen to motivating music, think of positive mantras, etc. You can do it!

superfox12082

Just stick to your plan and you'll be fine! Hal knows what he's doing.

VeryKatie

Aww The people's responses here are so nice! I think you can do it too!

(I'm jealous that when I posted a very similar thread a month before my race everyone said I wouldn't be able to do it. Though I suppose I left out the info that I could run 5 km since I'd never measured it).

zanne54

I'm a new runner as well, and I found the training for 0-5K MUCH more difficult than the training for the additional distance of 5K-10K. What really worked for me was to increase the distance slowly - by 500 m to 1 km per week. And to run 15 min, walk 1 min, run 15 min, walk 1 min as I was increasing the distance. Once I got to 10K distance, I'd slowly increase the duration of the run time 18 min, walk 1, then 20 min, walk 1 then 22 min walk one, then 25 min walk one until I had only one walk break in the middle. And then I just cut the walk break out. It's scarier in your head - just get past the mental hurdle and you can totally do it!

MamaMollyT

You can do it! Be consistent, follow your plan, and don't stress. Is this your first race? You will be cheered on and supported by the people around you. The excitement of the day helps a lot as well. There is no shame in walking intervals if you don't feel you are quite ready come race day. A month is a tight schedule to get from 5 to 10k but if you are consistent you can do it. Be careful to stretch and recover properly so you don't injure. And you should sign up for a 10k later in the year and keep running to see your progress. Running is very cumulative over months and years. If you stick with it you will be amazed later in the year when a 10k seems so easy. Good luck. Hope you have a great race.

BerryH

You're well on track. Slow is good - when you find it hard just go slower. Speed will come in time, get the distance under your belt first.

Do double check you're running for distance rather than time though. For my first 10K I'd trained up to an hour but the race on a hilly course took me more like one hour 20 minutes!

ew_david

Training and race day are two completely different things. You'll have so much adrenaline pumping you'll be able to knock it out no problem. Have fun!

Capt_Apollo

You'll be fine

kmullah91

My grandfather coached cross country in high school. He told me that the average person can run a good 3 miles more in a race than they can while training, due to the adrenaline and determination, along with keeping pace/competing with others around them. I did the 10K at the Cleveland Marathon this summer, and I was struggling running 5 miles straight through... Grandpa was right. I finished the 10K in 56 minutes. I did stop and walk a couple times, but I made sure not to walk more than 30 seconds at a time. I probably only had to stop for those walking breaks a good 4 times. It was well worth it. I was so proud. The key is good nutrition, good sleep, and not too vigorous training for AT LEAST the ENTIRE WEEK prior to the race. The morning of the race, get up early, not just enough to be on time. Have a healthy, carb filled breakfast, like a high fiber cereal or oatmeal, bananas, etc. Make sure you eat at least an hour and a half before the race.... the rest is all mental. Get good tunes in your head phones and just GO FOR IT. Be sure to pace yourself. Don't start out at max speed. You will never make it through. Start slow, tell yourself you have all day to do it, and really start speeding up once the first 5k is out of the way. Save your energy for the last mile. Kill yourself the last mile. You will end smiling and full of pride. Promise. Good luck.

arussell134

IMHO running distance is more mental than physical. Tell yourself you can do it. Break down longer runs into chunks in your mind. Tell yourself - just get to the next mile marker, etc. I do a 6 mile run each week and it's amazing to me how I sometimes feel BETTER at mile 4 or 5 than mile 2! There really is such a thing as a second wind.

Trust me, you can do this. I used to HATE having to run even a mile in high school and I've gone on to run three full-distance marathons. It's mental toughness that will see yourself through. Start telling yourself positive things. Sometimes on harder runs I even talk aloud to myself: "you got this." "you can do it." "one more mile down." etc.

Good luck.

SonicDeathMonkey80