My first 5k

LiftAllThePizzas

I ran in my first 5k this weekend, and it was challenging but also a lot of fun. I had started couch to 5k almost 8 weeks before and was itching to enter a race. The weather was a colder than I'd been training in, so I had to wear gloves because my fingers are stupid and get cold way too easily.

Here's me at the start just before the race:


I started out at the front of the corral, because I didn't want to get stuck behind anyone and was willing to go fast at the start. For the first 1/8th of a mile or so there were only 5 or 6 people ahead of me. I knew there were people who would be finishing in like 17-18 minutes, my best in training (and on an indoor track) was 27 minutes, so I slowed down and watched some of the fast people pass me.

Thanks to adrenaline, I still ended up finishing my first mile in 7:02, which is faster than I had even ran "just a mile" in training so I knew I was still going too fast to keep it up. I slowed down a bit more. I finished my second mile 8:30 later, which was more reasonable. I didn't find a 3 mile marker but I ended up finishing in 23:48, which was a lot faster than I'd expected!

At the finish line they gave out medals for finishing the race. This was pretty cool! We hung out and watched a bunch of the half-marathon people finish, and then watched the awards. I ended up getting 2nd place in my age group (40-44) and was only 3/100ths of a second behind the 1st place guy. They gave me a medal for that too! Sweet!



So anyway, I know a lot of people would let something like that go to their head, but winning two medals in one day hasn't changed me at all. I'm still the same guy I was before, and still do the same things I did before:









I can't wait to do another race!

Cranquistador

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY:drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

funchords

You look fantastic -- love the comedy shot, too!

SonicDeathMonkey80

Hilarious

Good job!*

*I'll add that for the reasons you outlined above, this is precisely why I think the 5K race is the toughest distance to nail down. Start too fast, you sputter out quickly, start too slow, you have no time to make it up. Practice, practice, practice those even splits!

joakool

This is THE funniest post I've ever seen on here! Thank you for the smile and CONGRATULATIONS on your first 5K. After my first 5K, I thought "I'll never do THAT again" and now I am doing my first Marathon in less than 3 weeks! Be careful, the addiction will get you, too!

gypsy_spirit

Awesome - just remember to take them off when you weigh in. :drinker:

linkirving

Hilarious. Congrats!

TomZot

Awesome. Nice job.

rocopoc

This is THE funniest post I've ever seen on here! Thank you for the smile and CONGRATULATIONS on your first 5K. After my first 5K, I thought "I'll never do THAT again" and now I am doing my first Marathon in less than 3 weeks! Be careful, the addiction will get you, too!

^^ Way cool , congrats on your 1st Marathon, how excited you must be! Run Happy and Strong

Wilmingtonbelle

Awesome post! My first 5k is in a few weeks and I've been doing C25K to train. I'm nervous and know I won't get a placing medal but that's fine. My goals are 1) start 2) don't die 3) finish and 4) enjoy a nice cold beer at the end of the race!

Thanks for sharing, running should be fun and you prove it is :flowerforyou:

Sláinte :drinker:

rocopoc

Congrats and Nice awards, inspiring

_Waffle_

This is by far the greatest thing I've seen here all year. I love this. Thanks for the update and the lovely pictures.

Seriously your time was fantastic. Glad you had fun.

ImpracticalGirl

Brilliant!:drinker:

danasings

:drinker:

You're awesome, Pizza Man. :happy:

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

:laugh: :drinker:

Kate7294

Awesome job! Love all your bling pictures

PikaKnight

I have to say I'm disappointed....
















that the battle of the wasps wasn't featured in these pictures

Awesome job and yay!!! :bigsmile: :flowerforyou:

LoraF83

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:




You are awesome. Nuff said.





:flowerforyou:

AllonsYtotheTardis

But you don't even like running?

DAM5412

Wow...I love this.

DavPul

Congrats!

3dogsrunning

Best race report ever!


Congrats! That's an awesome performance.

likitisplit

Great job and wonderful time on your first race!

ThickMcRunFast

:laugh: :drinker: :laugh: :drinker:

Congrats on medaling your first 5k marathon!

jayliospecky

:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

EvgeniZyntx

:drinker:

Job well done!

:drinker:

marricurt

Well done and thank you for making me laugh out loud.... I have my first race on the 18th October, followed by an 8k in November and I'm planning on an 11 in January... Fingers crossed I make it to the end.

cindys921

Congrats !!

nriviecc

Awesome post! My first 5k is in a few weeks and I've been doing C25K to train. I'm nervous and know I won't get a placing medal but that's fine. My goals are 1) start 2) don't die 3) finish and 4) enjoy a nice cold beer at the end of the race!

Thanks for sharing, running should be fun and you prove it is :flowerforyou:

Sláinte :drinker:

I've got my first 5k in about 5 weeks, and I've been doing C25K as well! I'm on week 5. I've never been able to run, EVER. This morning, I ran two eight minute intervals and actually didn't feel like I was going to pass out. Now I'm super excited to keep going and see how much I can do. Good luck to you!!

PetulantOne

Excellent time! :drinker:

mikeshockley

Great motivational story, and probably the best post on MFP! I'm hoping to run a 5k in the spring...gotta build up to it. This story definitely inspires me. Thanks for sharing!!