5K Times

Saksgirl1

I have decided that I am signing up for my first 5K.... It's Dec 10th and I'm pretty excited... and nervous!

What time frame should I shoot for in my training to not look like a complete (and pitiful) *kitten* come race day?

ansonrinesmith

Not sure where your fitness level is, but I wouldn't worry about the time!
I did my first 5K and ran it in 42 minutes. Pretty slow, but I finished ahead of those that didn't participate!
My only goal was to not walk, and even then I was going to finish no matter what the time.

shovav91

That's fantastic! Don't worry about time- pace yourself, don't push too hard! Don't worry how many people are in front of you, there WILL be people behind you as well! Just enjoy it! Can't wait to hear how it goes

bigdawg025

Aside from "just finishing" which is a perfectly fine goal... I'd shoot for between 35 and 40 minutes. Anything in that range is a GREAT first 5K time!

sarah44254

Not sure where your fitness level is, but I wouldn't worry about the time!
I did my first 5K and ran it in 42 minutes. Pretty slow, but I finished ahead of those that didn't participate!
My only goal was to not walk, and even then I was going to finish no matter what the time.

^ His "pretty slow" is my fastest! I did a 5K tonight for my jog and finished in 41 minutes. I tried hard!!

I like to set my limit as 'anything less than 60'. sometimes it is tough in a race because there are slow people in front of you. just do your best and have a really great time!!

Elzecat

Have you run or run/walked a full mile at this point? You can take your mile time and multiply by 3...that will give you a good estimate of your finish time. Your goal for your first race should be to finish strong. I think you will see a wide variety of answers for this--I've seen younger, really athletic folks who can do a 5k in 17 minutes, and some people take an hour to walk a 5k. My first 5k was about 38 minutes, my best one (2 months later) was just over 34 minutes...someday I'd like to be a bit faster, but right now I really want to build a good base of mileage.

a_stronger_steph

Agreed with the others - you will be awesome, no matter what, because you're going to do it!

One thing I found helpful, personally, was looking at some results from previous years of the race that I was going to do. I knew how long it took me to run 5k in a relaxed setting, and checked that time against the results online. I figured I could duplicate that in a race so I had some idea of where I was going to be. Of course, personally, I was just excited to run a 5k at all -- if you told me a year ago that I would be doing it I would have just laughed and laughed. So I wouldn't have cared if I finished last! I ended up doing way better than the time that I predicted from my training runs. Race adrenaline and all that jazz.

Good luck, have FUN, and don't sweat the timing stuff. I'm getting the feeling that half the fun of races is running them again and again and seeing your improvement!

Sanvita58

Hi I am also participating in my 1st official 5 K run on 10th Dec 2011, I started walking 2 weeks back for 5 kms..then fully ran my 5kms in 41 mins then second in 3 days time in 38.47..but like others said dont worry about time..1st attempt should be able to run full 5 kms even if the speed is slower than walking..but run as much as you can at the pace you feel ok...i guess to be able to run continuously for 2-3 weeks should be good enough to concentrate on speed later...all the best..

kendf60

Take a look at C25K. You don't have the 9 weeks but see if you think you think you're in good enough shape to start in the middle.

Kritie12

Just like what other people said, pace yourself. I try to jog if I can, I tell myself- "jog up to that next tree" then I don't stop until I get to that tree then I walk until I think I can run again. 5k's are for the most part for fun, for a good cause, so just do your best- push yourself a little harder than you think you can go and be proud when you cross the finish line.

My first 5k I did in 45 minutes, the following year I did it in 41 minutes, then 38 minutes. My goal each time I do a race it to try to beat my time from the previous race.

Shoot for an hour and then congratulate yourself for every minute you are under.

Good Luck in your Race!!!!

bexdc

Don't worry about time -- just push yourself and enjoy the atmosphere -- the other runners, the crowd cheering, and the celebrating at the finish!

lacroyx

it's about enjoying yourself. don't feel bad! I remember on my 2nd 5K about 1 mile into it I was waddling along when a very fit older lady past me. I'd say early 60's. She smiled and gave me a thumbs up as she zoomed by. It brought warm fuzzy feelings inside. Then I was determined to catch up to her, I failed. :sad: but the point is to go out there and do it. just enjoy it. who knows? you may end up doing more. I got my 3rd comming in a couple of weeks.

amccrazgrl

I have walked 3 5K's. Last year was my 1st and I was 15lbs heavier. I walked it in 52 mins.
This year I walked 2 in about 48-50mins.
Tuesday I did 2.8 miles walk/jog in 37minutes.

3dogsrunning

I have been DFL (dead *kitten* last) in a smaller race and it really is no big deal. While I doubt you will be, especially in a larger race where you will likely get walkers, I just wanted to point out that it really isn't bad. My goal was to finish the race, and I did. Like someone else pointed out, DFL is better than DNS (did not start).

Its hard to judge a time since everyone is different. I coached a learn to run program last year and they all competed in a 5k race together. One of my group won their age group, others were much further behind.

I would suggest just setting a goal of finishing. Then you take that time and try to improve on it.

Above all else, have fun.

ansonrinesmith

Not sure where your fitness level is, but I wouldn't worry about the time!
I did my first 5K and ran it in 42 minutes. Pretty slow, but I finished ahead of those that didn't participate!
My only goal was to not walk, and even then I was going to finish no matter what the time.

^ His "pretty slow" is my fastest! I did a 5K tonight for my jog and finished in 41 minutes. I tried hard!!

I like to set my limit as 'anything less than 60'. sometimes it is tough in a race because there are slow people in front of you. just do your best and have a really great time!!

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I "ran slow". I was trying my hardest. That IS my fastest time! I did however finish LAST in my age group, but not DFL. Didn't bother me. The 5K was a blast. I even had a 70yr old lady on the 10K that was going to pass me. We started talking and she slowed to stay with me for a bit while we talked. When done, she said, "good job, keep it up" and proceed to blast away from me! She is my new hero! It was a great experience!

arc918

The walkers at the back of the pack will be take an hour or more, the winners will take ~ 15 or 16 minutes. You will be somewhere in between. Have fun!