Rest before 5k?

tpittsley77

Running my first 5k in two weeks. Actually a Dirty Girl Mud Run. Was wondering how many rest days do you give yourself before doing a 5k? I don't want to over do it before the run, but also don't want to go too many days without exercising. Thanks!

TylerJ76

IMO you truly do not need a taper for a 5k.

In my previous 5k's I have went and ran 2 miles or so the day before the race.

scottb81

Run easy the week before. If you are doing speedwork then cut back the distance and duration the week before. Nothing you do that week will increase your fitness for the race, but can only add fatigue so run enough to stay loose but not so much as to be tired.

You can either run short and easy with a few short strides the day before the race or take the day off - The goal is to arrive at the race rested and feeling primed to run.

BrianSharpe

A lot would depend on how much running you've been doing.

I'd probably pretty much keep to my normal schedule, have an easy run two days before the race (nice slow 2 or 3 miles to keep loose) and then not run the day before.

CarsonRuns

I find that, for me, a rest day 2 days before the race and an easy shake out run the day before is more beneficial. Each needs to find what works for them, though.

tpittsley77

Thanks everyone. I have never been a runner so this is all new territory to me. I was thinking one rest day would be good. And for some, a 5k, may seem like nothing more than a daily jog. But for me, this was one of my goals in my weightloss and fitness journey. But you can't post on mfp without someone cutting your success and efforts down.

scottb81

Thanks everyone. I have never been a runner so this is all new territory to me. I was thinking one rest day would be good. And for some, a 5k, may seem like nothing more than a daily jog. But for me, this was one of my goals in my weightloss and fitness journey. But you can't post on mfp without someone cutting your success and efforts down.

A 5K is a hard race for anyone no matter how long they have been running. Running at nearly max effort for 3 miles is hard. So, anyone who denigrates a 5K hasn't ever tested their limits by actually racing one.

BrianSharpe

Thanks everyone. I have never been a runner so this is all new territory to me. I was thinking one rest day would be good. And for some, a 5k, may seem like nothing more than a daily jog. But for me, this was one of my goals in my weightloss and fitness journey. But you can't post on mfp without someone cutting your success and efforts down.

A 5K is a hard race for anyone no matter how long they have been running. Running at nearly max effort for 3 miles is hard. So, anyone who denigrates a 5K hasn't ever tested their limits by actually racing one.

+1

When I hear people say "only a 5K" it kills me. When you consider how few adults can actually run 3.1 miles it's a huge accomplishment. The danger, though, is that running is addictive (in a good way) and, for me anyway, is incredibly empowering - you train and your body responds by asking for more. I wish I'd started years ago.........

CarsonRuns

Thanks everyone. I have never been a runner so this is all new territory to me. I was thinking one rest day would be good. And for some, a 5k, may seem like nothing more than a daily jog. But for me, this was one of my goals in my weightloss and fitness journey. But you can't post on mfp without someone cutting your success and efforts down.

A 5K is a hard race for anyone no matter how long they have been running. Running at nearly max effort for 3 miles is hard. So, anyone who denigrates a 5K hasn't ever tested their limits by actually racing one.

+1

When I hear people say "only a 5K" it kills me. When you consider how few adults can actually run 3.1 miles it's a huge accomplishment. The danger, though, is that running is addictive (in a good way) and, for me anyway, is incredibly empowering - you train and your body responds by asking for more. I wish I'd started years ago.........

I couldn't agree more. I hurt worse at the end of a 5K race than any other distance and I've done marathons.

tpittsley77

I am so excited and nervous to be doing this! Thank you everyone for the kind words!

ritmeyer

Thanks everyone. I have never been a runner so this is all new territory to me. I was thinking one rest day would be good. And for some, a 5k, may seem like nothing more than a daily jog. But for me, this was one of my goals in my weightloss and fitness journey. But you can't post on mfp without someone cutting your success and efforts down.

A 5K is a hard race for anyone no matter how long they have been running. Running at nearly max effort for 3 miles is hard. So, anyone who denigrates a 5K hasn't ever tested their limits by actually racing one.

+1

When I hear people say "only a 5K" it kills me. When you consider how few adults can actually run 3.1 miles it's a huge accomplishment. The danger, though, is that running is addictive (in a good way) and, for me anyway, is incredibly empowering - you train and your body responds by asking for more. I wish I'd started years ago.........

I couldn't agree more. I hurt worse at the end of a 5K race than any other distance and I've done marathons.

Agreed! Although I've only done half's. When my kids are older I'm in for a full!!

kace406

Thanks everyone. I have never been a runner so this is all new territory to me. I was thinking one rest day would be good. And for some, a 5k, may seem like nothing more than a daily jog. But for me, this was one of my goals in my weightloss and fitness journey. But you can't post on mfp without someone cutting your success and efforts down.

A 5K is a hard race for anyone no matter how long they have been running. Running at nearly max effort for 3 miles is hard. So, anyone who denigrates a 5K hasn't ever tested their limits by actually racing one.

+1

When I hear people say "only a 5K" it kills me. When you consider how few adults can actually run 3.1 miles it's a huge accomplishment. The danger, though, is that running is addictive (in a good way) and, for me anyway, is incredibly empowering - you train and your body responds by asking for more. I wish I'd started years ago.........

I couldn't agree more. I hurt worse at the end of a 5K race than any other distance and I've done marathons.

Just have to say, I love all of these comments.

Also, everyone is different in their training, but for me before a 5K (the only distance I've ever raced), I like to take a nice, long walk and have a nice, long stretch the day before a race to keep my muscles loose. The last race I ran was a couple of weeks ago at 9am in Michigan (so, 35 degrees at the start) and that stretch saved me from being as tight as some of the runners I saw, I think.

tpittsley77

This is some of the best advice! After this first race, I look forward to many more in the future.

mznisaelaine

This is great advice/info as I am also training. My ultimate goal is to run a half in October so I'm ultimately training for that but of course in between now and then I want o run 5ks,10ks, etc in between then and hopefully starting next month I'll have enough courage to finally sign up for a race starting with a 5k.

kace406

This is great advice/info as I am also training. My ultimate goal is to run a half in October so I'm ultimately training for that but of course in between now and then I want o run 5ks,10ks, etc in between then and hopefully starting next month I'll have enough courage to finally sign up for a race starting with a 5k.

In my experience, the best thing you can do as a 'beginner' is to just sign up. It forced me into more focused training and no matter how ill prepared I felt at the start line, running across the finish line felt so, so, so great the first time.