New runner/1st run today-questions

You will be fine - you have put in the miles necessary to do this race. The most important thing in any race (and you know this from your comment) is to run YOUR race, nobody else's! Work out a reasonable time that you think you can run 10k in, sort out your pacing and stick to it. You'll find in the first couple of K that people charge of like madmen - it is very tempting to go with them, but don't - that's how you'll finish yourself. Stick to your pace, take it easy, use this first one as an exercise in how to pace correctly. Make sure you take on your fluids and pace yourself well with the hills. If you have to walk its ok - you'll find that many will - there's no shame in that :-)
Treat this as a race with yourself, not with others, you won't win, you're a new runner, but you're already a huge winner in that in just a few months you are able to do what so many can't - this is all about PBs, learning pacing and going for it and you will be fine. There is nothing like the surge of adrenaline that hits you as you cross that line - there's also no shame in tearing up at that point - I did :-D

If you've already done 6, you're 99% of the way there.
I would say you should do what you did when you ran those 6. Race day isn't the day to try something new so stick to what worked for you then. You'll do fine.
Oh, and don't start out too fast. New runners (and some of us more experienced ones as well) have a tendency to get out of the gates really quickly and then you end up hurting yourself in the end. Stick to your pace and don't worry about what everyone else is doing - some of those that pass you early will end up in your rear view mirror in the end.
Have fun!

I've never done a race before, and I can't run as far as you can. But I know for sure that one of the best things for you to do is not worry. Try not to make it such a big deal in your head. It's your first race, so give it your personal safest best and you'll come out happy knowing you did.

Just relax. Don't worry about the other racers. Don't think so hard about this. Have fun, take your time, and don't compare yourself to others.

Before I ran my first half marathon my BFF gave me some great advice....it's just running, you can do that. Have fun and enjoy it!

Hiya, you will be fine. The crowd and the atmosphere will spur you on. I've done a few 10k races over the years and the Great South Run twice (10 mile race round Portsmouth). I'm not naturally a runner but dabble in running every now and again because I know it's a good form of exercise. For me I need a challenge like a race to get me out running and training. My advice is just go at your own pace, don't feel thatyou have to keep up with the others (you'll probably go quicker then you think). Make sure that you avoid clusters of people who may slow you down and pose a harzard for overtaking etc. I normally run with a drink in hand as I like to know that if I need a drink I've got one but there will probably be drink stations during the course. The race will be over before you know it so try and enjoy it. I remember when I did my first 10K my husband was away and he rang me on race day and he said to me "remember Susan failure is not an option". During the course whenever I felt that I couldn't go on because I had a stitch or I thought I was going to die I kept hearing his voice with the mantra "Failure is not an option". When I told my mother-in-law after the race she thought Kevin was abit cruel putting such pressure on my but I think he did me a great favour. His words were borne from love and I know that even if I hadn't made it round he would still have been proud of me for taking part. Needless to say I got round ok and I was pleased that I managed to get round in a good time (for me) and I didn't stop once. Hope it all goes well for you, take care.

Enjoy your first race more than anything else, your goal should be just to finish, start out sloooow, it is very easy to got out to fast with everything that is going on. And as this is your fisrt 10K you will get a PR Awesome. Looks like you have done the training and I am sure you will do great. Good luck

I am excited to hear how it went!

Thanks for all of the great encouragment and ideas. I ran the entire race with an average of 12.22 minutes per mile. Personal best. Never walked once.

Awesome job! I'm currently training for my first 10k (never been a runner) in April. So far my farthest run is 4 miles at a 12:30 pace. You did great, hope I can do as well!!!

Agree with everyone that said run YOUR own race!! This is a competition with yourself, the goal is to finish it as best as you can without injuring yourself! If you get injured you're not gonna be able to work out properly after and that will make you feel worse!! Walk when you feel like you no longer can run, as long as you complete it!! And as you've said, you came from not being able to run at all!! Look how far you've come!!! It is all about the improvements!! Focus on the positives!!!