First 10-K Race Tips

bmondloch · April 2014

I am a walker and I average between a 12:30 and 13:00 min/mile pace. At that pace the 6.2 miles will take about 1 hour and 17 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes. You should be able to finish your run easily before 2 hours. I use the MapMyWalk app on my phone to tell me my pace every half mile (configurable) and it also plays the playlist of my choice at the same time. Just run at your pace and not what everyone else is doing.

RUNNING_AMOK_1958 · April 2014

Grab the water/gatorade at every station, regardless if you're thirsty or not.

Don't wear anything that you haven't trained in before (hello chafing or new pants that fall off)

Pace yourself. The adrenaline of hauling *kitten* off the start line is awesome...but you'll wear yourself out way too soon.

Water or Gatoade only if you normally drink fluids while running. I'm an empty stomach runner myself. Found that out after drinking water in my first race at the water station.:noway:

levicrouch · April 2014

It's been said already but i bears repeating.

Don't change anything on race day!

I sort of ignored this on my race and changed my shirt (surely, my shirt doesn't matter). It had a seam in the inside that rubbed the inside of may arm raw, pretty uncomfortable for most of the race.

I also changed my nutrition before another race. I drank a gatorade and had a GU, in my training i just had a gatorade before my run. I think it may have spike my blood sugar so, literally after an 1/8 of a mile into a half marathon, i thought i was going to pass out from exhaustion (maybe some anxiety as well). Took me a few miles to get going strong again.

Oh, i almost forgot:

DON"T CHANGE A SINGLE SOLITARY THING ON RACE DAY!

:drinker:

BrianSharpe · April 2014

DON"T CHANGE A SINGLE SOLITARY THING ON RACE DAY!

:drinker:

Except maybe clean underwear? :laugh: :laugh:

Eric_DeCastro · April 2014

I ran 6.2 miles yesterday, the first 3.1miles was with my 10 year old nephew which was his 2nd time running 3.1miles so he is a little slower than me. I stayed with him til the end so when i went for a second lap around the park i still had all the energy in the world. I took off and made the whole run in 1:10 with a 10ish min per mile which is good considering I was practically walking the first 3.1 miles.

so take it slow the first three miles and turn it up the last 3 and you will be fine.

davemunger · April 2014

DON"T CHANGE A SINGLE SOLITARY THING ON RACE DAY!

:drinker:

Except maybe clean underwear? :laugh: :laugh:

If you don't normally wear clean underwear, I wouldn't suggest changing that on race day either!

eat_run_play · April 2014

i have done two 10k races, several 4 miles, and two 5 milers... not quite the "expert" on 10k but from my experience the best thing is don't start out too fast. pick a pace group (even better if you have pacers) that you can reasonably line up with. for instance, if you do 10 minute miles for your 5k, maybe hang out with 11 minute/mile pacers at first for 10k. then you can always speed up at the end, just don't let yourself burn out! my experience is i start out way too fast. my second 5k is always much slower and this is a thing i'd like to avoid in the future. my next 10k is may 3 so i'm hoping for a good race. i have been doing longer runs during the week at a slower pace to try and prepare myself.

eat_run_play · April 2014

also same thing everyone else says - dont' eat a lot the am before... maybe something small you are used to. you want to not be starving but also not full. i try to eat something like a banana and energy bar about 2 hours before the race. then after the race, i can eat more food!

same thing with not trying out brand new shoes or clothes at a race. go with something you have worn on long runs and know will get you there. also, make sure to use the bathroom about 30 mins before so you dont' have any surprises.

kluvit · April 2014

Thanks for the great tips! Any tips for race week workouts? Hoping to do a flat course 10k race on Sat < 60.
Here's my plan (unless the experienced tell me different):

Saturday: Treadmill 10k 2% grade in 60:09 (Jog, Sprint, Walk intervals) - DONE
Sunday-Rest - DONE
Monday- Treadmill 4 miles incline intervals up to 8% in 40 minutes - DONE
Tuesday - 30-45 min Circuit DVD (T25, Power90)
Wednesday - Treadmill 5k (hopefully ~27 min)
Thursday - 30-45 DVD
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Race Day: hoping to line up with the 9:30 to 10 min milers, and finish < 60.
I'm hoping the race day excitement will give me the little bit extra needed to carve off that extra 9 seconds. :happy:
Any tips?

corinne1977 · April 2014

Hi everyone, just wanted to update you on my 10-K race Saturday. The Crescent City Classic was absolutely amazing. It was tough but fun. I think the hardest part was trying to get through the runners/walkers in front of me. There was about 25,000 participants of every shape, size, and age. It was awesome!! I can't wait to do it again next year. I remembered all your great tips and didn't have any issues before, during, or after the race. My finance ran it with me to help push me along and I finished the race in 1:10:16!! Thanks again MFP friends for the advice/encourage/tips.

Now to start training for a half-marathon in November :flowerforyou:

davemunger · April 2014

Hi everyone, just wanted to update you on my 10-K race Saturday. The Crescent City Classic was absolutely amazing. It was tough but fun. I think the hardest part was trying to get through the runners/walkers in front of me. There was about 25,000 participants of every shape, size, and age. It was awesome!! I can't wait to do it again next year. I remembered all your great tips and didn't have any issues before, during, or after the race. My finance ran it with me to help push me along and I finished the race in 1:10:16!! Thanks again MFP friends for the advice/encourage/tips.

Now to start training for a half-marathon in November :flowerforyou:

Congratulations! Did you look up your chip time? For a race that large they adjust your time to account for when you actually crossed the start line. You can check out the official results here: https://www.nolimitstiming.com/RESULTS/default.aspx?event=27179

eat_run_play · May 2014

Nice job! that is great for a first 10k!

kbmnurse · May 2014

Just did a 10K two weeks ago. The key for me was good music and NEVER stopped running. I knew if I stopped running I would never start again. I finished in 1 hr 15 min which is great for me. Good Luck and God speed.

thavoice · May 2014

Hi everyone, just wanted to update you on my 10-K race Saturday. The Crescent City Classic was absolutely amazing. It was tough but fun. I think the hardest part was trying to get through the runners/walkers in front of me. There was about 25,000 participants of every shape, size, and age. It was awesome!! I can't wait to do it again next year. I remembered all your great tips and didn't have any issues before, during, or after the race. My finance ran it with me to help push me along and I finished the race in 1:10:16!! Thanks again MFP friends for the advice/encourage/tips.

Now to start training for a half-marathon in November :flowerforyou:

HM's are awesome.
I enjoy them more than 5 and 10k's!
Now you have a good base to train for the Half.

Goodluck

kluvit · June 2014

Just did a 10K two weeks ago. The key for me was good music and NEVER stopped running. I knew if I stopped running I would never start again. I finished in 1 hr 15 min which is great for me. Good Luck and God speed.

I so wish I'd followed this for my first, I missed my goal by 5 minutes and feel sure that if I'd just kept shuffling along at a slow jog instead of slowing to a walk, I would have kept up my energy and speed.

First 10-K Race Tips

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