Tips for 1st 5k

Just enjoy yourself. There will be super fit runners all the way to those less fit than you. The best advice is to get towards the rear at the start. As a walker you don't want to slow down the runners. Do your best and get a base line. Next year when you do this same race you can try to beat your time from this year.

johunt615 wrote: »

Thanks for the tips. I have a small fear that I will come in dead last:).

As someone who has been dead last more than once I can tell you there is nothing to fear from it. I doubt you will be but even if you are, you still finished. That alone is an achievement.
Like you said, 50 days ago you couldn't walk to your car without getting out of breath. Now you are going to finish a 5k walk. Where you finish is irrelevent.

As the saying goes, you are still lapping everyone on the couch.

johunt615 wrote: »

Yes I've done a 3 mile mall walk so indoor flat surface and a 3 mile outdoor paved trail walk in the national park. Both times I had a restroom available from all the water I was drinking. There is a 60% chance of rain which I've never walked in the rain before.

The route is classified as easy/moderate. I drove the route and there are 2 long but small inclines.

Should I walk the route now or not?

Should you walk it...as opposed to run it? Or not do it all?

Walk it. I'm sure you can do it

johunt615 wrote: »

Yes I've done a 3 mile mall walk so indoor flat surface and a 3 mile outdoor paved trail walk in the national park. Both times I had a restroom available from all the water I was drinking. There is a 60% chance of rain which I've never walked in the rain before.

The route is classified as easy/moderate. I drove the route and there are 2 long but small inclines.

Should I walk the route now or not?

What would make you feel better? I am certain you are good either way but if walking it first will boost your confidence then do it. Rain is nothing. If it is warm, it will be an advantage as it will cool you.
You've got this.

johunt615 wrote: »

Ok thanks. I'm consistently walking 2 miles 3 to 4 times a week outdoors so I know I can do it I guess I'm just nervous for no real reason.

You got this! No reason to be nervous if you've been walking that much!

Take water. Wear a hat. Be friendly. Have fun!

Sure, why not walk it before the event? I walked my first 5k 2 years ago. I was dead last with 2 friends who were supporting me. It's ok, because 2 months before that I could barely walk 1/4 mile. There is no shame in finishing last and lots to celebrate. You beat everyone else in town who's home sitting on the couch. I've done several 5ks and 10ks since then. This same race is coming up in 2 weeks, when I will run all or most of the course. How cool is that? Go for it and have fun!!

As someone who has never finished in any position but dead last, I tell myself this makes my eventual success story much more inspiring.

I would absolutely positively without a doubt walk the exact route first. Be prepared for it to be a bit harder than you expect; I tend to up my pace when I am walking with others at these things, in a futile effort to keep up, so I end up much more winded, red-faced, and sweaty than I do when I walk the same distance alone. Recovery is also longer.

Remember to be proud. It can be a little discouraging, when you've made all this personal progress and have come so far, to suddenly be surrounded by people who are much, much further along in their journey than you are. I felt like a million bucks at the starting line of my first 5K; I felt like a complete loser unworthy of being there when I finished so late that there wasn't even an official finish line set up anymore.

I am not trying to be negative. I am trying to be realistic. Doing a 5K is a wonderful, fantastic thing that I am very glad I've done, and which I plan to continue to keep doing... but it is not all sunshine and rainbows, either, and I think it's important to prepare for some of the less than glittery parts of it all.

Enjoy. Be proud. Celebrate!

"Last night Mo Farah finished the 10,000m 22 minutes faster than my best 10K time. Doesn't mean much."

That 10K was faster than my best 5K. Still doesn't mean much. The only one I race against is me. Your first 5K will be a personal best. You'll get better from there. You're better than you were, and, yet, not as good as you will be. As long as you are enjoying the journey, improvement will come.

Be careful with signing up for events, It is addictive. After my first 5K in 25 years, I immediately enter another 5K, a 4 miler and a Half Marathon. The 4 miler is this Saturday. The Half Marathon is Sept 25. Longest training run to date has been 13 miles. At least I'll make the cut off (3:15 cut off; 13 mile training run 2:52, it was hot and humid, Had to walk the last mile and a half. Still came in with 13:08 average miles)

Just keep moving ;-)

johunt615 wrote: »

It's coming up this Saturday so send me positive vibes!!!

Don't overthink it. You've done the distance, and it will literally be a walk in the park. Just enjoy it as if it wasn't a race at all, and you'll be fine.

I am a decent runner. I typically place 1st or 2nd in my AG. About 5 years ago, I decided to do a duathlon (run, bike, run). I am not a cyclist. I finished dead last. I survived, and no one looked down on me. It was still a great experience and I'm glad that I did it. Trust me, everyone will be running their own race. Have fun!

Also, as a runner, I will add that when I see walkers, I think, "Good for them for getting out and being active!" No judgment about pace or finishing time.