Running a 5K for the first time on Sunday. Any advice or tips would be appreciated
TimothyPhoenix
Posts: 79 Member
I did a couch to 5K program recently to get ready for it. As I enter the final few days I would greatly appreciate any and all tips and advice on how I can optimize my performance. Thank you.
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Have fun!!! Get caught up in the moment!!!6
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That might be even harder than finishing the race well. I am nervous as hell which I know wont be good for me on race day. But to top it off I am nervous that I will be extremely nervous on Sunday, lol. Obviously taking an ativan is not an option because that will cause some fatigue. I guess I need to find a way to turn that nervous energy into a positive.queenliz99 wrote: »Have fun!!! Get caught up in the moment!!!
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There will be people all around you with nervous energy too! Seriously, just have fun!0
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My daughter belongs to this group called Girls on the run. They have a huge race every year which goes through Hershey Park in Hershey PA. Each girl has to have a running buddy. I am my daughters running buddy and I so I feel a lot of extra pressure to do this and do it well. I have run a practice 5K once so I know I can do it. What makes me nervous is is that I over trained last week and my knees were in pretty bad shape. I haven't run since Saturday but my knees are just finally starting to feel better yesterday/today. I'm guessing at this point I should go into the race with rest but I was thinking about doing some interval running tomorrow.queenliz99 wrote: »There will be people all around you with nervous energy too! Seriously, just have fun!0 -
Enjoy the day and trust in your training. You'll do great.0
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You know you can run a 5k, right? Why not give your knees some rest? There will be people walking, no shame in walking if you need to. Road races like these are for fun!0
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Yes, I did it a week and a half ago. I am not an experienced runner at all. I am not sure if being off from running for a week and resting my knees will be better or worse than had I gotten back to some training the last couple of days. One thing I definitely plan to do is take it real easy on Saturday, just not sure what would benefit me more though, training a little bit tomorrow or just resting until the race. As far as walking goes, I personally would consider that a failure.queenliz99 wrote: »You know you can run a 5k, right? Why not give your knees some rest? There will be people walking, no shame in walking if you need to. Road races like these are for fun!
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TimothyPhoenix wrote: »I would greatly appreciate any and all tips and advice
1. Don't eat, drink or wear anything that you haven't been using while training.
2. Line up in the middle of the pack. The front is for the faster runners.
3. Don't go out too fast. It is easy to get caught up in the event and lose control of your pace. Item 2. should help with this.
4. Have fun!4 -
TimothyPhoenix wrote: »I would greatly appreciate any and all tips and advice
1. Don't eat, drink or wear anything that you haven't been using while training.
2. Line up in the middle of the pack. The front is for the faster runners.
3. Don't go out too fast. It is easy to get caught up in the event and lose control of your pace. Item 2. should help with this.
4. Have fun!
Thank you. How long before the race should I eat and I am guessing it should be a pretty light meal?0 -
Have a blast and don't overthink it!1
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TimothyPhoenix wrote: »How long before the race should I eat and I am guessing it should be a pretty light meal?
Morning race? If so, just eat your regular breakfast then go run.0 -
TimothyPhoenix wrote: »How long before the race should I eat and I am guessing it should be a pretty light meal?
Morning race? If so, just eat your regular breakfast then go run.
9:30 am start time. I was just going to have a light breakfast at around 7 am and drink coffee as I normally would in the morning.1 -
I ran my first complete 5k last August at age 61. I had completed C25K and had run more than 30 minutes, but had not completed the full 5k distance. On race day I was nervous as heck, but I got out there and ran every step in a several minutes faster than I expected. It took a LOT of self-talk to keep me going, so read through all your favorite motivational quotes and everything positive than people have told you. I have no doubt you can do it!0
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Thank you, that is some really good advice.I ran my first complete 5k last August at age 61. I had completed C25K and had run more than 30 minutes, but had not completed the full 5k distance. On race day I was nervous as heck, but I got out there and ran every step in a several minutes faster than I expected. It took a LOT of self-talk to keep me going, so read through all your favorite motivational quotes and everything positive than people have told you. I have no doubt you can do it!
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Don't tear your name off of the bottom of your bib until after you've crossed the finish line. I tore mine off beforehand and didn't realize that that is how they keep track of everyone'should time and finish0
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I get nervous before races too, but after the first half a mile I'm fine.
Don't do anything you don't usually do before race day.
What do you normally eat before you run?0 -
5ks are fun. The crowd will pump you up. Just enjoy it.0
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TavistockToad wrote: »I get nervous before races too, but after the first half a mile I'm fine.
Don't do anything you don't usually do before race day.
What do you normally eat before you run?
I'm not a runner, never have been. Even when I was younger and an athlete in good shape I didn't run much. I haven't jogged in years until I started the couch to 5K program two months ago. When I have trained I have usually done so soon after having some coffee and something light to eat like a Banana or Cottage cheese.0 -
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TimothyPhoenix wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »I get nervous before races too, but after the first half a mile I'm fine.
Don't do anything you don't usually do before race day.
What do you normally eat before you run?
I'm not a runner, never have been. Even when I was younger and an athlete in good shape I didn't run much. I haven't jogged in years until I started the couch to 5K program two months ago. When I have trained I have usually done so soon after having some coffee and something light to eat like a Banana or Cottage cheese.
you run, you're a runner...
eat a banana or cottage cheese then.
have fun!0 -
TimothyPhoenix wrote: »
I'm not a runner, never have been
But you will be eventually if you keep running. I was not a runner myself a year ago but now I can do a half-marathon, and I will run my first h/m race next week. My advices is take it easy, dont rush it, go with what you feel at that moment and enjoy it!
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It all starts so innocently. One little race. How can it hurt? Everyone else seems to be doing it. It's a little nerve wracking but so exciting. Just one little race. To see how it feels.
Then one day you find yourself awake at 4am. Feverish. Consumed with desire. You have been constantly fighting with the people you love. They tell you that you have a problem. That it has gotten out of control. You don't listen. Your bank account dips dangerously into the red. You flick your Macbook on. Just one more race entry. The perfect race. It is out there...
Have fun my friend. It will be great. The worse thing that can happen is you get an ever so slight addiction to running races...9 -
NikolaosKey wrote: »TimothyPhoenix wrote: »
I'm not a runner, never have been
But you will be eventually if you keep running. I was not a runner myself a year ago but now I can do a half-marathon, and I will run my first h/m race next week. My advices is take it easy, dont rush it, go with what you feel at that moment and enjoy it!
I haven't decided if I am going to stick with it or not. Quite honestly I have had extreme tunnel vision the last 2 months. I'm the kind of person who when I decide to take on a challenge I go after it pretty hard. I believe this is why I over trained last week because I felt so much pressure with the race coming up. Anyway, I hate running, I always have. That being said, that feeling I get after a long run is almost like being high. I feel completely demolished and yet completely unstoppable at the same time. It's a very strange feeling and I really enjoy it. I also enjoy being in better shape. For now though it's just all about finishing this race without stopping. Next week I don't want to even look at my treadmill let alone run on it but I will definitely need to move on an find another challenge at some point which could be as simple as being able to do a 5K in the spring in a much faster time.
Thanks for the encouragement and good luck with your half marathon.0 -
Enjoy, and take it slow. You can always speed up at the end if you have extra energy0
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NikolaosKey wrote: »TimothyPhoenix wrote: »
I'm not a runner, never have been
But you will be eventually if you keep running. I was not a runner myself a year ago but now I can do a half-marathon, and I will run my first h/m race next week. My advices is take it easy, dont rush it, go with what you feel at that moment and enjoy it!
eventually?! rubbish... OP did C25K, OP is a runner!3 -
Ran my first one this July and was amazed at the participants . Everyone from 5-80 and do believe everyone had a great time ! Finished 10 minutes faster than I thought based on training for it . Having fun is the most important thing !0
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TimothyPhoenix wrote: »NikolaosKey wrote: »TimothyPhoenix wrote: »
I'm not a runner, never have been
But you will be eventually if you keep running. I was not a runner myself a year ago but now I can do a half-marathon, and I will run my first h/m race next week. My advices is take it easy, dont rush it, go with what you feel at that moment and enjoy it!
I haven't decided if I am going to stick with it or not. Quite honestly I have had extreme tunnel vision the last 2 months. I'm the kind of person who when I decide to take on a challenge I go after it pretty hard. I believe this is why I over trained last week because I felt so much pressure with the race coming up. Anyway, I hate running, I always have. That being said, that feeling I get after a long run is almost like being high. I feel completely demolished and yet completely unstoppable at the same time. It's a very strange feeling and I really enjoy it. I also enjoy being in better shape. For now though it's just all about finishing this race without stopping. Next week I don't want to even look at my treadmill let alone run on it but I will definitely need to move on an find another challenge at some point which could be as simple as being able to do a 5K in the spring in a much faster time.
Thanks for the encouragement and good luck with your half marathon.
Wow... this sounds all too familiar! When I did my first 5 km race last year in April I too said I don't even know if I'll keep it up. Now I am gong to train for my first half in the spring!! Yes I hated running, but then I got better at it!!!! Now you can't stop me rain, shine or now snow!!!! Maybe your next challenge will be to train for the next 5km to beat your time on this race! That's exactly what I did!!! Have fun!!!!!0 -
Have a great time. Don't worry about what to eat - for a 5k just eat what you normally would before your training run.
The crowd is really fun. Try to not go out too fast so that you can sustain and if you have more left go faster in the second half.
My first 5k was really just a matter of enduring. I was dead last (it was on a college campus - don't race college kids, LOL), but I was steady and kept it up and ended up really happy with myself. The second 5k a month later was much more fun - a very mixed crowd of runners and walkers too - and I ended up starting way too fast in the excitement. But regardless they were both great experiences.
You are a runner! Go run and have fun!0 -
Have a great time, if you're feeling low at any point, say hi to a marshall! We love it, and you're guaranteed an extra big cheer if you acknowledge us
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