Need advice for an upcoming 5k!

Couch to 5k.

When is it?

Most 5Ks around here have a HUGE range of people doing them. I'm doing my neighborhood one on Sunday and talked a friend into doing it with me and he was supposed to do C25K but did not, so he is going to run/walk as best he can. I told him there are always walkers, which there are, and there are lots of people who decide to run it but run super slow.

So that's the don't worry about it, walk it, speed walk it, walk/run it, jog it super slow (if that term doesn't bother you, I still use it sometimes), whatever you feel up to, and it will be cool, and you almost certainly won't be the heaviest.

DON'T try to just run it, though, since if you haven't been training at all and are not used to running you will likely run too fast, especially in a race situation, and then run out of steam and feel discouraged. Have a plan, like jog for a minute walk for 2 or something like that.

If you are going with your 5-year-old, that seems like a way to keep it reasonable, especially if there's a range of other kids and moms there. Probably will be some others walking and it could be a fun social thing.

There's a huge race here that a lot of people do who don't run (Corporate Challenge) and lots who do run, and the people who get dragged into it tend to keep each other company and have fun.

My advice is get a training plan and stick to it. Just about any plan (most based on Hal Higdon or Jeff Galloway) as seen here.

If your 5 year old is running then I would walk at her pace or pace her so she doesn't bonk out too early.

I regularly walk, at a medium pace, a couple of miles every other day with my kids. They would have to jog to keep up with me. Actually they usually run ahead of me and walked until I caught up. They're 13 and 9.

If it's in 3 days definitely walk don't run! Do you know how many steps you are doing when you walk in place at home? Or how long you can walk nonstop for? These can give you a general idea of how long the 5k will take you or whether you can actually do the whole thing.

Three miles is pretty long if you haven't been training at all for it, so maybe just have hubbs on call in case you need an early pick up.

I agree wth everyone else, tons of people walk them, so you definitely wouldn't be an oddball at all!

I agree with lemurcat. Most races have huge range of people. The 5k I did last Saturday had all types from little kids to grandparents, some runners some walkers. If this race is for a school, there will be plenty of people like you wondering what they got themselves into!

I suggest starting in the final group and just walk it. There is no pressure!!!! Maybe walk it with another parent?

The best part of a race is the non judgement atmosphere. Enjoy yourself. You got this and congrats to you on your progress

If you've not been running regularly then don't expect to run the 5k. You won't be the only walker. Start the Couch to 5k program, walk 3-4 times a week for 30-45 minutes and you should be just fine when the 5k comes!

ebaroldy wrote: »

My 5 year old daughter has been begging me to do this 5k race with her at her elementary school, and I thought; I'm down over 80 pounds now, yea lets do it!
Now that I registered, I'm thinking; what did I get myself into?! I normally exercise anywhere between 2-4 times a week, either jogging in place with Xbox fitness evolved game, or Jillian Michaels 30 day shred... I can't tell you the last time I went out and ran!

I know a lot of kids from her class are going to be doing it too, so that makes me feel more relaxed, but I haven't ran more than a mile back when I was in high school! I'm also still technically obese and trying not to think about being the only one weighing 190 something

Anyone have any good advice or things to keep in mind? I would love to hear them, thanks!