I need everyone's opinion... Please!

JenMarie826
JenMarie826 Posts: 143
edited October 4 in Motivation and Support
Okay so back in 7th and 8th grade my school had required us for gym class to run a 5k to pass gym class... I remember doing it but of course I was the fat kid... I hated it! I remember my face was soooo red afterwards and I felt so uncomfortable having everyone watching me doing it... My brothers girlfiriend just brought up a topic to me recently. She and my brother are running a 5k thanksgiving morning. I think it would be awesome to do so I can accomplish it but I'm just afraid they will finish the race way before me (which I know they will) but I just have the worries about it. I don't want to be the last one who finishes the race... I'm having 50/50 thoughts about doing it. I need opinions please!!
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Replies

  • Definitely do the 5k! you will be so proud of accomplishing it, and that will help you want to do better! It doesn't matter how fast or slow you do the run, or even if your behind your brother. As long as you tell yourself you can do this, and think positive, you'll be amazed at the results!!
  • eillamarie
    eillamarie Posts: 862 Member
    Even if you walk chances are you won't be the slowest person there! I'm sure others will be in your shoes as well. Do it!!
  • drvvork
    drvvork Posts: 1,162
    I was always told there is no shame in where you place in the race... as long as you finish it. :flowerforyou:
  • If you really want to do it, then I would, it doesn't matter if you come in last place or not, the accomplishment of just doing it is something in itself.
  • 2bFitNTrim
    2bFitNTrim Posts: 1,209 Member
    Question: Do YOU want to do it? If yes, then DO IT! So what if you are last? Someone has to be last, right? I am 50 years old & if there is one thing I can say to anyone reading this: The nice thing about getting older (at least for me) is you start to not give a flip about what other people think. I used to care so much what others thought,. What a waste that was! Life is to be lived & enjoyed. Want to do it, then do it. And have fun! :flowerforyou:

    Edit for typo
  • thirtyandthriving
    thirtyandthriving Posts: 613 Member
    I have had the same thoughts. If you can run some then You won't be last. I've been told that there are always people who walk the whole thing. People do it just to do it. You should worry about being last. Just concentrate on yourself and how well you do compared to yourself, not others. :)
  • What type of activity level are you at currently?
    Do you walk a couple of miles a day? Ride a bike?

    If not, you should start immediately. Even though it is just a couple of miles, it would be awesome to have some training underway before the BIG race on Thanksgiving. Not only will your body appreciate the prep, but your mind will also. The more you prepare, the more confident you will feel about that day!
    Good luck and have Fun!!!
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    My opinion - do it. I've never crossed a finish line and regretted it. I'm not sure if I've ever been last, but I've certainly come close in some events ... NM half marathon comes to mind right now.

    With all that being said, if this is an event that has been done before, you can probably find the results from last year on line. This will help you compare with where you're at to where some finished the event last year. Of course there are no guarantees about the times people will finish it this year, but it's a good starting point.

    There's no shame in finishing last. None.
  • Katbaran
    Katbaran Posts: 605 Member
    I doubt anyone will be laughing if you come in with the last of the finishers. Most folks that do races are there to cheer you on! Most folks will celebrate your determination and the fact that you came out and tried. I went to one race with my hubby and everyone hung around and cheered the last finishers! Most of them were pretty slow, but they went out there, did something good for themselves and FINISHED! Go for it!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    Okay so back in 7th and 8th grade my school had required us for gym class to run a 5k to pass gym class... I remember doing it but of course I was the fat kid... I hated it! I remember my face was soooo red afterwards and I felt so uncomfortable having everyone watching me doing it... My brothers girlfiriend just brought up a topic to me recently. She and my brother are running a 5k thanksgiving morning. I think it would be awesome to do so I can accomplish it but I'm just afraid they will finish the race way before me (which I know they will) but I just have the worries about it. I don't want to be the last one who finishes the race... I'm having 50/50 thoughts about doing it. I need opinions please!!
    I wouldn't run a 5K so you would easily beat me. You're doing something most people wouldn't even attempt so regardless of where you finish, you are still accomplishing much more than many will even do.
  • Janda06
    Janda06 Posts: 168 Member
    Do it!! :)
  • jazzminx
    jazzminx Posts: 236 Member
    I agree with everyone else. As long as YOU want to do it, what do you need to prove to anyone else.
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
    One of the best quotes I read here that even the last person finishing a race was faster than the one who didn't get off the couch! Go for it. If you complete it you are a winner!
  • Do it for you NOT for anyone else....who care what they say and who cares when or in what place you finish....the most important thing is that you do your personal best!! Go for it!
  • mandyschalk
    mandyschalk Posts: 93 Member
    My opinion- If you want to do it then do it! I did one this year, my only one. I walk/jogged all of it. The time was not that important to me just that I finished it!
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    I'm going to enter my first ever 5K in 2 weeks. I will be walking it, as I don't run. I'm doing it for me, and I'm not going to worry about how fast or slow that I am. I think you will do great, just make sure you have proper shoes and clothing, but most of all, have a fun time!
  • k121777
    k121777 Posts: 306
    DO IT DO IT DO IT!! And don't worry about what other people think. You need to worry about what YOU think. Get out there in the sunshine and fresh air, do the 5k. Finish it. Who gives a flying flip what place you finish or how long it takes you. YOU GO GIRL! PS....you are only 23 so I understand that you are worried what others will think. As you get older you will see that what others think don't matter so much. It's all about YOU and what matters to you.
  • Mommawarrior
    Mommawarrior Posts: 897 Member
    No matter how slow you are, you are faster than those sitting on the sideline!
    Who cares if you come in last, at least you did it!
  • OSC_ESD
    OSC_ESD Posts: 752 Member
    I would encourage you to do one ... just not this one. I would never encourage someone to do it for the wrong reasons or knowing that what " others " are doing is going to influence the outcome. Let your brother and his girlfriend do their thing ... and you do yours. If you pick another one that has no outside influence then you are truly doing it for YOU !

    It is not about winning or how fast you can go ... it is completely about the distance you travel and how you feel in the end. Start that day with confidence and do the best you can do. I don't want to come off as mean ... I just feel that no matter how hard you try that day you will not feel accomplished because you will be comparing your results to theirs and that's just not healthy ! :(
  • suz155
    suz155 Posts: 326 Member
    You can do it, who cares if you walk, believe me, Ive done those in the past,,,,,everyone is too wiped out to even care what anyone else is doing. And the ones who are watching....well.....why arent they participating? :happy:
  • What type of activity level are you at currently?
    Do you walk a couple of miles a day? Ride a bike?

    If not, you should start immediately. Even though it is just a couple of miles, it would be awesome to have some training underway before the BIG race on Thanksgiving. Not only will your body appreciate the prep, but your mind will also. The more you prepare, the more confident you will feel about that day!
    Good luck and have Fun!!!

    I'm not the most active person but I do have an active job. I work at a daycare with toddlers and preschoolers so with the kids I'm always up and moving and on my feet all day. And I walk home from work everyday because my work is about 15 minutes away from my house!
  • DO IT! I was the exact same way growing up. I was always one of the last ones when I was a kid. It sucked! I just did a 5k myself. And I gotta tel you... I cried when I finished! I could not believe I finished it! When I first started the race I was so discouraged and gettig depressed. But I talked myself into realizing I'm doing this for myself and hiting the finish line is the major goal. NOT how fast or slow I can go compared to others. If they want to go with you, tell them to go infront of you. I'm sure they are also aware of the fact that they can go faster than you so YOU be the one to let them know it's ok. Make sure you have some music with you. It helps alot! Also- run/jog when you can. I found that the easiest part to do that is flat areas. Also- the last mile you will get such a huge spurt of energy because you're realizing that you've almost finished- when you get that, run!!! I wish you all th luck and blessing. Deciding to do one and ACTUALLY doing it is a HUGE step! Everyone will be proud because not many will think you'll follow through with it! DO IT DO IT DOOOOOOO ITTTT!
    P.S. I'm gonna add you as a friend- I wanna see you through this!!!
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    Here's another thought ... if you allow your perceived thoughts and comments of others from preventing you to become the best you can be, then you'll never conquer the big issues. We're not in junior high anymore. Most people grow up and are more encouraging than they were in junior high - especially runners.
  • noogie98
    noogie98 Posts: 451 Member
    use the Couch to 5K training program ~ you won't finish it by Turkey Day, but you will be well enough on your way to where you won't finish last. There are always lots of people who walk just to walk it! Here is the link to the info I am currently using:

    http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

    Good Luck to you!! :flowerforyou:
  • prettyfitchick
    prettyfitchick Posts: 502 Member
    This is about your personal best not beating others in the race. but have you done c25k ? its good for those who arent ruuners to get started make the training fun and work together to be the best you can be and if you do beat them in the race thats just icing on the cake
  • Thank you everyone for your responses. I have made up my mind. I am doing it. I'm going to train for this just so my confidence can build up a bit. But no matter the outcome, at least I won't be sitting on my bum that morning saying that I wish I would have done that race... It means a lot to me all this feedback, everyone on here is so amazing!
  • CrystalFlury
    CrystalFlury Posts: 400 Member
    Okay so back in 7th and 8th grade my school had required us for gym class to run a 5k to pass gym class... I remember doing it but of course I was the fat kid... I hated it! I remember my face was soooo red afterwards and I felt so uncomfortable having everyone watching me doing it... My brothers girlfiriend just brought up a topic to me recently. She and my brother are running a 5k thanksgiving morning. I think it would be awesome to do so I can accomplish it but I'm just afraid they will finish the race way before me (which I know they will) but I just have the worries about it. I don't want to be the last one who finishes the race... I'm having 50/50 thoughts about doing it. I need opinions please!!

    Really I think you should give it a shot. Start training now, if you can't run the full amount of time right now then run what you can, then walk, then run. Go back and forth giving your self some walking time if running is too difficult. Don't look at this 5K as an awful reminder of the past, look at it as a chance to challenge yourself. You'll find a lot of people running a 5K are most often beginners and they aren't looking to see who can run the fastest. It's not a competition, most of the time it's just a way to raise money for charity organizations or what not and have fun!
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    Thank you everyone for your responses. I have made up my mind. I am doing it. I'm going to train for this just so my confidence can build up a bit. But no matter the outcome, at least I won't be sitting on my bum that morning saying that I wish I would have done that race... It means a lot to me all this feedback, everyone on here is so amazing!

    Ahhhh....the light bulb went on. Good decision. Best of luck.
  • This feedback from everyone is amazing. You all are so inspiring! And this run is a c25k event! Thank you for the link for the training! I'm going to start training for this, I'm ready! So excited!! And again everyone thank you for your comments!!
  • LosingIt2WIN
    LosingIt2WIN Posts: 63 Member
    I agree with everyone here. JUST DO IT!!! I, too, am trying a 5K on November 5. I just started the Couch to 5K program and am having a hard time because of an old knee injury. I know that I will not be able to run the whole way but I CAN finish! I am doing it with my kids who are 24 and 26. They will have no problem running the whole way and will be there to cheer me on when I get to the finish line. I don't care what anyone else's times are going to be. I just care about finishing it for MYSELF. We are also planning on doing another one together in March. Hopefully by that time I will be able to run a lot more of the race.

    JUST DO IT!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!
    :happy: :flowerforyou: :happy:
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