First 5K

I've walked them before and am suppose to run my first one next Saturday.

I'm not worried about how fast, just want to run it. Next I will work on speed for the one in June I'm signed up for.

I think what you did was great. I have never been a runner before either and just signed up for my first 5k for May 4th. I would be so proud and happy with myself if I could just complete it in the time you did. You did great...not many people can run a 5k or even think to try and you did it

Also, who cares what that guy thinks...people who aren't self adsorbed would see what a great feat you have accomplished

50 minutes is not bad for your first time running the distance! If you keep at it, I promise you will get faster! Also, there is the race-day magic: we always run a bit faster during a race - I think it;s just all the excitement. Be careful not to start off too fast so you don't burn out; start at the back of the pack so you don't have to deal with the disheartening feeling of having lots of people swarm by you in the first quarter mile. Run your own race; don't compare yourself to skinny jocks who have been doing this for 20 years. Even if you come in last, you are way ahead of all those people who aren't running at all! If you picked a 5k that people will be walking in, you won't be last. Walk if you need to; your goal is just to complete the race. And then you will have a benchmark from which to chart your improvements over time as you get more and more fit!

Big ditto! The point is that you are out there, challenging your body. You will be amazed at what it is capable of when you put it to the test. Races are so exciting, I love the energy. Enjoy every minute of it!!

Be proud that you did it!! I am! :flowerforyou:

I did my 1st 5K last weekend and came in 116th out of 195 with a time of 41:24. I'm doing C25K, and had finished week 7 when I did the race. I ran most of it (slowly though) and walked some of it. But hey, I finished, and that's what's important. And I was 222 lbs when I did it.

You finished. You did your first 5K, and now you have a time to beat. Don't give up, and don't listen to the haters. He's probably just jealous that you did/finished the race and he can't say the same.

You will do great! I did my first one today!

I think that it's great that you are out there tackling 5Ks. To go out any more than 5 minutes requires both mental and physical endurance. It means that you are strong - you could remain seated firmly on the couch, but you have said F that, I'm an athlete, and that is something incredible right there.

I'd like to share something I witnessed just this past Friday night. There were two athletes both coming in about 48 minutes. They were both pushing themselves hard - batlling the heat and battling the will to continue on. But, it was amazing, they saw that finish line and suddenly they both started pushing themselves even harder. The people still watching the finsihers, myself included, were hooting and hollering like nobody's business. You would have thought that they were competing for the olympic gold medal.

The great thing about running is that it's an internal competition, unless of course you are running at a sub 5 minute pace. You are racing against yourself- to get a better time, to run without stopping, to go a little further, to tell that little voice in your head to bugger off, that you are amazing. You have to run your own race and you have to know why you're doing it. If you know that, then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Keep your chin up, I know you will accomplish great things. And believe me, there is nothing better than completing your first 5K, except, well, maybe your first 10K or your first half marathon. Good luck tomorrow!!

I have to applaud your bravery to run! My heart is yearning to run, however, I have never run before. I am so scared due to my stamina, weight and confidence, but you took the bull by the horns.

The fact is that you completed your first 5k, where I am just dreaming of one day running. You have inspired me!

Congrats on your run!

I ran my 1st 5k last year- it took me 47 mins and i ran the whole way. i was 230lbs.

the point is that it was never about doing it for anyone else- it was all about me! i admit i felt fat, sweaty and jiggly, and i pulled my hat down so i couldn't see the spectators looking at me (i was so self conscious that everyone would be looking at the fat chick trying to run).

but after i did it i felt proud, motivated, and different- everything changed when i realised that i could do it. something just clicked in my head and i wanted to keep having that amazing feeling of setting a goal and achieving it.

i've now ran in a few 5ks, 10ks, done 5 half marathons and i have my 1st full marathon next saturday. and i have that same feeling in the pit of my stomach as i did before that first 5k. i'm really slow- i still get overtaken by walkers! but i'm comfortable with my place at the back of the pack. and i've finished every single race that i've done.

some of us are built more for endurance than speed, but the only person you're racing is yourself. when i used to get hung up on how slow i am, i always thought that 'i'm lapping everyone on the couch'.

so, i've accepted that the time isn't important. what is important is that you're doing it, and making great steps towards being a much happier and healthier individual.

well done you!

And I told him it took me a while (50 mins) but that I finished and I was just happy that I did. The look on his face and the sound in his voice when he said "oh.... yea that is a while."

your co-worker doesn't know a thing. the first time i ever successfully jogged an entire 5k, no stops, it tood me 45mins, and i was 125lbs at the time. to complete it in 50 is great. the very best i ever managed was 34mins.

it sounds to me like you're much more of a runner than i ever have been or will be if you're hitting 50mins with short stops.