Question for Runners - 5 Mile Race

docdrd
docdrd Posts: 174 Member
Hi all,

I am going to be running (jogging is a more accurate description) in a 5 mile race next week. I ran it last year, and my goals were to NOT finish last, NOT walk, and NOT require medical attention at the end. :-) I successfully completed all of those, and this year, I would like to be more positive. So here is my question:

Do you think it is better to try and run the 5 miles without stopping or is it better to run to the water stations, stop, take a drink and then keep going?

Last year, it was very hot on race day and I tried to jog through the water stations and take sips as I continued to run. By the end of the race, I was close to overheating, but was proud of myself for having made it the whole way without a stop. I know it seems sort of silly, but a piece of me believes that stopping cheapens the effort, even though my time will likely be better and I am still covering the same distance.

So with all that said, how do you all approach it? Any and all advice is going to be sincerely appreciated. Cheers!
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Replies

  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    Just make sure you are well hydrated before the start of the race, this should limit, if not eliminate, your need to stop for water
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Just make sure you are well hydrated before the start of the race, this should limit, if not eliminate, your need to stop for water

    I concur. Proper hydration starts way before the race, like days before. If you consistently consume a gallon or more of water every day, you won't have to worry about dehydration in a 5 mile race.

    Now, if you choose to drink the water during the race, adjust the way you grab for, hold and drink from the cup. Grab the cup with your fingers on the inside. Then, pinch the top so there is only a very small opening. This will keep the water from sloshing around and spilling. Then, turn your head slightly to the side and drink from the small opening you have created. You'll get more in you and less on you this way. :smile:
  • Jessibear86
    Jessibear86 Posts: 111 Member
    If you drink plenty the day before and day of you should be fine to run on through. However, if you feel dizzy or like you absolutely need to stop, no harm in that! just take care of yourself!
  • Steve_Runs
    Steve_Runs Posts: 443 Member
    agree, if you hydrate properly, you should not need to stop during a 5 mile race! good luck!
  • CajunNino
    CajunNino Posts: 269
    I ran it last year, and my goals were to NOT finish last, NOT walk, and NOT require medical attention at the end. :-)
    :laugh: :bigsmile: :laugh:
  • picassoadagio
    picassoadagio Posts: 407 Member
    Just make sure you are well hydrated before the start of the race, this should limit, if not eliminate, your need to stop for water

    Ditto, unless it's in 90s, then stop for water. You can never be hydrated enough when it's in the 90s'. Good luck!
  • sarafil
    sarafil Posts: 506 Member
    sorry, i don't agree that walking through water stations "cheapens" an effort....I hate running while I'm trying to drink! So you might shave some seconds off your time, but unless you are running to win the thing, does it really matter?
  • _canuckrunner_
    _canuckrunner_ Posts: 364 Member
    Agree with everyone that making sure you are well hydrated before the race is key - start at least 24 hr ahead of time. If you're well hydrated ahead of time you probably won't need to stop for water, but if you do - I wouldn't feel bad about it, only you know how you'll feel on race day. "Carsonruns" advice about how to drink water is killer! Took me years to figure that out but it was a game-changer! Good luck!!!
  • sorry, i don't agree that walking through water stations "cheapens" an effort....I hate running while I'm trying to drink! So you might shave some seconds off your time, but unless you are running to win the thing, does it really matter?

    ^^ I agree. I don't think I've ever had a water break last more than maybe 20-30 seconds.

    Oh, and to the comment about getting more in you than ON you...Sometimes, I need that ON! During my last race, I tossed the whole cup on me. I was burning up!
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Oh, and to the comment about getting more in you than ON you...Sometimes, I need that ON! During my last race, I tossed the whole cup on me. I was burning up!

    I've been known to grab a cup and dump it on my head then grab one to drink a little further down the line. :smile:
  • BrunetteRunner87
    BrunetteRunner87 Posts: 591 Member
    I never stop but it seems like the people who do stop and walk through half the race seem to beat me anyway.
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    I had your mind set the past couple years but walking does not equal weakness or failure. In fact, jeff Galloway trains people to use the run-walk-run method. There are trainings for the interval running.

    Personally I choke on the water if I try to run through a water stop so I walk, take a breather and get to the next water stop.

    pre-race hydration is very important but I ran a 5-miler yesterday and no matter how much pre-hydration I did, drinking along the race was essential considering the high heat/humidity we have in MN. We also ran through sprinklers and residents along the road had hoses out for us to run through!

    The most important thing is to listen to your body. if you body needs you to walk, then walk for goodness sakes!!
  • naturalbrowndiva
    naturalbrowndiva Posts: 25 Member
    I know how you feel, I'm running(jogging) my first 5k in September. I plan on wearing a water bottle belt. when i go running now I come home feeling thirsty and I drink 320z of water fast.
  • BrunetteRunner87
    BrunetteRunner87 Posts: 591 Member
    I think it really just depends on what works for you. I don't like to stop because through all my years of running, no matter how awful I've felt I've never stopped at least jogging, and I don't want to break that record. If you're concerned about your place, or even your time and you discover that stopping helps you go faster in the long run, then do that if you determine that is important to you.

    I don't necessarily agree that you need to listen to your body. If you can tell something is horribly wrong, then you certainly need to take care of yourself (and usually you can tell if something is different). Yesterday I did a 5 miler and the whole time my body was telling me I needed to stop and sit and eat some potato chips. I wanted to quit so bad, or at least stop and walk, and I felt miserable, but in the end I just had to run through it and I wasn't any worse off than if I had stopped.
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    Depends on how you're feeling. I always make sure I'm hydrated before running--I will run 9 miles straight without stopping for water.
  • QuirkyPanda
    QuirkyPanda Posts: 44 Member
    I'm not a competitive runner, so forgive me if this is not allowed or encouraged in races -- could you wear a hydration pack? I have a 52 oz. Camelbak that I wear for outdoor jogs. You wouldn't have to worry about stopping if you carried your own water with you.
  • snusp
    snusp Posts: 93 Member
    I'm not very good at running and drinking. I run to the water station and walk the time it takes me to drink. Then I run again.
  • KyliAnnHobson
    KyliAnnHobson Posts: 551 Member
    I've only ran 2 5k's and a 10k, but I always hydrate really well the day before and up to an hour before race time. I don't like to drink water while I'm running or right before a race because I've found that my stomach will sometimes cramp up and I definitely don't want that to happen during a race!
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    Oh, and to the comment about getting more in you than ON you...Sometimes, I need that ON! During my last race, I tossed the whole cup on me. I was burning up!

    I've been known to grab a cup and dump it on my head then grab one to drink a little further down the line. :smile:

    The water is usually so warm I skip the drinking and just dump it down my back! Ahhhhh......
  • FatUncleRob
    FatUncleRob Posts: 341
    I'd say, play it by ear. Certainly make sure that you hydrate well leading up to the race but a mouthful of water en route helps cool me down, too.

    I'd try to forget that idea about stopping "cheapening" the effort. If you stop for 20 to 30 seconds a couple of times during a 5 mile race I don't think it diminishes the achievement of finishing in any way.

    Now, if you have your heart set on finishing in a particular time, that might change things.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    +1 on making sure you're well hydrated before the race.

    If you are going to take fluids from the stations make sure you stick to water (many will also offer sports drinks) unless the particular sports drink they're offering is one you've used previously without any issues (an 8km race is short enough that you shouldn't need to worry about carb & electrolyte replacement unless it's extremely hot)
  • bstamps12
    bstamps12 Posts: 1,184
    This is a little late considering you're probably under 24 hrs to race time now, but don't just drink water today! You also need electrolytes. But be careful with Gatorade because it's mostly just sugar. Find lots of sodium and potassium today. If you don't eat/drink more than enough sodium and potassium, and you drink a lot of water, you'll flush out all of your sodium and potassium. This will also dehydrate you because those electrolytes are crucial, even more so in the heat.

    I don't know how hot you're talking, but taking water at least twice during a 5 mile race would be good. I wouldn't skip water in a 5K in the heat let alone a 5 miler.

    I would also suggest throwing a cup of water on your face and try to get a little of the water on your wrists once or twice during the race. The cold water will lower your core body temperature which will conserve precious energy and make you feel a million times better.
  • FatAssBecky
    FatAssBecky Posts: 58 Member
    It doesn't matter if you don't "run" the whole thing. Listen to your body - if it wants some water or to walk for a minute or two, let it. If it wants to run the whole thing, let it. There's been 5K & 10Ks that I've stopped for water/walking and I've managed to run 1/2 marathons and even a marathon without stopping. It just depend on the day, your body, weather, etc. etc. You are your own best judge. Good luck on your race!
  • trijoe
    trijoe Posts: 729 Member
    So, you ask about racing, but never discuss training. What's your training like? If you really want to race a certain way, you should have been training that way.

    Outside of that, if you ask me (which in theory I suppose you are...), the only way you're "cheapening" your race is if you screw it up and DNF. Not every race is a PR. Not every race is a new faster pace. Sometimes weather, or the course, or any number of other issues will affect your finishing time. Because of this, I try to race on "heart". Time be damned, I'm going out there and giving my race every bit of energy and effort that I have. No less. If I race wisely and energetically, I don't really care what my time is, or if I stopped here or slowed down there, or broke this or that PR. I went out and gave my all.

    I think sometimes we find silly things to judge our performances on, while blowing over the big picture things. I do this too. Just last month I got miffed after a race where I placed 1 spot below where I wanted. Even though I R-O-C-K-E-D the race. Missed my dream placement by 5 seconds. Boy was I bent out of shape. Even as I was excited for my effort. So we all do it.

    Still, I think you'll race how you trained, and if it's 100% race day effort that you give, then who really cares where you walked? You still raced your guts out.

    My two cents.
  • docdrd
    docdrd Posts: 174 Member
    This is awesome!! Thank you all!!

    I think because I play tennis more than anything else, my body is conditioned to me stopping for water breaks which is why I am so sensitive to it. I also have to agree (though I cannot seem to get my head around it), that stopping does not cheapen the effort. I am quite sure that the interval plan would actually allow me to complete it faster.

    I sincerely appreciate all of the advice and support! Thank you again.
  • montana_girl
    montana_girl Posts: 1,403 Member
    sorry, i don't agree that walking through water stations "cheapens" an effort....I hate running while I'm trying to drink! So you might shave some seconds off your time, but unless you are running to win the thing, does it really matter?

    ^^ I agree. I don't think I've ever had a water break last more than maybe 20-30 seconds.

    Oh, and to the comment about getting more in you than ON you...Sometimes, I need that ON! During my last race, I tossed the whole cup on me. I was burning up!

    ^^ I agree also!

    I get easily dehyrdated (even in cold Montana winters, I can get dehydrated on a long run) so I make sure to walk every water station for at least a few sips of water. And I've been know to take two waters -- one to drink and one to pour on my head and neck! :laugh:
  • paulvt65
    paulvt65 Posts: 73 Member
    I ran it last year, and my goals were to NOT finish last, NOT walk, and NOT require medical attention at the end. :-)

    Ouch. What's wrong with walking? This from someone that has walked five miles in 39:00. Many years ago, mind you.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    Ouch. What's wrong with walking? This from someone that has walked five miles in 39:00. Many years ago, mind you.

    Just because one of her goals is to run the entire race doesn't make walking "wrong". Try not to take her goal as a personal attack.

    OP - I don't stop for water (on shorter runs like 5 miles or 5k) because I hydrate myself really well for the couple of days leading up to the race. You shouldn't need to stop for water if you have enough water in your body already, but if you do feel the need to drink, never say "never"!
  • sbrBirdy
    sbrBirdy Posts: 224 Member
    You've gotten some really great advice already, and this is mostly repeat, but for what it's worth...

    Someone mentioned Jeff Galloway - he is an incredible superstar in the running world, and he advocates planned walk breaks. I've read testimonies of people who finish with faster times by incorporating the walk breaks. So there is definitely NOTHING wrong with walking for a bit. Personally, I do much better at longer runs if I vary my speed, although I do not walk. But occasionally slowing to a jog to let my heart rate recover always gives me a better finish time. My only hesitation in slowing to a complete walk (again, for me personally) is that I have a hard time starting back.

    As far as water goes, if you are properly hydrating in the days leading up to the race you may want to opt for dumping it on your head or swish and spit. Drinking water while on a run tends to give me cramps. If you can drink some without the cramping, and it's hot, then there's no reason not to do so. And again, staying cooled will ultimately help with your time.

    Congratulations on signing up for the run! You'll do great.
  • mslack01
    mslack01 Posts: 823 Member
    I say stop for water if you need to. Especially if you are in extreme heat. Good luck on your race!