Just signed up for a 5k

[oh_suzanney]

Uh...well, on a whim I decided to sign up for a 5k. It's at the beginning of December, so not a whole lot of time to train.

I regularly "run" 7-8 miles on the elliptical. Like 4-5 times a week. But I haven't run, either on the road or on a treadmill, in......well, a really long time.

I'm going to start hitting the treadmill tonight and will continue to do so during the week and try to get in a road run on the weekends. But how miserable do you guys think this race will be? Or do you think the cardio that I do already will have me pretty well prepared? 

[Whyshoshoni]

@oh_suzanney Way to go! ‘A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step’.  And you know what? You don’t have to run the whole 1000 miles, or in this case 5k. I do a couple of 5k races each year, mostly walking and some running.  I am not leading the pack, more like bringing up the rear LOL, but I still get a great sense of accomplishment for participating and completing.  In fact, my daughter and I will be doing the Gobble Wobble on Thanksgiving Day morning ... it’s a great feeling to do that, helps to not feel guilty enjoying all the Turkey Day delights!

That said, if you want to run, then you still have plenty of time to build up your pace and endurance.  Take it easy, and just try to increase your speed and/or distance a little bit each day.  Though I am not really a runner, I find I can run for longer periods of time when I have the right music playing in my earbuds.  So find the music that makes you keep going, and just do it!  You go girl!

[Baltoscott]

With the amount time you are spending on the elliptical don't think your cardio will be an issue at all.  The impact you get from pavement running will probably affect you some for a few days after the 5K.  At leasst that is my experience with the one 5K that I run around Thanksgiving.  (Otherwise I mostly bike).  Your treadmill work will help you adapt some, but that surface is still a lot more forgiving that streets and sidewalks.  

Report back in after the race and let us know how it goes. 

[oh_suzanney]

Thanks, Scott! I agree, I really don't think the endurance will be an issue. And luckily it's a mostly flat race, so it will be even less of an issue. Is it weird that I'm more concerned with finding a cute outfit than training for the actual race?! I said to a friend, "I mean, come on. It's a 5k." We'll see how it goes, I'll definitely report back on 12/9!

[Baltoscott]

@oh_suzanney.  That made me smile.  My wife signs us up for these 5Ks and they are usually on Thanksgiving or Halloween so they involve ‘outfits,’ though that may not be quite what you meant 🙂

Here is one from a couple of years ago. (A Fitbit group I was involved with then had a challenge to do an organized race and post a pic to the group).

Halloween 2015

[oh_suzanney]

Oh no, Scott. That's DEFINITELY what I meant.

It's a "Jingle Bell" 5k. Considering dressing up as "Olive, the other reindeer."

[Baltoscott]

A set of antlers and a broken wrist watch and you’re good to go.  Plus, because of the broken watch, no worries about a bad time.  Well played.

[Ronlaub]

As a former 5 and 10k runner, my best advice is to start slowly. The natural tendency is to take off because you see all these faster people up front. DON'T! Hold back at the beginning so you will have plenty of energy for the end. The race will be much more enjoyable when you are running at the end instead of struggling to get across the finish line because you started too fast.

[emili]

@oh_suzanney.. so as a treadmill runner and I mean runner. I do 7 miles in under an hour... I can't run pavement as long or as fast. I am usually cursing after the first mile. if you really want to run the race, don't train on the treadmill, train outside. It is completely different. on the treadmill, you are getting pushed along- you have no choice but keep pace. On the pavement it is your own energy that pushed you forward. just my two cents. 

[oh_suzanney]

Well, looks like I'll have a little more time to train - I've been sick with a chest cold for the past few weeks and haven't been able to train at all. And since I still can't take a deep breath without coughing, I've decided it's probably better to skip this one and just get ready for another one this spring. I'm super bummed out, but I know it's the right decision. There's a race on the weekend of my birthday in Feb that I'm going to aim for instead. 🙂