Thinking of signing up for my 1st 5K

spyrosmom

spyrosmom

Cathlete
And I'm askeered!!!!! The next town over is having a 5K on 09/12. I've never run a race before. My normal runs are by myself w/ my Ipod or my Ipod and Vlad. I normally run steady state btwn 3-5 miles depending on the day or to Cardio Coach which generally comes around the same mileage. I run once or twice a wk, but haven't been out probably in the last 2 wks - just have felt like doing other cardio. The distance isn't the issue. I've just never ran in a race and it scares me. What if I'm last?? I doubt I'll be last - I looked at last years times and some people came in close to an hour. Its a $23 regis fee - which isn't much. I may have to work that weekend, which is my current excuse for not signing up - sounds better than being chicken:confused::confused::confused: I know y'all are going to tell me do it, but how do you get over the nerves of the 1st one? I know one there is going to be concerned or paying attention to what I'm doing,but big crowds of people aren't my fave thing in the world. DH says I can do whatever I want - he's being a neutral party. I'm thinking of going for a run Sat morn (my next cardio day) and seeing how it goes and deciding from there. I'm just a casual runner, its not my cardio of choice, I do it because it challenges me and therefore makes me feel good, but it's hard!!! Of course, a little hard never killed anyone either!

Help? Advice? Kick in the pants?

Nan
 
I think its normal for you to have some of these concerns...no one wants to be last, right?:p I signed up for my 1st race last yr and it was a 10 mile one....with about 2000 people. I was pleasantly surprised when I placed 371 out of over 2000 people! You can't really go by what everyone else is doing when you race. You need to set a realistic goal for yourself and you will only be to happy when you finish the race in a shorter time...thats when you realize what a good runner you actually are.

Ive ran a few races since then. I did a small one in our community last Aug, and I was the 1st female to finish. Then I did a 20 km (super hilly) race last fall and I placed 3rd in my age group and beat the time I had set for myself. If its smaller races, I usually place somewhere. I think you should do it! You can already run....just put your ipod on and run! Everything you are feeling is completely normal, but thats what will make you run faster when the time comes! You need that energy!!! You probably won't sleep much before the race but thats normal to...funny thing is, you won't even be tired. I promise you, if you enjoy running, you will be hooked on racing!

Let us know what you decide!

Lori
 
Go for it Nan!!!

I started running in late 2007 and did my first 5K in February of 2008! I loved it!! Crossing the finish line is the best feeling in the world and I loved it so much that I kept signing up for races. I think I did about 19 or 20 races last year and have done about 15 so far this year.

I'm 47 years old (for another week at least) and I'm NOT a fast runner. I have had the same fears as you and whenever I sign up for a race I always check the race results to make sure that I won't be last. I was so nervous on the first race but there were so many people there ~ old and young, chubby and skinny, newbies and veterans. It's a fantastic feeling. I have been to big and small races. What inspires me most is seeing the non runners out there. I have seen folks in their 80's walking it with a walker, people in wheelchairs and people struggling to get healthy and finish a race.

You'll be nervous that is guaranteed but when you cross that finish line you'll be smiling the whole day.

DO IT!! If I lived closer, I'd run it with you!!!
 
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I say go for it, Nan! I'm not a runner, either, but have challenged myself to run at least one 5k a year for the past two years. I use the couch to 5k program-9 weeks to running 3.1 miles and I've come in at 31:03 and 29:04. With your mileage, I bet you surprise yourself with a great time! As for nerves, do you know anyone else running it? Maybe you can start off together? My first race I was alone but ran into a few friends who were way faster and started with them-it really helped with the jitters. I was fine once I got going. I'm doing my next race on Sept. 20th with a fellow Cathlete and my 10year old dd:) Can't wait!

Good luck and have fun!
 
Nan -- DO IT!!! (You knew I'd say that.:)) 5K's are so much fun! Does the 5K have a theme or benefit a particular organization? I just did one last Sat. to benefit Ovarian Cancer. It was very cool b/c it was only women. It was so inspiring to see the survivors doing the race. I talked a friend into doing it, and it was her first. She was very concerned about the people passing her, and I told her that she isn't "racing" those people. The only race is with herself to do the best she could on that day under all the circumstances. I also told her that she beat every single person who stayed home.

If the race is not gigantic (with 1000's of participants), I think the crowd vibe is fun and motivating -- a real sense of community IMHO. I think you would feel really empowered and have a great sense of accomplishment if you do it. Remember that you only have to do your first 5K once; after that, you're a seasoned runner! ;)

Also, most races have cool t-shirts and free stuff (well, paid for with your admission, I guess).

Just my two cents -- for whatever it's worth.

ETA: If I lived close to you, I'd run with you, too. Do you have a friend willing to run with you?
 
Nan,

Like you, I have always been a runner that ran for my own personal reasons and never ran a race until May of last year.

It was an Inaugural 5K race for one of my best friend's who was dying of lung cancer (never smoked a day in her life). She was a high school nursing teacher who touched many lives so it meant a lot to her when this race was set up in her honor.

My dear friend was there - she sat at the starting line and watched all 800+ participants start their race. She stayed until all had crossed the finish line even though she was doing very poorly (she passed away less than a month later).

Because it was a race dedicated to her - I signed up for it. I had no idea how exhiliarating it was going to be! I felt great running with other people - it never even felt like a race quite honestly. I did finish 3rd in my age group (40-49) which was a pleasant surprise but I really didn't have the mindset that I was racing.

I enjoyed the experience so much that I had every intention of doing a few more races until my back started to flare up and then after Cathe's RT last year - I had a major setback after the Sunday morning kickboxing class. Oh well - after months of not working out and some physical therapy thrown in there, I was finally able to start running again in the beginning of May this year - just in time for the run in honor of my friend again.

This time I didn't place but honestly, it didn't mean any less. I just felt great after the run.

So I say go for it - you will be surprised how much you enjoyed it and will wonder why you haven't participated in a race before!!

And yes, like Lori said, let us know what you decide and if you decide to do it - let us know how you liked it.
 
Nan: YOU CAN DO IT!!!! 5ks are so much fun and I know with the running experience you have you will do great. I rememberr my first 5k I was soooo nervous and those nerves/adrenaline pushed me to place 2nd in my age group (40+) I finally got an athletic trophy at the age of 40!! relax and enjoy the experience.... and tell us all about it.

Brenda in Indiana
 
I say go for it, too, Nan! If you really don't want to do it by yourself, find someone to go in with you, just for the sake of nerves on the first one!

I just started running this year and I have my DH looking for a 5K for us to enter together! He's done several, a half-marathon and his first mini-triathlon this last weekend. Watching him at every race is what inspired me to try to start running! Now, I want to enter a 5K, just to prove to myself that I can do it! I really don't care if I come in last or next to last! :) I'll just be happy to finish!

So, do it! Take the day off from work if need be! You will always regret it if you don't! I believe in trying everything at least once, that way, I have no regrets, ever!
 
Sounds like fun to me! If you normally do 3-5 miles already it should be a breeze. A 5k is 3.1 miles (approximately.) I did my first race (just 2 miles!) this last summer and am scheduled for a 5k in October. Lets do it!!!!! Don't worry about the crowds of people, just get your game face on! Also, check to see if they allow ipods, some races don't.

Welcome to the world of Phedippides! Would you like to join the World Wide Festival of Races? Its free! www.worldwidefestivalofraces.com/cgi-bin/home

Don't forget to check in with the runners! We are friendly to all runners!

Alisha
 
I did it!!!! 2 cups of coffee kicking in this morning and the morning haze not quite worn off, came to work, pulled up the site, punched in my CC #, closed my eyes and hit "submit" I am terrified:confused::confused::confused: I went back and checked out last years finish times - they ranged from 17mins to an hour - so I should fall right in the middle. Last year looked to be about a 100 people. Now as long as I don't trip on my shoelaces or get lost on the course, I should be alright. Its in a forest preserve, so it should be nice and cool and shady early in the morning. I'm also trying to think of it as a group morning workout rather than a racing event. Just wanna finish. I actually found out about it by a H.S. friend that I recently found on facebook. She posted that she was going to run it and I inquired so she sent me the link. She offered to do it with me, but she's been running since Jr High and I don't want to slow her up.

Thanks for the encouragement everybody and wish me luck!!!

Nan
 
Good for you Nan! I think you'll really enjoy it and wonder why you hadn't done it sooner. I've been wanting to do a race and told myself that the next time the oppurtunity came up I'm going to go for it. I'm not a runner by a long shot and find it difficult but when I get out there and do it I enjoy it. Be sure to check in when you're done and let us know how you did.:D
 
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