Want to run a 5K?
Not that long ago, about two or so years, I wanted to do something I had not done before- run a 5k! I had some friends who have done them recently and my mom did some races when I was a kid. Running a timed course seemed like a great experience and a rewarding one too.
To get started on a jogging program, I did some research online. I looked into what shoes to wear, where I could jog nearby, what to eat or not to eat before and after you run, and other tips. Here is some advice on tips on getting started!
If you are new to running, I suggest taking it slow. You can even start out with a walking program building up your stamina. Then when you are ready, turn the walking into jogging.
Let me explain what worked for me. I started walking a half an hour a day a few days a week. After a couple of weeks I extended the half an hour into an hour. After a month of walking at around a 3.5mph speed, I was able to start jogging. I started jogging for about 15-20 minutes and then walking the rest of the time to get a total hour of exercise. Every few weeks I was able to add about 5 minutes to each of my jogging/walking workouts. After a few months I was able to run for up to an hour.
A great tool online I found was www.mapmyrun.com, a site where you can route what you walked or ran to find out your distance. It was great to see how many miles I could workout in the safety of my own neighborhood. Another great place to get in your walking and running time is at a local track. High Schools, community centers, and community colleges are some of the different locations that have tracks generally open to the public.
To keep me motivated, I signed up for a 5k sometime during my training weeks. I knew that signing up for an actual race would help keep me committed. A great tool for finding a local 5k run in your neighborhood is going to www.active.com. They have a search tool to narrow down all the listed races and events to fit your personal needs.
After you sign-up for a race, keep up your active routine but make sure to have rest days so you don’t overdo it!
Two things to remember: have fun and just try your best! There is no need to overdo it or do more than you can handle. The great thing about running a 5k is that you run for YOU! Try your best and then your next race you can try to beat your personal time. Good luck!
Related articles:
Yet Another Reason to Run
Want to Start Running?