5 or 10?

Before I got sick, I was running 7 miles comfortably and was well on my way to a 10K race. After a 4 month absence, I have started running again. Definitely harder than when I stopped, but I know I will get it back. There is a race in October than I plan on doing. Last year, I ran my 1st 5K there and it gave
me a great sense of accomplishment.

I can't decide if I want to run the 5K again and improve my time, or go for the 10 knowing that that will be a mor difficult objective. Feeling a lot better, but still not 100%. Any thoughts?

Jet

It's really about what turns you on...

I tend to go for more and more distance most of the time. I didn't do a single race this year that I did last year, in fact. But I knew I'd blow away my times from last year because I started out SO SLOW so there was really no challenge in that. At some point, I'm going to be challenged to get faster and then I'm going to want to repeat races to see if I can.

But some people are much more motivated by getting PRs or trying to get on the podium and so it makes sense for them to repeat races and pit themselves against their old self.

You know yourself best so you probably know which one will motivate you the most.

Honestly, I'd go for the 10.  I started last October with my first 5 and was a slogger (slow jog).  I did that with a ex-lap in the middle of my training and still only did about 7 weeks of training.  This year I am working on a 10K.  I only started training for it in the middle of July.  I wasn't going to go any further than a 5k because I don't really enjoy running, but I got this rush one day a few weeks ago and decided to run an extra mile, since then I've been running 5 miles at a time and working on hills.  I want to keep going on the 5 for another week or two then hit 6 for 2-3 weeks before the race on October 3rd. 

If you are used to the distance pre-illness, I got back up to my distance and time after my ex-lap in only a few weeks.  You still have 5+ weeks, I bet you can be there in time. 

Good luck!

I agree with MacMadame, it really depends on what you want to do.  Either goal is a great one, just choose one and focus your training.  best of luck!

For me, I'd pick the 10K and the automatic PR. :)  Five weeks would be too short for me to rebuild my speed after a 4-month hiatus to guarantee a better time on the 5K.   

Glad to hear that you are feeling better and are back on the road.  It's been a long haul for you.

Cassie