5K time...What's Yours?

http://www.active.com/running/johns-creek-ga/emory-johns-cre ek-hospital-scrub-run-5k-2011

Sounds like a gauntlet is being thrown down!!  

I wasn't aware of that race.  And I could sure use a goal in training for July 4th.  I'll check it out, just to get to play along with the surgeons (and I assume their employees). 

Chad

P.S.  Sorry I've been MIA for a while...but I'm ready to get back into it.

I just looked at coolrunning and could not find any results in Houston but here is an example for San Antonio.

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/tx/Aug7_29thAn_set1.sh tml

You will see that people in the 11-12 minute mile range were in the middle of the pack.  You want to look for races with names that end in the word jog or have a charity associated with it.  Charity races are likely to have walkers and the more walkers the better for a nervous first time racer.  Also, avoid races in bad weather.  The ones who are likely to show up are the serious runners.  I ran the Disney half marathon and finished in the middle of the pack with a time of roughly 2:20.  A few weeks later in the snow of connecticut I was 5th from last with a similar time.  Only more serious runners came out for the cold February race.

It really is an individual thing though I wouldn't put too much stock in what others are doing at first.  If you go to enough races you will find people of similar abilities that you will want to beat soon enough!

 All the previous replies really say it all.  You just need to get out there and run and enjoy it!

Recently watched Chariots of Fire (Love that movie)...your post reminded me of the scene where Abrams is beat (the first time he loses) by Liddle.  After the race, he is "sulking" and he snaps at his GF, "If I can't win, I won't run!"

Her retort, "If you don't run, you can't win!"

just say'n...

Run On!

I'm going to run in my first 5k in May and can't wait but I'm a little nervous though. Not sure what my time will be.

Julie

everybody said it already, it takes time and training to bring your times down and make PR's.  just go out and enjoy yourself and enjoy the fact that you can enter, run/walk/jog/crawl, and finish.  the rest is just noise.  after a lot of training and time, and if you are really interested in getting serious about dropping your times, you can focus on specific goals.  for now just have fun and set your first PR!

Like Paul said, the first victory is signing up for it, the second is crossing that start line and the third is crossing the finish line.

I came in very close to last (I think I was 5th from last) in my first half marathon. I had tears crossing the finish line because I did it. It didn't matter what anyone else did, all my teammates were there cheering me on. My husband walked back out so he could walk the last half mile back in with me. Just finishing was the most awesome feeling. I've been getting faster with each one and want to run, so I signed DH and me up for a 5K this Sat for our 26th Anniversary. I've been trying to learn to run, but honestly don't know if I'll be able to on Sat or not. Seems to come and go. If I can do it in under 45 minutes, I'll be happy. DH could probably do it in under 30min, but he'll jog (walk if necessary) with me because we are doing it together.

Sign up for one and just have fun. No one out there is going to judge you. In fact, everyone will cheer you on.

Jan

Just finish ..... then you have a time to beat on the next one. In my first 5k I had a lady pushing a double stroller pass me! My goal from then on was not to let strollers or wheel chairs beat me ever again!

 I followed the advice of all of these great people giving you advice when I first signed up for my 5k, that was last July....I have since done a 10k and an 8k and am now training for my first 1/2....I had so much fun and had tears at my 5k...my time was not great, but I did not come in last which was my worst fear, I actually helped a (younger) lady kick it up and finish running instead of walking, that was a great moment for me!!!

My time was 38 min, I was so proud!!!!  Just sign up, it will be the best thing you have ever done!!!  Enjoy yourself and enjoy the race...I am sure there will be plenty more in your future!!!!

You know what? It's about getting out there. 

Here's my story: 

In January, I resolved that I was going to start running. I've always wanted to do it but have given up SO MANY TIMES!  I've walked half marathons, play floor hockey - I'm no stranger to fitness...but running has always kicked my butt.  I did the Couch to 5K. 

I signed up for two things in April - a local running store's Running Clinic and also my first 5K.

In late March, I finally got off my treadmill as the snow melted here and tried to run on ground. Despite the fact that I could run an easy 30 minutes on the treadmill, the ground thing was a WHOLE different story. I wanted to cry. I could only do 2 minutes on the ground before I'd get winded!

I really wanted to quit but then the Running Clinic had come up (class + a group run) and so I hung in there. Started in the lowest running group with all the newbies doing intervals YET again!  Felt bummed.

The day of my 5K I very much wanted to NOT go. The rain/high winds didn't really encourage me...but I went anyway. Met a lovely lady there *****ally encouraged me.  

There were only 73 people doing the 5K run.  I came in 73rd with a time of 43 minutes.  Mind you I'm still only doing intervals....BUT I did it!  And I can only get better from here right?

Hubby bought me a Forerunner watch that maps your route, does heart rate, timing etc.  This was a great thing as now I could do my own 5K's in my neighbourhood and work on increasing time. 

I'm doing my second 5K on May 6th despite the fact that I'm still only doing intervals...but my plan is to officially cut off maybe 2-3 minutes off my time.  I'm excited to do it. Hopefully the weather will also be better than the next one.

Locally I noticed there are two groups that host 5K.  Looking at the other series of 5Ks I've noticed that the other sponsor's groups are more attended. I looked at the results from last years races and noticed that there are a wider variety of times and my stats would not be last if I did that race.  That was encouraging!

Good luck and just keep working on getting better :) 

As my course trainer says "YOU START WHERE YOU START.  Make no excuses. No worries!".

Dawn




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