First 5K Advice from the Pro's

Runners,

I have been a pretty active cyclists since my surgery in 2008. This spring I decided to try running. I always hated running as a fat man but now I want to give it a try. I enrolled in a Couch to 5K program and am 3 weeks into the training and keeping up.

My coworker are doing a 5K in 2 weeks and want me to join them. Since my C25K program doesn't finish until the first week in May, it will before I have built up my running. They say that I could walk and run.  I already go over 3 miles in walk run it in a glacially slow 45 minutes.

What type of training should I concentrate on for the next two weeks if I decide to go ahead with the run? Should I just stay on course with the C25K program and group I am enrolled in? Is there anything I should really work on outside of the program?

Thanks for your help.
Tom

There is not one person on this board that is going to tell you not to run/walk this race--including me. Just stay on the same course. If you run/walk, who cares. You are doing something. I still run/walk. Just relax, go to the bathroom before the race, have fun and stick around for the after party.

Enjoy,
Kim

 Do it!

Many of us here had slow times for our first 5K  your first 5K and 100th 5k shouldn't be about time, ok after the first it totally becomes about time for many.  Your first 5K should be about the accomplishment, the fact you finished something that once seemed impossible and THAT YOU ENJOYED IT.

I wouldn't change your training schedule in anyway as it is helping you with your running endurance.  YOU may find on Race day that you will end up running more or faster than you thought you would because of all the excitement.

In training I have never been able to break my 5K PR but come race day I get into some groove and things just go right.  Even when things go wrong, my last half, something still goes right.

Enjoy the experience and the sense of accomplishment.

We expect to read a race report soon 

 You know you have to do it :)  With all the cycling you do, I am sure you will ramp up quickly.  Just keep with your program and give it your all, you'll have a blast.  Then we just have to work on your swimming and we'll get you into a tri :)

 I agree with everyone else. Stay on course, but do the 5K for sure. My first 5K was 48 minutes to complete. I am a little faster now. Enjoy the journey and the day. Good luck.

I am happy to see the responses I got. I like the C25K group. The people motivate me and I like running with people and the conversation. It makes time pass so much faster than running by myself around the neighborhood. I am definitely staying on course.

From my heart, I know I really want to do this race. There is something about finally being able to run with my coworkers. I am sure they will be faster but they have supported me through my WLS journey and cycling. I expect they will be there for me on this run. I just sort of wanted the first race to be with the C25K group.

Last night I had a good run to finish off my C25K week 3. I ran with a cycling pal and runner. He urged me to do some interval running with him. We did an hour of 5 minutes running and 2 minutes fast walking. I did 4.2 miles and felt great. It males me much more comfortable with the5K. He is a WLS post-op and plans on running the 5K with me too.

Thanks so much!
Tom

Well, I ran my first 5K today. After 5 weeks of my C25K training, I took a chance and ran. It was an amazing experience. I was slow (42.40) but ran all except for 4 minutes. It gives me some confidence to keep going and improve my time. I posted my reflections on my blog. If you want, you can read it at http://beariatric.com/2012/04/14/inspiration-perspiration-de dication-and-celebration/. Thanks for the motivation! -- Tom


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