5 mile turkey trot

 i just signed myself up to run a 5 mile race on thanksgiving morning.  I never ran more than 2.2 miles on very hilly trails.  Im nervous and excited.  i will try to do 3miles on the treadmill tonight.  im hoping that being with all the other people and the excitenment of it will help me finish.  any advice from anyone would be appreciated. adam

You'll do great.  Hilly trails are much tougher than flat roadways and the crowd and competition do seem to get the blood and adrealine going more than running alone. My advice: 1. Do your best; not somebody else's best. 2. Pace yourself based on your training and don't get caught-up in a faster pace of someone else or pack of folks with all of the excitment. 3.  If you get too out-of-breth, it is OK to walk a bit but don't stop compltely and remeber to walk with some urgency and kill your time.  Wal****il you get your wind under control and feel OK.  Then Start jogging to get back to whatever is your pace. 4.  Keep picking something or someone up ahead to get to before you slow down to help you push a bit farther than you would otherwise. 5.  Be friendly and enjoy yourself. 6.  You are running against your own time, not qualifying for the Olympics.  Set a realistic goal and try for it.  Use your actual time as a basis for doing better next time. Look forward to your Post Trot post. May the FARTS be with you!

thanks for the advice..i just got home from the gym and ran 3 miles in 38.17 min.  not great but i had more in me i could of kept going but im not going to pu**** ...ill up my time 10% each week till the race.

 

i still cant belive i just ran 3 miles

 

adam

You will have no problem finishing.   You are correct in assuming that the excitment of the race will carry you to the finish line.  If you need to walk, go for it.  Pull to the shoulder and walk some.  For a 5 mile race I would probably take two walk breaks just for the hell of it.  Good luck

thanks for the advise