I set a goal this year to run a 5k under 23:00.
My first 5k time this year was 24:57. I have a long way to go!
Here are a few lessons I learned from this year’s first race:
- Don’t each anything for breakfast that will get stuck in your teeth (berries).
- Map out your route to the starting line before you leave. I mistakenly took the quickest route, but got stopped by the half-marathon route that was already in progress.
- Plan to get there at least 30 minutes before the race.
- Start with a pace group that is a little faster than you think.
- Plan out your split pace for each of the three miles in order to reach your goal.
- Find a person or couple that will push you to run faster than you think you can.
- Ignore any thoughts of comparison based on looks or height (including comparisons to young children or older men and women).
- You should have nothing left in your energy tank when you are finished.
- Remember: a 5k is 3.1 miles not just 3 miles. When you hear your 3 mile time, don’t get complacent.
- Taking long strides expends less energy and increases your speed.
- Train on hilly terrain especially if the race has a hill. (This one did!)
