5 Reasons 5k's Rule!
(Lil' backstory: I started my second round of coaching a program I created titled 'Five weeks to a First or Faster 5k' so my brain is on the 5k track at the moment. I wanted to give a lil' shout out to this distance b/c I've only become a big Believer in em' myself this past year (2010). So....
1. They get you to do your speed work and get you to truly PUSH yourself.
2. How do you get better at racing? Well, by putting yourself in more racing situations! 5k's are a great way to get the all around race experience. Like how to handle the night before bedtime, food, and set up, the jitters and nervousness that comes with racing, the pre, and post warm up and cool down, the anticipation of performance, and so on and so on. You get to experience all of it racing a 5k, and the race doesn't take a toll on your body so you can continue training.
3. Ok, so some may be pricey ($30) for a lil' ol 5k. But I bet that money is benefiting some great cause, so you're donating money towards a good cause while getting a killer workout. And there are very inexpensive options out there too. Like here in the Bay Area, the DSE Runners club put on fabulous 5 and 10k's for $7!!
4. You can use your 5k time to evaluate a realistic time for a 10k, Half and Full Marathon. No other type of training run will give you a true reading on your 3 mile splits and running potential.
5. Okay...I lied, I'm only listing 4 for now. Because I want you to fill in the blank! What makes 5k's rule in your mind? Or maybe not. I'll also hear your side if you're not a Believer...yet:)___________________________________________________________________________
Five Reasons 5k's Rule!
1. They get you to do your speed work and get you to truly PUSH yourself.
2. How do you get better at racing? Well, by putting yourself in more racing situations! 5k's are a great way to get the all around race experience. Like how to handle the night before bedtime, food, and set up, the jitters and nervousness that comes with racing, the pre, and post warm up and cool down, the anticipation of performance, and so on and so on. You get to experience all of it racing a 5k, and the race doesn't take a toll on your body so you can continue training.
3. Ok, so some may be pricey ($30) for a lil' ol 5k. But I bet that money is benefiting some great cause, so you're donating money towards a good cause while getting a killer workout. And there are very inexpensive options out there too. Like here in the Bay Area, the DSE Runners club put on fabulous 5 and 10k's for $7!!
4. You can use your 5k time to evaluate a realistic time for a 10k, Half and Full Marathon. No other type of training run will give you a true reading on your 3 mile splits and running potential.
5. Okay...I lied, I'm only listing 4 for now. Because I want you to fill in the blank! What makes 5k's rule in your mind? Or maybe not. I'll also hear your side if you're not a Believer...yet:)___________________________________________________________________________
Comments
To add one more: the race is over with just when you're getting winded...if you push yourself, and that feels SO good.
I'm not a huge fan of competition - it stresses me out! However, I am starting to see and understand the benefit of the short "races". And learning I'm only competing against myself, and that I don't have to let those feelings of terror take over.
But for now, I have never run a 5k. I'm thinking I'll wait for a time I really really need the "Whoohoo!" that comes after getting a PR...and then I'll go and run one. Because, you have to love that the first one is a PR. :)
ran my first 5k last Saturday. was a blast.
I linked to your blog on my blog :)
P.s. the barbie cake in your previous post is AWESOME!!!
For me, they serve as a good threshhold test for determining pacing for interval training, since I will run much faster in a 5k race than if I just go to the track and run a 5k on my own. The downside: there aren't any 5k's around Pittsburgh at this time of the year :(