So You're Running Your First 5K
some tips from someone who's been there
If you did a Couch to 5K program or similar this year, you’re probably right about ready to run your first 5K.
First of all, congratulations!
And now we make with the advice:
Tip 1: You Don’t Need To Start At The Front
Holy shit, if you’re a fairly beginning runner, your toes should not be on the starting line when the gun goes off.
You can go to a 5K in the smallest, podunk-est town on Earth, and there will still be like 4 people lined up at the start in their racing flats and singlets in 30-degree weather, ready to bang out a sub-16-minute 5K. Because, you know, it’s the off-season.
If you’re trying to figure out how close to the starting line you should be when the gun goes off, my advice is to look around, see who’s next to you. Just see if the people around you look like they’re somewhere near your level. Not your fitness level, your level of seriousness.
Once you’ve found what you think is your level, move back two rows. Trust me. EVERYONE overestimates where they should be.
And if you’re walking, that’s cool, but if you are going to walk at the start (or within the first two minutes), start off in the way back.
And, yes, I know, your official time is slower if you start further back. It’s fine. Bring a watch.
Tip 2: Show Up Early
If you can, pick up your race packet before race day. If you can’t, get there at least 30 minutes before the race starts.
The largest number of people will show up at the registration table like 10 minutes before the race starts, and you don’t want to be worried about not making it to the start in time.
Plus, you’re not going to put your car in park, step out the door, and be at the start. There’s usually something that slows you down. If you drive, you might not be able to park anywhere near the start and need to walk a bit. You might get a bag of stuff when you register that has to be stashed back at your car.
Tip 3: Be Nice
A lot of 5Ks are operated as charitable endeavors, and that means a lot of the people working a 5K are inexperienced, they’re usually volunteers, and they probably got up at the crack of the crack of the ass of dawn to put out cones and shit, and they’ll probably be on the course cleaning up long after you’ve gone home.
Sometimes, shit gets screwed up. Finishing times get screwed up, exact start times don’t happen, they don’t have your t-shirt size.
Just remember why you’re there: If this is your first 5K, your goal should be to run the 5K. You don’t need to worry about times and speeds, just finishing. As long as the course is vaguely, pretty much 5K, and as long as you run it and don’t get plowed by a bus, you’ve got what you need.
There’s no reason to get pissy with anyone working the race.
Tip 4: Make Fun
“Have fun” is probably the normal way to say it, but fuck that. “Have fun” means there will be fun embedded in the event, and you just have to grab it.
The race itself might or might not be fun for you, but that shouldn’t matter, because you’re going to make it fun, whatever that means for you.
If that means you’re going to finish and then have your favorite lunch, rad. If it means you’re going to put together the perfect playlist, great. Save a new episode of your favorite podcast, also great.
Get a scratch ticket and scratch off a thing every mile.
Buy a frame for your race bib and put it up above the fireplace. Buy yourself a ridiculously huge trophy. Make it an event, make it an accomplishment.
MAKE it fun.