Training for a…5K?!?
Those of you who know me may want to be sitting down when you read this. It may come as quite a shock…
I’m going to start training for a 5k!
Yes, you read that right - I’m going to start running.
Those of you who really know me know I hate running for the sake of running. Always have. I’m fairly active, playing racquetball, ultimate Frisbee, biking, hiking, etc., but I’ve never been one for running. I’ve tried to get into it, too. My freshman year of college, some of the guys in my dorm got up at 6am the first week of classes and ran around campus. Needless to say that didn’t last too long! Back in my apartment-living days, I tried running after work one summer. I think that lasted a couple of weeks, on and off of course. 
Running is just boring to me - and it hurts, in my sides and in my shins. I have no problems running for ultimate (lots of running there), football and the rest, but running to run just isn’t something I’m made for.
However, a couple weeks ago, I just got this sudden urge to make a goal of completing a 5k. That’s roughly 3 miles and seems doable to me, despite my loathing of running. I have no clue where this desire came from, but I can’t let the thought go…as much as I want to. So here I am, putting this in writing to the world so I can’t easily back out. You all have to keep me accountable on this!
A couple days after the desire for a 5k came over me, my friend Scott emailed me about a bike ride to raise money for MS research. It’s 150 miles over two days in July. Yikes! The training for this ride is pretty rigorous and I don’t think I can commit to it at this point in time, though, especially since it’s only a few months away. I’m going to help him train and in the process start my training for a 5k. Hopefully I’ll be ready for the bike ride next year, too.
Yes, this is going to take a lot of hard work and motivation. I’m not used to this kind of work out. Like I said earlier, my exercise comes from sports and such, so training for an event down the road is new to me. I’ve already started my training - to some extent: sit-ups, crunches, shoulder presses and bicep curls. I’ve got a lot more to do, though. I’m going to try following The Couch-to-5K Running Plan, which seems like something I can follow and commit to.
I’ve started looking into some 5Ks in the area, trying to nail down an ultimate goal for which to strive. First on my list is Cincinnati’s most popular race, the Flying Pig 5k. The race this year is on May 6, too soon for me to be ready. I’ll have to shoot for it next year.
The Redlegs Run for Home 5K Race is in June, giving me another month to prepare, but I still don’t think I’ll have enough time to be fully ready for it.
The Heart Mini-Marathon is this coming weekend, March 26, so that’s out as well.
So, I have plenty to shoot for next year, but I’d like to find one in September or October.
Anyone local feel like running and helping me train? Anyone know of a 5k in the Cincinnati area that’s later this year?
Wish me luck!
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Mar 21st, 2006 at 21:37:44
Well Chris, I’m not sure what came over me to do the biking. I’m not one for exercise unless it involves paintball…and most know the position I prefer. I don’t know of any runs (NO not that kind!) going on, but we can help each other out. I’m sure the training will be similar, to an extent.
Mar 21st, 2006 at 22:07:14
I’ll train with you!! Don’t know if you knew this or not, but I ran cross country and track in high school for 5 years. When I got to college my freshman year, I was running a 5-minute mile. Needless to say, I haven’t run since my freshman year of college. I know some good training tips that will help you out. And as far as your shins hurting, stay off concrete/pavement. It’ll kill your shins and back. Best if you can run in grass or on a track until you build the muscles up! You’ll also want to start walking before you go into running. Just get up with me and we’ll train and run a race together!!
Mar 21st, 2006 at 22:47:58
Elizabeth is on the floor, but not sure if it is from passing out as I read what you were doing or if it was from her laughing so hard, either way my wife is on the floor. Off to check on her.
Mar 21st, 2006 at 22:51:10
But yeah, when your shins hurt it’s the pounding that area takes from the concrete. So run on a nice soft track….Lloyd has a good one, well at least they did, or run in the grass. You can also tape up your legs from the ankle to the middle calf, to stop it. Start small, and make sure you get some nice shoes before putting on the miles. If the shoes hurt you aren’t ever going to want to run. Good luck bro. Don’t run outside if it is under 35-40 as well. Not good on the lungs if you know what i mean.
Mar 21st, 2006 at 23:04:55
Gee, thanks Elizabeth :-p
Hopefully the weather will get better so we can go riding, Scott.
I’ll take you up on that, Jeremy. Know of a good place to run, other than Lloyd? I think the best I ever had was an 8-minute mile in high school.
Thanks for the tips, bro. Didn’t think about needing better shoes… Lol, don’t have to worry about me running when it’s cold. I remember all too well the burning in the lungs from that.
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 01:13:25
It’s still debatable whether or not you should stretch before running, but your shins will hurt less also if you stretch well before you run. The child’s pose in yoga helps stretch the tibialis anterior muscles. Also, Tiger’s Balm works great for any sort of pain. The rubbery tracks at colleges (and some high schools) are probably the most comfortable places to run.
Keep running and you can join me next january for the HP Houston marathon.
Oh, and I don’t think May is to early for you to run a 5K if you’re in good shape from other sports. It’s just a little over 3 miles. Not bad at all. Back in my much skinnier days, it was my warm-up.
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 10:51:37
JenHardy is right. If your in decent shape, a couple of months should be enough time to be ready for a race (not win it, but at least finish it)!! My problem, I’m not in decent shape anymore. We could train for the June race. May not make it, but at we can least try. I know a few of the parks around have tracks. May want to find some trails around to go running on too!!
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 11:28:18
You aren’t too far from Central Park Chris. If you run all of the loops and start at the dogwood trail (far side of park) and make a round trip it’s 3.1 miles. Plus there are some small hills, but mostly flat. Good place to get into the running mind set.
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 13:22:51
I’ve run on Lloyd’s track a number of times. Its pretty decent and I enjoyed it. I ran track in HS and did crew in college for a year and a half.
My mother and sister are coming down from St. Louis to run in the 5k. I thought about it, but with the house and stuff, I doubt I woudl have any time to get “enough” in shape to do a 5k. Haven’t touched my bike in quite a while either.
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 15:32:27
Next time you are down here Chris, bring your bike and we’ll bike around Percy Warner or better yet, the Natchez Trace.
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 18:30:37
Well, if you all think that I can get ready by June, let’s do it. You’re right, we may not make it, but it doesn’t hurt to try!
Jeremy, let me know when during the week would be best for you to train and we’ll go from there.
Hmm, thanks for reminding me about Central Park, David. I had forgotten about it. Remind me and I’ll definitely bring my bike down to Nashville next time I come. Brings yours next time you’re up here and we’ll go to the Loveland bike trail.
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 18:33:50
in case you are interested….
in late september/early october the st. elizabeth hospice and S.T.A.R.S. program sponsor an annual walk/run. for the last 2 years i’ve walked it, and it’s pretty nice. i believe it’s a 5K. it’s in northern ky just off dixie highway near turkeyfoot. if you’re really interested, i’ll let you know more closer to the race.
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 18:38:28
Yeah, I’m interested. Keep me posted. That’s exactly the time frame that I was looking for, and even if I do make the 5k in June, maybe I’ll like it so much that I’ll do another!
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 19:33:21
I work from 8-5 M-F. Probably the best time for me would be right after work. Anytime on Saturday, and after church on Sunday. I don’t know that I’ll be able to do every day, so maybe a Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday type deal. I’ll still work out on my own, but I should try to be home early enough for dinner with Leslie some as well (or we could just start eating later).
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 19:39:47
Get Your Run On…
I’ve been saying for a long time now that I’m gonna start running again. I’ve probably been saying it for well over a year, and it hasn’t happened. I ran cross-country and track in high school, but haven’t done much si…
Mar 22nd, 2006 at 20:11:53
Yeah, I’m definitely thinking three days a week would be best. What did you think about the Couch-to-5K plan? That’s about 30 mins about 3 times a week. Might be too basic for you, as a former runner, but I would like to start with something simple like that. We can crank it up a notch or so, but I don’t have the stamina to run for extended periods of time yet.
Mar 23rd, 2006 at 14:23:22
Seems like there are a lot of folks on here that did track and cross country. The good ole days of high school track and cross country.
Mar 23rd, 2006 at 16:16:11
That sounds like a good start, but I think you’ll be surprised at how much you can do. Wait until we do some hill-sprints…now that’ll be fun!!
Mar 23rd, 2006 at 19:02:09
Lol, “hill-sprints” as in a small mountain or is this something you’ve come up with?
(For those who don’t know, his last name is Hill…)
Mar 24th, 2006 at 10:28:54
Bad Pun!!! I meant small mountains. Really helps build leg muscle, but it’s a killer workout.
Mar 25th, 2006 at 00:54:32
Oh! I love hill sprints! Especially backwards ones (run up the hill backwards as fast as you can to shake-up your muscles). I wish we had hills–everything’s bigger and flatter in Houston.
Mar 25th, 2006 at 10:08:56
I remember doing those on Ryle’s parking lot next to the tennis courts many afternoons during track.
Mar 25th, 2006 at 12:39:37
I ran two 10k’s last summer. 5k shouldn’t be too hard. I enjoyed it.