18 Days and Counting
Uh, oh, the Flying Pig is only 18 days away - and I am NO WHERE NEAR ready for the 10k. I’m not even back up to where I left off last year! In June 2007, I ran the entire Redlegs’ 5k distance, finishing in just over 30 minutes, both personal bests (distance and time). So far this year, I’ve run 12 minutes before taking a walk break, with a total session run time of 22 minutes - a long way from where I was. If the weather holds up (gets and stays at least in the 60s, especially later in the evening), I should be able to get back to where I was, but then there’s the second 5k to get through…
Up until now, I hadn’t set a goal for the 10k, other than to sign up for it and show up on race day. Maybe I would have been better at training if I had set a goal. Or maybe not. There are tons of excuses I could use, but that won’t get me any closer to where I want to be. I just gotta keep my eye on the prize and do better from here on out.
That being said, it’s time I set myself a goal so I have something to strive for - and kick my butt over when I don’t reach it. So, here goes: run 5k distance without stopping for a walk and to finish in under 1hr 15 minutes. Given that this is my first 10k, I don’t have much to set a time goal on other than doubling my 5k time and adding some additional minutes. Hmm, good thing about these goals is they can feed off each other - if I stop for a walk in the first 5k, then I’ll have to run more and faster in the second half to reach the time goal. Yeah, I like it, this should work.
There is one positive from the runs I have done - I’ve been working on changing my stride and pace. I realized that soon into my run, my stride was getting really short, almost like a walk. The first four minutes of my recent runs, I’ve gone all out, really focusing on lengthening my stride while keeping my previous pace. When I start to get tired, I’m working on keeping the longer stride while slowing my pace. I don’t know if this is good running technique or not, but this should do more to improve my stamina and muscles than shuffling along.
18 days and counting…
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Apr 15th, 2008 at 22:45:06
I never ran a 10K before I ran my first 10K race back in 92. I think you will be rather surprised at the end result. I know that I was. I started off quicker than I had imagined especially since I lost some other members of the HS cross-country team, whom I was sure would catch me as I slowed somewhere around the middle. They never did.
I was in decent shape at the time but no Speedy Gonzalez thats for sure. As I mentioned earlier, I did slow and walk and stretched a little somewhere in the middle of the event. The hills of BG were getting to me. But I started back up with a light jog and swear that I never ran a faster 200 meters than that day as I crossed the finish line. I also had maybe ran max of 4 miles in one setting prior to competing in the 10K event. I was probably running around 8 minute miles at the time and surprised myself by completing the 10K in under an hour.
Now, I only wish that I could complete a 5K in under an hour now. Okay so maybe I am not that out of shape but pretty close to it. Thanks for being an inspiration to us all. Please continue and maybe by this time next year I can join you in running a 10K or even a half-marathon. The latter has been a goal of mine since early college days.
I wish you the best.
Apr 15th, 2008 at 23:05:10
Lol, 1992…that was so long ago… I’ll be looking forward to a running partner soon!
Apr 16th, 2008 at 11:15:46
Yeah, lengthening your stride will help tremendously with your time. I had a friend in high school that could run forever, but he only ran at one speed. We finally got him to stretch his stride out a little more and increase his pace, and he made state the next year!
Apr 16th, 2008 at 21:07:09
Yes, don’t remind me how long ago that was. Keep up the encouragement and maybe you will get one