5K Run

[chiefeagle02]

It all started with a swim...

Last month, was driving to the library to use their internet when I saw a sign that said "Take The Plunge." After doing a bit of research, I found it was a Polar Bear Swim benefiting the Special Olympics. I signed up, raised a bit of money, and took "the plunge" in the cold Willamette River. The day before the event, I registered at the U of O Bookstore. Next to the Polar Bear Swim table was a group of folks raising awareness for the Eugene 5K Run. I smiled and thought, "I've never done one, but I think I could do it." I haven't registered yet, as I still haven't found a solid place to live and I want to give them an address. However, I'm still planning on doing the 5K.

The race is May 1st, which gives me a little under two months to train for it. I've done some running since I've arrived in Oregon, albeit nothing in the neighborhood of 5K. I'm just looking for thoughts or advice on training regiments and whatnot. I know consistency is key, drink water before and after running and watch my diet, start lightly while gradually weening myself to cover greater distances in less time, et cetera. If anyone else has anything, that'd be groovy.

Thank you for your time!

[chiefeagle02]

Two weeks to go until the run!

My landlady has been a tremendous help. She played basketball when she was in college, so she gave me some tips on getting ready for the run (she's also a DDR fan and said she wanted to play when her ankle got better). She suggested I run five days a week, taking weekends off (using these to play DDR, hike, rock climb, et cetera). I'd go 1.5 miles the first week, 2.25 the second week, and then the full 5K the third. This morning, I started week two of training. I just added to my regular route and ran that. I originally thought I'd one the 2.25 miles, so when I looked at my time (35 minutes), I was a little depressed. Well, it wasn't until I got to the library that I saw I ran the full three miles. The best part of it all is I've nearly hit my goal time. I need to shave off a five minutes, but it's going well. I think I'll use this week to build up cardio endurance for the 5K (3.1 miles) and then focus on speed and timing for the final week.

So yeah, it's going better than I thought it was. I'm getting more excited for this run.

[epi]

Apr 19, 2010 15:30:25 GMT -5 chiefeagle02 said:

Two weeks to go until the run!

My landlady has been a tremendous help. She played basketball when she was in college, so she gave me some tips on getting ready for the run (she's also a DDR fan and said she wanted to play when her ankle got better). She suggested I run five days a week, taking weekends off (using these to play DDR, hike, rock climb, et cetera). I'd go 1.5 miles the first week, 2.25 the second week, and then the full 5K the third. This morning, I started week two of training. I just added to my regular route and ran that. I originally thought I'd one the 2.25 miles, so when I looked at my time (35 minutes), I was a little depressed. Well, it wasn't until I got to the library that I saw I ran the full three miles. The best part of it all is I've nearly hit my goal time. I need to shave off a five minutes, but it's going well. I think I'll use this week to build up cardio endurance for the 5K (3.1 miles) and then focus on speed and timing for the final week.

So yeah, it's going better than I thought it was. I'm getting more excited for this run.

That is cool. Good luck with the 5k. I was thinking once I lost my extra weight from DDR I'd train for some kind of running event, maybe I'll try 5k first. Hopefully sometime this summer.

Again, good luck and keep it up.

[chiefeagle02]

I completed the run last Saturday with a time of 00:32:57 and I placed 312th out of around 700. Not bad for my first race. I think I've caught the racing bug as there's another 5K coming up in July and I want to see if I can get my time down below 30 minutes. Onwards and upwards!!!

[chiefeagle02]

The Smith Rock 5K people got back to me to let me know that I'm in their race next weekend! With less than two weeks to go, I'm feeling pretty excited about it. Smith Rock is in a high, very dry area of Oregon, almost like a desert. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes. Onwards and upwards!

[chiefeagle02]

I'm doing another 5K Run!

I signed up yesterday for the 2011 Eugene 5K Race. This is the first 5K I've run since the last Eugene 5K run (the July 2010 Smith Rock run fell through, so I just stopped). I've got my training schedule planned out to gradually get me back up to running 3.1 miles by the end of the month. I'm hoping to beat my time from last year of 00:32:57. I've been doing other things to keep active since then (hiking, riding my bike, walking, et cetera), so I feel like I have an advantage over last year already (plus, having had the experience of a 5K race, I know what to expect. Bonus: it's the same route from last year). I feel like I have a ways to go to get myself in the shape I'd like to be for April 30th, but I'm sure I'll have fun no matter what.

Hope all is well.