So, you've decided to join your first 5K race. What’s your motivation? Are you trying to get into shape or lose a few pounds? Perhaps you want to use this race as a jumping off point for longer races in the future? Once you establish your motivation, you can start tailoring your training structure to meet the needs of your fitness goals and race across the finish line with confidence.
One Step At A Time
You may be tempted to hit play on Eye Of The Tiger and take to the track with the swiftness of a cheetah. However, your true power lies in the embodiment of the tortoise: slow and steady. If you push too hard straight out of the gate, you may sustain injury before even reaching the starting line. While a specific goal is good to have in mind, it’s best to reach it gradually. Increasing your route by 10% a week is a nice and steady pace that won’t leave you in the dust come race day. If your exercise routine borders the militant, remember: pain isn’t always gaining. Allowing yourself to rest on certain days does not equal weakness or laziness. It’s essential for the recovery of not only your muscles, but your immune and nervous system as well. If you skip rest days, you’ll end up tired, weak, sick, and unmotivated.
Set Your Schedule
If you’re new to running, make sure to give yourself enough time to properly train for your race. You can try a running guide, or lay out a schedule yourself with increasing increments of running between rest periods. Keep a journal to track your progress, and remember to schedule rest days with stretching. With at least a month of training, you can build up your endurance and form before the big day.
Train On The Mat
While your main focus is building up your strength on foot, don’t forget about the rest of your body, namely your core. Break up your running schedule with abdominal exercises, most of which can be performed pretty much anywhere with floorspace. By building up your core muscles, you’ll maintain stability and a proper running form for longer, making you a faster and more efficient runner. This’ll come in handy on the last stretch of your race, when your body's most vulnerable for injury.
Stay Motivated
Whether you’re running solo or training with a friend, sometimes you have to go beyond personal willpower to stay on track. Having a workout buddy keeps you accountable and on schedule, because not only would missing a training session let yourself down, but would bring down your partner as well. If the race is for you and you only, there are plenty of mobile apps to keep you going. Keep up your momentum with various fitness and running apps that track your progress and provide supportive articles and user communities.
Eye On The Prize
Mindfulness is important in your training as well. To avoid a physical and emotional plateau, keep your goal (aka completing your first 5K) in your mind to tune out external factors during your runs. This will especially come in handy on race day when you’re surrounded by hundreds of fellow racers, some faster and some slower than you are. Focus on your training and remember the progress you’ve made in the weeks leading up to this moment, so you can reach the finish line in one piece.
