5K Advice

In My Humble Opinion
41

Actually, the only “rule” about shirts (not wearing the current shirt until after the race is over) comes from the fact that back at the start of the running boom, races gave out the shirts after you finish. No finish, no shirt. So the shirt indicated you had finished the event. I’ve never actually seen anyone given crap for wearing the current shirt during the race as most races hand them out before.
It’s just a way for us veterans to know who the noobs are. :wink:

The numbers need to be on the front for ID during the race, finish line video backup, finish line photos(for purchase) and it’s easier for the finish chute workers to grab the tear-tag for the record of finish order.

42

I’m impressed. Good work. 24:50 is a good pace and in truth that was my accepted speed mostly. I could never break 23 mins and snarled at the gazelles who bounded ahead on our mid-day runs. :smiley:

43

I bow to your experience. Running was the one physical sport I did well at many years ago but only to the extent of making up the front 10 or so at school. My children are gymnasts and my son does parkour so I’m a bit biased in my experience of fitness. Mind you, these same children moan bitterly if made to go for a run.

As for the t-shirt etiquette, thats a new one on me. Never heard of it and it seems silly. Wear any t-shirt you like - just enjoy the run, even if it becomes a walk. Heck I’ve walked and never felt bad about it.

44

I wouldn’t call it ‘elitism’…it’s pretty simple; don’t wear a shirt from a race you didn’t complete.

As runner pat points out, the shirt is an indication that you’ve accomplished something.

For a charity 5k it’s less of a deal, but it’s an indelicate move to wear a 50k shirt around if you didn’t finish it.

45

Ran it in 27 minutes and some seconds (can’t remember). Wish I could have done it in 24 … probably could have too.

I could have hit 24 if I started at the front. The event I attended was actually a 5k walk, and 99.9% of the people were walking. I started in the back and I had to push my way through hundreds of people, so my beginning pace was pretty slow. Also, since everyone else was walking, I had to blaze the path, and I took a wrong turn and ended up running an extra fraction of a mile … a minute or two extra right there.

Oh well. **I really felt my legs (calves) tense up toward the end of the run; are there any quick stretches that one can do during a run? **My Dart 9s performed OK - I wish the sole were a little more than plain old Phylon, but they weren’t the limiting factor (at least this time).

Speaking of shoes, the Nike Free shoes were really really popular.

But I was the only one with pink laces :D. I’d probably win the “sweetest shoe” award if there were one.

46

Well done! I’ve been running 5Ks for two years now, and my PR is just under 27…OTOH, I’m old. :wink:

Yeah, avoiding traffic in the first half-mile or so of a race is always a problem, esp. if they don’t do a good job of staging the runners at the start line (fast runners before slower runners, runners before walkers).

47

At the race I ran this weekend (half and sixth marathon – yeah, weird, I know), they were telling people to wear their numbers on the back. :confused: Everyone was befuddled by it. We had ankle chips, but I’m pretty sure there were official photographers. I e-mailed the organizers to ask about it.

48

Waitaminit…a ‘sixth marathon’? Like, 4.37 miles?

49

Was it this one?

50

That’s the one! Told ya it was weird. But the lasagna dinner afterward was awesome. :cool:

51

Wow! A half marathon + … how did you not get tense during the race?

I remember one part of my 5k I had to go up a bridge … oh my jesus were my legs tense. How does one quickly loosen up in a race?

52

Did you maintain the same effort on the uphill as you were on the flat? Otherwise, you were going deep into oxygen debt.

Part of what new runners learn(hopefully) is how to stay relaxed while running hard.

53

I didn’t feel that I lacked lung capacity going uphill; it was just my legs were rather tense and it was hard to move one leg in front of the other (the muscles were pretty tightly contracted).

54

Well it makes perfect sense now! Fun idea for a race distance, if you ask me.

Also, fun idea for post race recreation :smiley:

55

This was my 9th half marathon this year, and 15th lifetime (I started running in 2010). Did my first marathon in 2011, but both of the marathons I had scheduled for this year fell through. Hoping to do at least two in 2013.

I’m no speedster (I consider 2:30 a good time, and my PR is 2:21:46), but hubby and I have progressed to the point that we can pull a half marathon out of our ass at any time. That feels pretty good, considering that in April 2009 I weighed 225 and couldn’t run for one minute.

56

Congratulations! I have still yet to run in anything further than 5K.

And perhaps you should try wearing Shox 2:40s to help with that time … :cool:. I heard they had split times printed on the insole. :eek:

http://www.runtheplanet.com/shoes/product_image.asp?img=http%3A%2F%2Fs7ondemand1.scene7.com%2Fis%2Fimage%2Froadrunnersports%2FNIK866%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500

57

Nah, I just need to get my ass out on the road more. I haven’t been all that serious about training lately; busy with other stuff. Now my running partner, she’s an animal.

58

Oh yes. I need to resume training after heavy rainfall.

Are there any like 30 second stretches I can do during a marathon?

My goal is to do a 10k later this year, and a marathon before the end of 2013.

59

If you feel a need to take breaks during a marathon(or any race), you’re better off walking briskly. You’ll have a hell of a time regaining your running rhythm if you come to a complete stop.