[SCraver]

A week from tomorrow, I am "running" (it will probably be a lot more jogging/walking than running) my first EVER 5k. Does anyone have any good advise or tips to give me???

[blueridgegirl]

I'm there with you! Running my first 5k a week from Saturday! We're first time 5k twins!

I've heard the most important thing is not to do anything new or different - wear clothes/shoes you've worn before, eat food you usually eat before a run, etc. Don't try to change anything up the day of the race. Beyond that, I'd be interested to hear advice from others as well.

[stella1609]

Wow, I'm running my first next weekend too! I'm so excited--I'll be doing it with my dad. Good luck guys Will look forward to any advice anyone can offer.

[janehung]

Me four - a week from today

[mkroyer]

Ok. this is the best advice you will ever get.

AS SOON AS YOU GET TO THE RACE, FIND A PORTA POTTY AND GET IN LINE!!
thats it. thats all you need to know!

OH! and no matter HOW tempted you are, no matter what everyone else is doing, do NOT DO NOT DO NOT start out faster than you are planning on being able to run...if anything, start off SLOWER than your anticipated pace.
EVERYONE is going to take off faster than they have business doing. You might get caught up in the excitement, and go along with it. BIG MISTAKE. if you start off too fast, no matter how easy it feels at the moemnt, you will pay for it before you are half-way done, making for a miserable last mile or 2, and a bad first experience!

Start off slow, and then by 2 miles in you will be passing all the idiots who took off at the start and are now huffing, puffing and struggling...

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

[kellost]

Hi! I will be in your shoes in a few weeks, running my first 5K as well! Good luck and mostly, just be proud of what you're about to achieve!

[Ilene]

Good luck you will finish

[ennay]

OK, I will copy this because it is funny, and there is actually some useful stuff in there....race tips

[Ilene]

Ennay that was a great article

[Nada]

Enjoy yourself, get in that porta-potty line and TAKE YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER (and hand wipes if you feel you need them).

[2phatinvictoria]

keep a normal pace for the first half then you can speed it up... it you give it your all in the beginning (which happens to alot of people.. there a lot of energy the hype and so on) cause youll burn out.. HAVE FUN!!!

[ubergirl]

OOh... good luck! I can't wait to hear how it goes...

I'm still working on C25k but hope to be in your shoes soon.

[SCraver]

Eek! Thanks guys, this is all fantastic advice!

Ennay: I LOVED the article!

I am a wee bit nervous, but mostly excited for Saturday! The 5k I am running starts at 10:40 am. I am SO glad it is starting late. I can have my usual breakfast early in the morning and be good to go by race time.

I have to make sure my shorts are washed and ready to go...

[stella1609]

I'm freaking out a little bit--I did 4 mi. on Saturday which is the farthest I've ever run, and I hurt my foot! My heel is really sore, and I barely made one mile of my two mile run today. I'm icing it and sticking only to my upper body strength training, swimming, and yoga for the rest of the week, but I'm so scared it won't be back to normal by Saturday!

[stacylambert]

It's been a couple years (and a LOT of pounds) since I've done any running, but I remember being sooo nervous before the the race. I had myself so worked up that I performed way under my potential. After a couple more I learned to finally calm down and got my best time of 31 minutes. Soooo, that would be my advice: calm down and ENJOY it. Just enjoy the fact that you're out there running, having a good time, and getting healthy. No need to stress yourself out over that!