nothing new (no new clothes, no new pre-workout foods), go the bathroom before the race, start slower than you think you can go and build speed gradually (be the turtle, not the hare), then go all out at the end if you want, and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!! you are doing something you have never done before, that tons of people would never dream of trying. Walk, run, first or last, no matter how you do it you are now an athlete

Great advice mkroyer! I'm looking to doing a half-triathlon by next summer. I'm not doing it to win, I'm doing it to say I've done one. Maybe some day I'll do a full triathlon.

Whoo hoo!!! NSV!! NSV!!! I jogged (two) twelve minute miles on the treadmill today withOUT stopping. Two miles - 24 minutes - NON STOP. That is the best I have ever done! Whoo hoo!! I probably could have pushed myself a little longer - but I don't want to over do it before Saturday!!

Thanks - I think I need to print that out and hang it up somewhere!!

Just wanted to say - I did it! Ran it in 31:12 which is a PR. I gave details on the running in april thread if anyone's interested. Thanks for all your advice and motivation! How did you other first-timers do?

I ran my first 5k today, too!

I'm really glad I signed up for it because the last couple weeks I've really not been feeling like running but because I had the race coming up I "had" to go. Also I have a feeling of accomplishment, proud of myself for trying something new. ...and a new t-shirt!

The main downside was that it was really crowded! Especially the first mile I was just kinda stuck in a giant pack. Then later on it was not super crowded, but the trail was still not super wide and I would get stuck behind someone who was either going my speed or slower, and I would follow for a while, debating whether to pass. On the one hand, this navigating kept my mind busy so I didn't have time to be bored or want to stop, on the other hand, it was a little frustrating and I think my time was a *tiny* bit slower than it would have been otherwise.

I think most importantly - is to enjoy yourself. Don't worry about other people passing, or going slower, or what you look like. Just get in your groove and run!

I just wanted to share that my run time was 30:37 and chip time 30:32. The weather was also terrible... it's kind of raining/snowing/hailing and the wind is pretty strong, so that kind of sucked. I've never run in that much clothing before (I wore my jacket) - usually if it's that bad I can tell from the weather network and I'll move my runs around. Yeah, I hate rain that much lol.

I have another 5k in May (May 15th) and I'm hoping to be able to run it in <30 mins. It shouldn't be too bad because today's route was hilly... apparently the route for May won't be that hilly since Mississauga doesn't have hills (according to my friend lol)

Congrats everyone else here who ran their first 5k today too! I think I counted 5 people or so

I wanted to get under 45 mins... And I DID!! I did the 5k in 38:50. WAY better than I thought I could do! Now, I look forward to beating my time at the next 5k I am doing in June!

Well, the course was TOUGH!!! My dad, who is a seasoned runner, said it was the hardest 5K he's ever run. The last 1/4 mi. was all steep uphill--I literally was crying at the finish line, but I ran the whole thing! My time was 43:37, which is not where I wanted to be, but I wasn't planning on having such a rough course. I'm also still having a lot of trouble with my heel, to the point that I'm going to have to take a couple of weeks off running and see if it will clear up. I'm going to try and maintain with swimming, spin class, and the elliptical. It's frustrating to have come so far and now I'm limping just walking, let alone jogging.