This week is one to focus on running for me. I haven’t spent much time preparing for the 5K this year, and my plan for the week has been to try getting my running mileage back up to a more reasonable level. There is a 5K that I’ve participated in every year since I started my plan to lose weight and get fit. The event is the Medical Center 10K Classic. They always have both a 5K run/walk in conjunction with the 10K run, as well as some events for the kids. The night before the race there is a health fair and pasta dinner. Participants get free admission to both. At the health fair you can get some of your vital functions checked (lung capacity, blood pressure, percent body fat, etc.), and there are usually area vendors set up displaying their wares. This year, the race is scheduled for October 25th.
I’m trying to decide how motivated I am to run the race this year. As I said, this was my first race, and its a nice race course, cutting through a part of the Western Kentucky University campus and downtown Bowling Green. A nice perk is that all participants are entered into a $10,000 drawing. There aren’t a lot of 5K races that still have cash drawings. Unfortunately, I haven’t been running a lot this year, relative to the last three years, putting in about 5-10 miles per week. I’ve been more focused on strength training, with my run program as an afterthought. I’m comfortable with that idea, as its consistent with my goal to cross train, rather than focus on a single event. However, I believe I’m going to focus a little more on my running over the course of the next three weeks, and try getting my 5K run time back down to an 8-9 minute mile pace. That might be a little too much to expect in such a short period of time. The question I’m asking myself is whether I want to run the race if I don’t think I can complete it in about 25 minutes. I know that’s not the right mindset, but there you have it.
I’ve put in two 4-mile runs so far this week. Tomorrow I’m going to hit the gym and Friday is another 4-mile run day. They haven’t been pretty, but I don’t guess that’s required. They just have to be done.
You’ve been focused on strength training and letting your running drop off, while I’ve been doing just the opposite.
I need to get back into my strength training.
Good luck with the 5K, and I look forward to hearing how it goes……………..:)
I have to say that when I have started my 30-Day Trial with running I was not aiming anything bigger than become more fit.
But as I progress and run longer distances I have to admit I’m tempted to give a try and start in some 5K or 10K run… I guess I will need wait till spring. Maybe it is better since I will have more time to prepare