5K - 3 weeks!

[Zoe Girl]

I promised the girls in the running program at my school I would be at their 5K, it is on May 7th. I am hoping to do better than walk it. I have these old running times stuck in my head and have a hard time letting go. I know 10 years ago I could still do a few 8 minute miles, averaged 9 minutes for 3-5 mile runs. OMG that was not only 10 years but 15 lbs ago. I have okay asthma medication, emergency inhaler, and when I take it before exercise then I am okay. A big asthma trigger is speed, sigh. So now as I get close to a 10 minute mile pace or any sprints the airways restrict.

I went to the gym tonight and did 25 minutes on the treadmill. At this pace I would do a 5K in 50 minutes. sigh, But I am running with 10 year old girls, so that may be fine. 49 just doesn't seem that old to be this slow.

[lmerullo]

I have asthma,too, so I know where you are coming from. I think just being there for the girls will be enough - you don't need to be great at it.

That being said, I think three weeks is a short period of time to make improvements, but it can be done. I would recommend interval training. Something like two minutes at your standard pace interspersed with 30 second bursts of near max speed.

My toughest thing is my long warm up period. It takes me about eight minutes to overcome the sensation that I'm struggling to breathe. My inner script calls for me to stop, I'm dying, this is too difficult, I can't catch my breath, etc. If I just push a little longer, Then I find I'm able to settle in and both run and breath comfortably. But those first minutes, wow!

[Zoe Girl]

Great advice, I know the 'I am dying' part of this. I have a great workout on the elliptical that is 20 minutes and works everything a couple minutes at a time. Yesterday I got on the treadmill though because I need to actually run as well. I did a long slow warm up and got to a 12 minute mile for about 5 minutes in the middle. I know I can walk it at least, and there are some moms and a grandma who are planning on walking as well so I will have company. I also don't know how fast the girls are.

I am so excited that one of the moms has run before and is doing this one! Daughter struggles with some body issues (she was taller than me in 3rd grade) and so I think this program is great for all the girls but especially for her to exercise in a supportive place.

[ctg492]

My advice if it matters;) Is road run for practice. I found the dread mills have nothing in common with road running.

[freshstart]

I have asthma,too, so I know where you are coming from. I think just being there for the girls will be enough - you don't need to be great at it.


ITA with this. Your girls will be thrilled to have someone they look up to take them seriously and participate. They'll be cheering you on even if your dead last and that's what matters.

[lessisbest]

My daughter (45-years old) does extreme strength and cardo training, plus a lot of mountain biking, but never runs until she shows up for a 5K and always comes in first in her age group. She hates running and considers it hard on joints, so doesn't train by running but by keeping fit. She is under the supervision of a trainer on a weekly basis and this is what works for her.

[ctg492]

I think 3 weeks to 5K is very do able, if you keep focused and running.

[ctg492]

How are you doing on your training??

[Zoe Girl]

Thank you for asking, moderately well so far. I went to our gym today and did 20 minutes on the treadmill. Pretty slow but I was moving. I also talked to the coaches and we only have 2 fast girls so I can be a buddy with the girls and not worry about keeping up. There is a concert later that night that I really want to go to also so running fairly slow based on my background seems just fine and keep some energy to get back in a pit!

[ctg492]

Zoe Girl, Did you do this? Was it fun?

[Zoe Girl]

Oh yes, it was super fun. There were something like 2,000 runners for the girls! We had to have 4 waves to start with. I ran with one girl most of the time, sometimes other girls were with us but everyone had a buddy. A mom and a grandma also ran, lots of family came to watch. It was really chilly but we got done before rain and even hail later that day. I was trying not to pay too much attention to my time, it was right at 50 minutes, that is my current speed but not what I remember I used to do. I needed my inhaler and at the end the girl I was running with was able to sprint and I couldn't which was when I really felt the asthma thing.

So what was so amazing, but really shouldn't be amazing, was the diversity of the run. I live in an urban area but sometimes certain activities are still mostly white people I am around. This run really got out a diverse group and it was all about running with the girls. I saw a great variety of people. There were even families in hijabs running. There was a language variety too, I saw my friend who runs the after school programming at the school where refugees settle and they had a large group of runners and they have a lot of languages. So it made me all happy after some of the stuff on the airways lately.

[ctg492]

Did you continue to run after the 5 K??