Going From Couch To 5k Runner The Easy Way
Author: Jenny Wright
Category: Sports
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Because you won't need to spend much to start with, I suggest you just get out and give it your best shot. Here are a few helpful ideas to help make your transition from couch potato to 5k race expert as smooth and fast as is possible.
Set Yourself a Definite Goal.
Investigate your first race and sign up for it. Once you've made an actual physical commitment and invested some money in to something, you're a lot more likely to commit entirely to it.
Get Your Preparations Right
If you want to be able to run the entire 3.1 miles without stopping, you'll need to have progressed your training to doing at least a couple of 30 minute runs every week. It's very possible to complete a 5k without stopping with as little as six weeks of concentrated training.
Enjoy It, It Should Be Fun
Getting up out of your couch to 5k running is a wonderful way of meeting people and getting in to great shape at the same time as feeling better about yourself and having more energy. A 5k race is a great place to start for newbie runners. They're the shortest race distance with an average finishing time of 30 - 40 minutes.
Eating Beforehand is a Good Idea
You'll need to eat before the race, but this isn't the time to try something new which might cause digestion problems. In an ideal world, you want to base your pre race meal on carbohydrates, so something like toast and jam, a bagel and peanut butter or just a banana and sports drink are great choices.
Throughout the Race
Keep sipping water regularly. That doesn't mean gulping down litres of the stuff, just regular sips to maintain normal hydration levels.
Avoid racing against other runners. Whilst it can be frustrating to watch apparently unfit runners pass you by, you shouldn't try to keep up with them. They will almost definitely run at a pace which they've trained for, you have your own tempo. Your first 5k isn't the time to let pride take over your judgement or common sense.
The secret to getting up off the couch to 5k running and keeping this up in the future is to building up a firm foundation of fitness in the first place. Don't rush through your training program because without following a well thought out training schedule you risk injury and boredom.
Instead, build up slowly and try other types of aerobic exercise that build aerobic fitness without impacting the body the same way as running. Swimming, rowing and cycling are great for this purpose.
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Keywords: couch to 5k, 5k, 5k running, 5k race
View Count: 94
Date Submitted: 12/29/2009
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