Tell Your Race Story Here!

GREAT job!

Congratulations!

I ran my first 5k on July 9. My hubby ran with me the whole way even though he is considerably faster. I ran the entire thing in 43:39 and was 15/19 in my age class. It was the Smith Rock Sunrise Classic. It is such a beautiful setting with a relatively flat course. It was an amazing first experience and I can't wait to do the next one!

GREAT job!

I ran my first 5k on Sunday. My goal was 43 minutes and I ran it in 40:29. I couldn't believe it when the guy at the finish line said that!

More details on my blog: www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
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GREAT job! Good on you for signing up for more!

I posted this on the Did you sign up for a race? and then saw this topic, so here it is again.

Ok, I'm a little late. I did my first 5K on June 5th, which is why I started the C25K when my daughter mentioned doing the Women's Fitness Festival last year. Only I got off track for 2 months and started back again 1 month before the race. I ran most of it. The last half mile or so I walked the intersections and ran the blocks. My daughter then went on ahead of me. My time was 40 minutes and I was 60 out of 160 for my age group.

Decided to keep up with the running 2 - 3 days a week along with my usual swimming 3 - 4 days a week and looking for another 5K. There are 2 in August. One locally and one near my daughter. I'll see what she says and then decide.

Ran my first 5K race yesterday, my time was nothing to brag about, but the fact that I ran the entire thing, felt wonderful! Check it out: www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
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nal_individual.asp?blog_id=4337608

Thanks for the support guys! I unwittingly took the week off but wanted to get back into the swing of things. I liked having to track my days since it felt like I was extra accountable (and i could see where i was slacking off). Do you know if there is another tracking program either for increasing time/distance or just plain old staying motivated?

WHOOO HOOO! Excellent job!

Awesome job!!! That time is awesome!

Just finished my 1st 5K!! Did it in 32:40. My goal was under 35 so I'm pleased. Going to shoot for under 30minutes for the next one

Edited by: MOJIATA at: 6/9/2011 (08:56)

Excellent job, Hazel!

Well done!!

Completed my race in 29 mins and 40 seconds, 55 seconds faster than 1st may race

Thanks! Turns out my son doesn't like running to train so much, but is willing to keep running 5K events with me. We ran another race on June 5th. It's a huge one - over 1700 people in the 5K alone. My son had a bit of a cramp in his side at the start, so we went a bit slower then. The cramp went away about half a mile into the race, and we stayed together for maybe 1.5 miles before he left me behind :^).

He finished about 30 seconds slower than the first race (at 31 minutes). At 33:34, I was 2 minutes faster than our race two weeks ago, but slower than my other races on this same course.

that's great that you have a running partner! Sounds like a fun race!

I was a runner (on track teams) from 5th grade through high school, then didn't run much for over 20 years. I started again 2 years ago, and have run a few 5Ks in that time. This year, my 8yo son said he wanted to run one with me. He only had 1 "training run" beforehand - and we only went 2 miles. He walked part of that, so it took us 25 minutes to go 2 miles. I figured we'd be doing good to finish the 5K in 40 minutes.

On race day, he took off ahead of me - I reminded him to pace himself and not get worn out. He stayed ahead of me. I figured I would eventually come across him walking - but I never did! He finished in 30:20, more than 5 minutes ahead of me! (and just a bit faster than my fastest recent 5K) Okay then. Perhaps I've found a running partner!

AWESOME job, Keri!

My goal was to run the entire 5k, and I did it! 44:47 was when I crossed the finish line, I think - and for someone who whined and moaned about the mile in high school, then didn't run for 10+ years, and is really slow anyway ... I was so excited! I had two obstacles that I didn't train for: rain and hills (these weren't really hills, just some gradual inclines). I still beat it under my 45 minute goal time, so I'm happy :)

Ran my first ever race yesterday, the Borgess kalamazoo 5k. I haven't trained much the last 3 weeks as I was sick with a cold but finished with 28:26. I was doing well but really ran out of gas the last mile or so. It was a great experience and will definitely be challenging myself to more races, probably even longer ones somewhere in the future.

Awesome job, everyone!

Not much to tell about my 5K. I set out to run a 5K and I finished at turtle class speed. I challenged myself to try to run and I succeeded. I know that I can test my body at 60 and it will respond positively. For this I am proud but not surprised as I have now lost 37 pounds since Oct when I joined SP. It requires persistence with no excuses and not bailing out.

I haven't decided what I will do next as far as my running is concerned but I will definitely continue what I am doing in my program and running is a part of that program.

I truly support all the wonderful programs and support that SP is providing. I highly recommend members to take advantage of them.

Our bootcamp exercise class announced today that on Wed from now on will be running day. we will START out with a 3-4mile run(start?) Anyway, yes I run but have never really run with a group I do it on my own so therefore I baby myself, so this will be very interesting because I already know from our short runs that I have a time keeping up with the group but this will be good for me as well it will be a good place to start trying to build my endurance and get faster too, or get left and at 5:30a it's dark and you don't want to be at the end of the pack alone, so I will have my running shoes, watch and mind all set to run on Wed. updates coming after that. Good nite sleep on Tuesday for sure.
jackie

Mayfaire 5K
Gun Time: 31.14
Chip Time: 29:55
Results: third in age group

Started too far back in the pack. Those claiming they were going to run a 10 minute mile were just kidding themselves!! The winner of age group finished 1 minute and 2 seconds faster than I, but she was only 7 seconds faster on chip time. The second place runner was 30 seconds slower by chip time. I'll start up closer next time for sure.

Quads are still sore today, 36 hours after the race. Guess it was the hills or the weaving through the pack or maybe just the extra effort of competition. I often run longer and faster, so it is hard to explain. May take it a bit easy today, too.

WOO HOOO! Keep up the great work everyone!

Great job, Melissa!!

I ran a 10k this AM and got to meet another Sparker! Always a good day when you can "connect the spark!"

I did my virtual 5k today in 30:28!! Really pleased with it. I'm running a 5k next Saturday to benefit cancer research and I'm really looking forward to it!!

FANTASTIC!!!!

YAY HAZEL!!!! Thats awesome!! You'll beat that 30 mins I'm sure of it!!!

Finally completed my first ever real race. Got talking to another lady who uses the same gym as me and ended up at the back of the pack. I started off with her and her teenage daughter but quickly realised they were much slower than me, so had to dodge round lots of slower people to get going. Then I got in to my stride and just kept going. Official time 30 mins and 35 seconds - just wish I could get below that magic 30 mins on the road. It was great I finished 69 out of 159 finishers.

So now the next race is 7th June

GREAT job, everyone! And ARCELT, this forum is definitely welcoming to runners of all experiences - we can all learn from each other!

ARCT, that was awesome! so proud of you! Please feel free to stick around the team, you may can offer insight to the new ones just starting off! You're proof that it can be done!!!

Way to go everyone who completed their race

Race went super well, although my time was considerably slower than my goal. I was feeling really sick, so I'm trying not to dwell. Really pleased to have completed the program!

Congratulations on getting past all the walker people! Continued good fortune on your future goals. I have faith in you!

I know I'm kind of a mooch for hanging around this forum since I ran my first 5k a few weeks ago, but it was just a little work event and today I ran my first actual, chip timed, race. There were 740 runners in the 5k (there were many others running a concurrent 10k).

In the spirit of my previous 5k, I decided to start out at the very back of pack so as to not block the faster runners. That worked out OK in my little work run, which had only about 30 runners--it didn't work so well in a big race on narrow streets. I found myself stuck in a pack of run/walk folks with flailing elbows and an unwillingness to let others pass for the first half mile that basically required me to walk instead of staying near my pace goal of 9min/mi. I'm not bashing these people...they did as they should and started near the back, I just should have trusted my own abilities more and started a bit closer to the front.

I felt strong the entire race and even had enough kick in me to sprint the last quarter mile. I came in at just under 29:30 (240 out of 740), which is a bit ahead of my original goal of 30 minutes but slower than my previous finish. The big race atmosphere was fun and I enjoyed hanging around to watch the other 5k folks, as well as the 10k runners, come in.

While I enjoy running 5k, and hope to run more, I'm now going to turn my attention to running a 10k in June and a local half marathon in October. If I can keep it going, I'd even like to try to run the Little Rock Marathon next March but we'll see... My long, slow runs that I do on the weekend are up to five miles now and hopefully I can stretch that a bit in the coming weeks.

Congrats to all who have gotten this far in the program. I never would have made it far past couch potato status without all of the support and commiseration that I've found from others here....

Edited by: ARCELT at: 5/1/2011 (01:59)

Way to go, Joan!

I knew I forgot something!!!

I ran my first 5K April 10th in 40:20. It was amazing! I knew to hang back at the start so I wouldn't start too fast. (I've since figured out it's difficult to run slow!) There were lots of nice people there. I ended up stopping to help a college student. She was having a calf cramp and she was trying to stretch it out. We ended up running the rest of the race together and it was so much fun. We kept each other laughing.

I've already registered for races 2 and 3...one in May and the other in June.

The best part? I wore my running skirt and it was so comfortable!! It made me feel sassy! I will always race in a running skirt! =)

Edited by: JOAN_HEO at: 4/24/2011 (12:08)

AWESOME! Nice job! Good practice for your 20k!

I had an opportunity to do my 5k as an actual race. I was just coming off a foot injury and was nervous about it. It went very smooth and had a time of 31 minutes. I am also training for a 20k in June but am nervous about that as training has been light with my foot. Thanks for the challenge

GREAT job everyone!!!

Great Job Angie! Proud of you!

Did my official 5K today - it was actually a company event. 3.1 miles/40 minutes. I've only ran on the treadmill so far, and this was outside, so I'm impressed with myself (and the person who was with me and pushing me) to still be able to do it in the same amount of the time as on the treadmill. I thought my outside time would be slower since I'm running on pavement, and so

1 down and many more 5K's to go.

woo hooo congrats on beating your goal

My goal was under 30mins as I'd never run that time before, even in my training sessions I onyl managed to get down to 30.51mins.

I ran it in 29.09 - so stoked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations everyone that did it.

Wow, so many happy racers this weekend! Congrats to all!

Congrats Everyone!

JDBenning, great job on the 10k...I'm training for my first 10k next month...I seem to be getting hooked on this whole running thing...

I ran my first 10K today! I am very excited. My goal was to finish the race without walking and I did in 1:07!

Wow! I am so impressed by these racers. Inspired and maybe a bit embarassed! I think I need to shoot for a better time!

Today was my first 5k. which is obvious because i'm writing on this forum, but the sentence still shocks me. I did it. I wanted to be under 41:00 definitely, and to run the whole time, i did not care if it was the slowest run/jog ever, there would be no walking.

My time was 31:31.2, and i ran the entire time! At a decent pace actually.
It felt incredible. i was SO happy afterwards. This is the right time for a self- boost, and some perserverance followed by personal success. Congratulations to everyone else here on a job well done . I will definitely be runnning anoter when the chance comes up!!!!

Each one of you is inspiring me. Congratulations and thanks.

Wheee!!! 55+ and still alive and kickin'! I did the Virtual 5K Walk/Run yesterday in 34:45. A month ago, I had never run farther than a block in my whole life. So not only do I feel better, but I gave myself a boost of confidence that I can accomplish many more goals. This C25K was a solid training program that I would recommend to anyone.

Congratulations to all who posted here. I found everyone's stories very inspirational!