Running Your First 5K
How To Start Out + 4-Week Training Plan
The 5K: As of for now that distance equates to at least twelve and a half minutes of continuous running. But let‘s be realistic: You‘re much rather going to end up somewhere in that 20- to 30-minute area. Half an hour — This amount of time can seem frightening at first. However, building up enough endurance isn‘t as hard as you might think. You just need to be patient.
When we see world-class runners on TV, it‘s easy to dismiss years of hard work full of setbacks and disappointments. With perfect strides and thoughtful pacing, they make running seem nothing but effortless. But once, sometime far in the past, even the world’s very best have gone for their first jog. They were where you’re at right now. Starting to run is probably the hardest part of finishing a 5K. In the beginning, your entire body feels stiff, as if it’d resist the very idea of exercise. Your first couple of runs are going to be the hardest. If you haven‘t used your feet for more than walking in years, increasing the speed just won‘t feel natural. On top of that, your body isn‘t going to last long. Because running quickly turns into a frustrating experience this first couple of times; many people quit after only making a few attempts.
