My very first race experience.

Well done, Richard, congrats on the positive life change and the commitment you made to training in
recent months. Isn't it great to have a race experience to give you some intense feedback on your
training, not to mention just the pure entertainment value?

Good luck with your 10K preparation. I wouldn't get carried away with increasing mileage, just add
10-15 percent mileage for the next couple of weeks and concentrate on quality of the workouts and
you'll continue to improve some before the May race. Too big an increase in miles could cause you a
disappointing injury. Force yourself to start the 10K race slower than your target pace, at least
for the first mile, then press a little harder as you get into a good rhythm. You may be pleasantly
surprised by how much better it goes when you don't burn yourself up at the start. Cheers. -chris

RMB said:

I started running last September. I had to lose weight and get my priorities back in line or die
young. There is a 10k every May I thought I would train for. I found the right shoe and I run 20
to 30 miles a week now and enjoy most of them. I have dropped 35 lbs and feel better than I ever
have. I wanted to get a race experience under my belt, so I entered the local Heart Run 5k. The
weather was gorgeous. I started in the middle of the pack. Mile marker 1 was there before I knew
it. 8:50. I felt great. I was going a little faster than my training pace, but I thought that was
OK. Mile marker 2 was 17:50. I was feeling a little winded, but was OK. At 2.5 miles, I thought I
was going to die. I knew I was running faster than I had trained, but boy was I burning. Then I
noticed I had been running with an older lady that had a huge smile and was just a chatter box.
That is when I decided to suck it up and finish strong. Funny how strong a motivator the male ego
is. I finished at 27:40. That is not a great time for you guys, but I am ecstatic. The race also
was insight that I have not been training correctly for the 10k. I guess I should increase my
mileage slowly, but significantly to be ready in May. I wanted to finish the 10k in less than an
hour, but now I am thinking 1:10 would be fine.

I wish I had discovered years ago how much fun running could be.

Regards,

Richard

Richard,

As I've learned, what might not be a good time for others more athletically inclined, might be a PB
for those of us not blessed with a good running body. We're all different, with different abilities
and 'road blocks'. Be the best you can be. We may not all be Pre's, but we can have his desire to do
and be our best.

Congratulations on giving running a try and doing a decent time. Hope you stick with it.

Victoria

"RMB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I started running last September. I had to lose weight and get my priorities back in line or die
young. There is a 10k every May I thought I would train for. I found the right shoe and I run 20
to 30 miles a week now and enjoy most of them. I have dropped 35 lbs and feel better than I ever
have. I wanted to get a race experience under my belt, so I entered the local Heart Run 5k. The
weather was gorgeous. I started in the middle of the pack. Mile marker 1 was there before I knew
it. 8:50. I felt great. I was going a little faster than my training pace, but I thought that was
OK. Mile marker 2 was 17:50. I was feeling a little winded, but was OK. At 2.5 miles, I thought I
was going to die. I knew I was running faster than I had trained, but boy was I burning. Then I
noticed I had been running with an older lady that had a huge smile and was just a chatter box.
That is when I decided to suck it up and finish strong. Funny how strong a motivator the male ego
is. I finished at 27:40. That is not a great time for you guys, but I am ecstatic. The race also
was insight that I have not been training correctly for the 10k. I guess I should increase my
mileage slowly, but significantly to be ready in May. I wanted to finish the 10k in less than an
hour, but now I am thinking 1:10 would be fine.

I wish I had discovered years ago how much fun running could be.

Regards,

Richard

Quoted message said:

I finished at 27:40. That is not a great time for you guys, but I am

ecstatic.

Hey, I've been running for 6 years and racing for 2, and have yet to get my a 5k PR under 28:00.

Good run!

Perdy.

Congratulations David! You should be proud. Keep it up!

- Satish

In article <[email hidden]> "RMB"

Quoted message said:

I started running last September. I had to lose weight and get my priorities back in line or die
young. There is a 10k every May I thought I would train for. I found the right shoe and I run 20 to
30 miles a week now and enjoy most of them. I have dropped 35 lbs and feel better than I ever have.
I wanted to get a race experience under my belt, so I entered the local Heart Run 5k. The weather
was gorgeous. I started in the middle of the pack. Mile marker 1 was there before I knew it. 8:50.
I felt great. I was going a little faster than my training pace, but I thought that was OK. Mile
marker 2 was 17:50. I was feeling a little winded, but was OK. At 2.5 miles, I thought I was going
to die. I knew I was running faster than I had trained, but boy was I burning. Then I noticed I had
been running with an older lady that had a huge smile and was just a chatter box. That is when I
decided to suck it up and finish strong. Funny how strong a motivator the male ego is. I finished
at 27:40. That is not a great time for you guys, but I am ecstatic. The race also was insight that
I have not been training correctly for the 10k. I guess I should increase my mileage slowly, but
significantly to be ready in May. I wanted to finish the 10k in less than an hour, but now I am
thinking 1:10 would be fine.

I wish I had discovered years ago how much fun running could be.

Regards, Richard

Congrats, Richard! And not only on the race, but for the weight loss and healthier lifestyle. As you
keep running, your times in races will continue to go down for something like 5-7 years. My first
10k was just under an hour, now it's 48:06, and I'm a woman in my mid-40's! I lost 20 lbs, my
husband 60. I'm crazy about running now, and have just done my first three marathons. Keep up the
excellent work, and be sure to write us reports on your races!

Teresa in AZ (wished I'd started serious running sooner myself)

Quoted message said:

Congratulations David!

Congrats, you suck-faced creep.

"RMB" <[email hidden]> wrote...

Quoted message said:

I wish I had discovered years ago how much fun running could be.

Richard, your post brought a big smile to my face. I originally took up running for the same reason
as you did, and it soon developed to mean so much more to me than just a necessity... and I feel
that it has for you, too, from your words.

Your first race experience is very impressive - congrats! You paced yourself wisely and finished in
a very respectable time. That's a pretty rare thing for first-timers, I'd say. I'm sure a sub-1:00
10k can be yours - but don't go out too fast. Just run a comfortable pace and have fun!

keep it up, nina (btw the female ego works pretty well too 😉 )