Ran my first 5K race

Sportinus said:

Greetings,
After I got off the couch about six weeks ago and started running, I
could not run for more than 30 seconds straight and now I ran in my
first 5K race (actually 3 person 5K relay).

<snip>
Congratulations on your first race! To me, every race is thrilling for
different reasons. You ran for a good cause--I live near Aurora, IL,
where they have the Sweetness (Walter Payton) 5K in August.

Keep up the good work...regardless of your times, you're getting
healthier, improving your mental state, and making your body work
better, all just by running!

Jim

Jim,
Thanks for the kind words. I live in Aurora also. I have also had a
few at the roundhouse 😉 Do you have any good spots to run (with
lights) due to the shorter daylight?

Depends on where you live in Aurora. Email me offline (jimjonesWRS at
gmail dot com) with where you live, I'll give you some suggestions.
Oh...and there's a good 5K coming up in Naperville this Sunday...the
Naperville Exchange Club 5K Race Against Child Abuse:

http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1234709

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

Quoted message said:

Greetings,
After I got off the couch about six weeks ago and started running, I
could not run for more than 30 seconds straight and now I ran in my
first 5K race (actually 3 person 5K relay). I even had a cold, but my
friends would not let me back out. It was for the Walter Payton Cancer
fund in Arlington Heights, Illinois. I led off our relay team. I
found the start od the race to be a little "intense".

I suspect you started too close to the front of the pack. Unless you
expect to place in the top 10, I suggest not toeing the line. 2nd or 3rd
row of bodies won't lose you any time but it should help you avoid the mad
rush.

Quoted message said:

As the starting
gun went off chaos ensued, alot of jostling as people zoomed by and
others seemed to stop in their tracks. I tried to stay near the back
but some how got stuck in a group sprinters and I started out way to
fast. Once an opening showed I got out of the fast pack and settled
into my fast pace. I was amazed at how some people zoomed by and then
slowed. It seemed to me a steady pace would be more beneficial, but
what do I know.

This is true. Most of us like to get moving quick in the first minute
or so then settle in, but it shouldn't be a drastic difference.

Quoted message said:

I was also surprised by the lack of talking during the
run, as people passed (either way) I would say hello or offer
encouragment and very few replied. Is it not race etiquette do engage
in small chit chat?

No, generally we're too busy breathing.

Quoted message said:

At one pont I was being passed and the person
inadvertently kick my calf, I still do not know how that could of
happened.

There will always be some incidental contact. It can get ugly in
cross-country and track, where people are wearing spiked shoes. I have some
amusing stories of those.

Quoted message said:

I only walked for about 20 seconds when I could not clear my
congestion. My goal was to break 31 minutes and I finished in 28:02.

Congrats. Keep building the training nice and steadily (10% rule) and
next time out I'll bet you drop more time.

Dave

Sportinus said:

found the start od the race to be a little "intense". As the starting
gun went off chaos ensued, alot of jostling as people zoomed by and
others seemed to stop in their tracks. I tried to stay near the back
but some how got stuck in a group sprinters and I started out way to
fast.

I agree with David here -- you probably started too far up. The fast guys in
most races will run 5k in 15-18 minutes -- faster than 6 minutes a mile, and
a lot of slower people try to follow them, so if you line up near the front,
it's chaotic.

[snip]

Quoted message said:

what do I know. I was also surprised by the lack of talking during the
run, as people passed (either way) I would say hello or offer
encouragment and very few replied. Is it not race etiquette do engage
in small chit chat?

No. Chat during the cooldown is good etiquette. Offering encouragement is
also OK. But don't try to engage people in conversation while they're racing.
Most people don't want to talk while they're racing -- they need to save all
the oxygen for their legs.

Anyway, congrats on finishing your first race.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Sportinus said:

Greetings,
After I got off the couch about six weeks ago and started running, I
could not run for more than 30 seconds straight and now I ran in my
first 5K race (actually 3 person 5K relay).

Congratulations on your first 5k!

Quoted message said:

I was amazed at how some people zoomed by and then
slowed. It seemed to me a steady pace would be more beneficial, but
what do I know.

Usually is, unless jockeying for position at start. This is common on
trail or cross-country races where there's an open area, then narrows
into a trail.

Quoted message said:

I was also surprised by the lack of talking during the
run, as people passed (either way) I would say hello or offer
encouragment and very few replied. Is it not race etiquette do engage
in small chit chat?

5k's are usually short enough that most people are focused on running.
Some may or may not be running at a low enough effort to talk. (remember
the "talk test" for pacing and conversational effort).

In the rare occasion where I pass someone or someone passes me, I'll
generally say something like "looking good" or whatever. It will depend
on whether people are running or racing also. During "longer" races
(relative to individual), some people may chit chat, but others don't
like the distraction, esp. if on a trail requiring navigation and
thinking about hills, etc. Back of packers tend to be more talkative,
but if they're using the race as a serious training run, they may prefer
to be running alone without distractions. For other people, it's a party
and the more people in the conversation, the better.

Quoted message said:

My goal was to break 31 minutes and I finished in 28:02.

Good job!

Quoted message said:

It was interesting to do the relay because you had to carry a small
football around then hand it off. I say this because I had just met
the person running second. So when I came to the finish line I was
staring athe crowd of runners waiting for a handoff and had no clue who
to give it to, thankfull our middle person remembered who I was and
came slightly back towards me so I could hand off. It was awkward to
run with something in my hand, I almost dropped it several times due
lack concentrating on it. Overall I enjoyed the run and donating to a
good cause cannot be beat.

Sounds like you had a fun experience! Congratulations.

Dot

--
"running is a mysterious journey that we take not just to beat other
people or to stay in reasonable physical shape - but to find out more
about ourselves" - Owen Anderson