For Those Who Run...

[toledo13]

Hi everyone. I have a 5K on Sunday... and I always see people running, before the race starts!!! Is this smart to do? I would guess it would make me tired.... any advice???

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Depends on your ability level I think and your personal goal. Mostly those you see are looking to do a personal best, compete in the event or some such as that. They will run to warm up and by the time the event starts their muscles are ready to take on the burst of speed that these 5k runners demand of themselves.

Me, I warm up as I go and enjoy the participation of the event. I feel that I would be too tired too; I am not fast enough for this warm up to make that big of a difference in my performance...

 

[toledo13]

Depends on your ability level I think and your personal goal. Mostly those you see are looking to do a personal best, compete in the event or some such as that. They will run to warm up and by the time the event starts their muscles are ready to take on the burst of speed that these 5k runners demand of themselves.

Me, I warm up as I go and enjoy the participation of the event. I feel that I would be too tired too; I am not fast enough for this warm up to make that big of a difference in my performance...

That's what I was thinking too...

Hey, where in Cleveland are you?? I'm from Columbus, but my dad used to live by the Zoo! (Fulton Rd.)

 

[3DisneyKids]

Hey Ann--when my husband and I do a 5k, it is just part of our run for that day. (My husband, for example, his shortest run of the week is 6 miles, so he will just do a 5k as part of his daily run.) For me, I will usually run a mile before the race (to get warmed up, like Lily said) and then another mile at the end...at a slow, easy pace to cool down. But I am not necessarily trying to PR or anything...it just makes it easier for me afterward. If I just run hard for a 5k (without the good warm-up and cool down, then I am SORE due to the harder run of a race).

Hope this helps!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I was always told by trainers and normal runners that you shouldn't start a race 'cold'. I lightly run for about 5mins then stretch my legs and body to loosen up. I definitely don't run at a fast pace in the warmup...just want to get the blood flowing since the races are usually early morning!

 

[jay42k]

I agree with the above. If I am "racing" the 5k, I will typically warm up for a full mile. Toward the end of that mile, I will do several "surges" at 5k pace for 50 meters each or so, with a brief interval between. This gets my legs in gear for a quick start.

That said, if the race is "just for fun" and I am not trying for time, I will typically not warm up. Also note, the longer the race, the less I will warm up. I typically will only stretch prior to a marathon for example.

Finally, I always cool down for a race. For 5k, it will be a slow 1 mile jog ... for marathon, the march to find the end-of-race treats is cool-down enough