Running first 5K in MK on my 40th!!!

[takstarr]

I just found out about the family 5K October 2nd in the Magic Kingdom. I have always wanted to run a 5K, but have never had the right motivation. Well this 5K falls on my 40th birthday so I decided this how I wanted to celebrate. Two of my three daughters will be joining me (my youngest just turned 4 and can't do it) along with my DH. (who has ran lots of 5ks). So, I have just started "training" and ran 2 miles today in 23 minutes. Do any of you have any pointers for me? I welcome all advice! Maybe next year I can try the 1/2 marathon.

 

[darwinsrule]

I say go for it. I was planning on doing the 1/2 in Vegas last year for my 40th. Unfortunately, injury, and children put an end to that dream. Wanted to do the Castaway 5k in a couple of weeks when we are on the Wonder but I broke my foot back in July and that won't happen either. If life, and my body cooperate I would love to do the 1/2 in January 2012.

Biggest challenge for me is maintaining motivation. Running when I was in university was easy. At 40 not so much. Between work, kids, and all the other things life throws at you, it can be a challenge. I would recommend finding a local beginners clinic and making it a more social event. I have found it makes it much easier to stick with it that way. Not sure where you are but if you are in any kind of decent sized city there should be a running store, start there and see what they have.

Good luck.

 

[MamaCrush]

The Halloween 5K at MK will be my first race too! But I'll be 1 month shy of 51... I began training at the end of June since I've never run before in my life and my fitness would have had to improve dramatically for me to be considered a couch potato! Appropriately enough, I'm following the Couch to 5K (C25K) training plan.

Good luck to us both!

 

[heatherlynn444]

good luck!
have FUN and don't train too much too soon, gradually do more and more and you will be fine!

 

[katlady]

I'm running it with my 5 year old daughter and 9 year old son. My son will finish with no problems. I started training my daughter last week. Her first attempt, she ran/walked 3 miles in 58 minutes. Yesterday, she ran 1 mile in 16 minutes which is the maximum time alloted per mile. With 1 1/2 months to train, I'm pretty sure she'll be able to do it.

 

[ohMom]

congrats! what an excellent way to spend your birthday!!

i find it very helpful to have a training plan to follow, that way i don't overthink or try to weasle out of a workout, i just follow the plan to be properly trained for the event

 

[takstarr]

Thanks for the encouragement! I am really very excited. Now that I have something to work toward I am running daily. Good luck to everyone! See you there!

 

[dismikki]

I did this same thing with a good friend last year. We both ran our first race ever to celebrate our 40th birthdays. We did the expedition everest race and it was a blast! We trained with the couch to 5k and I thought it was a great plan. Good luck to you, and stick with it!

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Great to hear 38 here and this will be my first 5k as well. What a great way to get introduced to running and being able to run thru MK. Can not wait. See you all there...Good luck with the training...