Yes - look back at an answer from either me or Joan4Mickey, but the short answer is that you should be fine with most "official" 10K races. And setting smaller goals before the "big day" is a very smart idea - for me, it was vital!
I didn't start running until the month before I turned 40! What IS it about that age that makes you want to get up and DO something?!?!
Consistency and challenge are the key. If you just train consistently, the time and strength will come. Also, once you see your time start to plateau, get in the habit of pushing yourself just a little bit - even if it's trying to finish a few seconds faster than your last few runs. Always good to challenge yourself. And I did a local Gobble Jog here on Tgvg and it was fun! I would like to do the Atlanta Half on Tkgvg this year, but it's a different ballgame getting up early and driving to downtown Atlanta with thousands of people than it is just driving to the next town over with a few hundred for the 10K!
So much so, I've been through several different styles recently, trying to find the perfect match. I started in Wave Nexus 5's a year ago, which are perfect for walking, but as I'm doing a lot more running I need less stability and something better for a mid-foot strike. (It's bizarre - I over-pronate some when walking, but not when running. So shoes that are ideal for my walking gait cause all sorts of problems when running.) I've got a pair of Wave Rider 15's ordered and can't wait to give 'em a try!
