ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Training for the 5K with Stevie Ray Vaughan

Updated on November 10, 2012

Setting Goals for a 5K Running Race

Setting realistic goals for exercise is an important tool for keeping your workouts interesting. In my own journey back to the healthy fitness world I have incorporated small goals that have led to building my confidence. In just 8 weeks I have lost almost 10 pounds, increased my aerobic stamina and have committed to participating in my first 5K.

Every so often I challenge myself even beyond the norm for me and end up in a Lucy Ricardo moment. That is, I wind up asking myself, “How the heck did I get here?” I have a feeling that on Saturday morning, (that is September 10th, to be exact—just two days away), I will be asking that very question as I warm up for the big race.

The ‘big race’ is already making me nervous. I have already conceded to the fact that I won’t run the entire race, and that is okay. Walking will get me to the finish line just as well. I am proud to say that I have increased my jogging from a mere 5 minutes, when I first began this quest, to 35 minutes of nonstop running at a rate that went from 3.0 on the treadmill to 4.2 without gasping for breath. I’m hoping to finish within an hour and a half. If things go well, maybe cut it back to an hour.

I have to admit-I’m getting cold feet; not a good thing when it is your feet that you are counting on to carry you through the race. How do I cope with my nerves? Well, I keep in mind that this is not a life and death event, it is merely for enjoyment; I breathe into my belly to calm myself down; and I remember that I have invested twenty hard earned dollars to register-all for a good cause, (cancer fundraiser), but admittedly, there are many other things I could have chosen to do with twenty bucks.

Please take this poll:

Have you ever run in a 5K challenge?

See results

How to meet your fitness challenges

I like to think of this as an exercise in fortitude. One doesn’t know how much resilience one really has until put to the test. Showing up at the starting line amidst a throng of strangers is that test. How badly can I really embarrass myself?

I’m not alone in pushing the envelope of self challenges. Unbeknownst to me, my sister, hubber Danette Watt, signed up that same weekend for a 5K in her local area. I didn’t realize this until a phone conversation came around to that subject. I think she has a handle on it much better than I have-she’s been doing her practice runs outdoors and has acclimated herself to the weather conditions. I, on the other hand, have enjoyed the cool temps of the indoor treadmill AND an additional fan blowing on me. Okay, not the best training, I’ll agree, but I have recently worked out without the extra fan.

Speaking of training, you may wonder what my secrets are…well, there is only one that I can really offer because I am only a novice in the world of fitness. My best advice if you want to participate in the 5K is to ‘JUST DO IT!’

Did you happen to catch that I said, “Participate” and not “run”? It is part of the secret-to do what you can from where you are right in this moment. Don’t compare yourself to other people who are running. That includes your neighbor, your family members, and your best friend. Each person is only expected to do what they are capable of…and perhaps push themselves a little beyond the ordinary.

How to Run a 5K Race: Pre-Race Tips

There are all sorts of support out there if it is your desire to compete in a race. I was amazed that when I voiced my plan out loud to a staff member at the fitness center a fellow member began to ask all sorts of questions about time and shoes. He offered support and encouragement-LOTS of encouragement as a matter of fact. Since he has participated in previous races he was able to share valuable information.

As for shoes-well, it’s vital to have a good pair of shoes to absorb the shock of the terrain. My biggest mistake is that I did not find that pair and have to rely on my tried and true at this point. To use a brand new pair at this late date would be a mistake I don’t want to make. I am familiar with my old, worn out sneakers, and they are a comfortable fit…just not as cushy as they once were. I’ll settle for a good foot soak at the end of the race.

Staying motivated while training is important also. If you lose interest because of boredom it will take away the energy you need for the actual event. Some of the ways I stayed motivated were by changing the routine-working out at different times of the day, for instance. Also, I changed the venue-I actually did get outdoors and jog in the streets and fields near our home. Sometimes I would jog while taking the dog for her run. She enjoyed chasing after me or speeding ahead. While on retreat I jogged the campus walkways. A huge difference because there were rolling hills that were challenging. But, it was a change of pace.

Finding your own rhythm is a key factor in pacing yourself. I have a friend who competes in races. This tall athlete invited me to run with him while we were in retreat. I stand at a just over 5 feet and he is well over 6 feet tall. Although we never did have that opportunity due to our schedule, I couldn’t imagine what type of run he was referring to, because he’d have to slow down for me. I know I wouldn’t be able to keep up with him.

I use music to motivate and help me to keep a rhythm. In fact, I’ll be taking Stevie Ray Vaughan with me when I join the others this Saturday. Stevie and I go way back. I used to listen to his music in blues bars, and although I never saw him in person, I have many of his CD’s and he has kept me moving on that treadmill.

Crossfire: One of the many songs I jog to. I like the easy rhythm and the beat: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...each count a step. Two albums I listen to while working out are: Texas Flood and In Step.With Stevie crooning to me this Saturday morning, I can’t go wrong. I’ll keep you posted on the results of the race.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)