My first 5K that I ran is pretty distinctive in my mind. I had done a few organized walks back in high school, but had never attempted to run a 5K until back in 2009.
The way I signed up for that first 5K run was a little backward – I was actually training for my very first sprint triathlon at the time and decided to sign up for a 5K to get ready for that.
And let me back up for a second. When I say “training” for my first sprint tri, I mean that in a rough sense. I didn’t have a definitive training plan, I just tried to go out there and run, bike & swim a few times each week. And I was doing this having not run at all for ohhhh… about 6 or 7 years prior. I seriously did not run at all between high school and when I started training for that sprint tri.
The 5K was taking place at TriMania, a big triathlon expo held in Massachusetts annually which I had decided to check out for the first time that year. They were having a 5K that morning and I thought “perfect! I can get a fun run in before I explore the expo.”
I don’t know why I was surprised when I arrived at the 5K that morning to see that everyone running it was insanely fit and athletically experienced. I mean, they were ready.to.win. {Um, hello Chrissy? Your first 5K at a triathlon expo? Where experience triathletes go to get even better?}
Thoughts running through my head that morning were something along the lines of…
Wait – these people are warming up? Are you supposed to do that?
What’s this I hear about shoes for overpronation? Do I need those?
Negative splits? What the heck does all this mean?!?! Did I hear wrong? Are there banana splits afterward?!
The relatively small group (probably about 50 people) started the 5K and I quickly moved to the back of the pack. It was a loop course, so I felt a little anxious when I saw people finishing when I was going around for the second part of the loop.
And then, because I am horrible at paying attention to directions, I forgot the way the course went on the second loop. I kept going straight when I should’ve turned, and didn’t realize until I somehow started running up stairs and thought “wait a second, I don’t think this race had stairs the first time around!”
I managed to back track and figure out how to get back on the course. I went on to finish the race in second to last place. About 10 seconds ahead of a woman who had to be pushing 80.
You might be reading this cringing and thinking that I went home disappointed. You’d be wrong.
I was SO proud of myself for having finished it! Who cares that people were faster than me? Who cares that I got lost? I finished the race and that’s what it’s all about.
One of the biggest things I hear from people when they want to do their first 5K (or first race of any kind) is that they are scared that they’ll be slower than everyone else. Scared that they’ll be embarrassed by being in the back of the pack, or even coming in last.
WHO CARES?!?!
I was just about last in that race. I came in second to last place at a tri I did several years ago. In fact, they actually thought I was the last person on the course, and announced “Let’s hear it for our last athlete, Chrissy Carroll!”. {Speaking of which, if you are last you actually get a really big crowd applause which was kind of cool.}
It doesn’t matter if you come in last. What matters is that you are out there. You’re pushing yourself, you’re competing, you’re embracing the challenge.
[Tweet “It doesn’t matter if you come in last – what matters is that you are out there! #embracetherace”]We’re halfway through 2016 – don’t let FEAR stop you from embracing your first race. Get out there and sign up for it today. Embrace the back of the pack. Feel proud crossing the finish line. Because at the end of the day, the most important person you’re competing against is yourself.
Go show yourself how strong you can be.
Share with me: Has fear ever stopped you from signing up for a race? Are you contemplating signing up for a new distance this year but aren’t sure about it? What was your first 5K experience like?
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I don’t remember my first 5k but I was dead last in my first sprint. I was so last that the race director, volunteers, and timing guy had packed up and left ( a really crappy thing to do, btw). I didn’t care! I was so proud of myself for finishing and for doing something I never thought I’d be able to do. Of course all my good mojo and excitement went out the window when I realized I was technically a DNF because there was no official there to see me/time my finish. After some email exchanges with the RD I was able to get my self-reported time on the finisher list. My friends ask me each year since if I’m going to do that race again when it rolls around — NO! 🙂
I can’t believe they packed everything up?! Didn’t they realize that a number hadn’t come through on the timing system yet? That’s crazy. I’m glad they let you add your self-reported time though.
Since I’m a back of the packer, I always like races that specify on their website “We’ll wait for the last person” – then I”m like OK, time to register! 🙂
That is a great story of your first 5k! You are right it doesn’t matter where you come in as long as you finish.
Thanks Deborah! It was quite an intro into the world of road races but I was super proud of myself 🙂
Preach sistah preach! You can only compare yourself to your past self, and no one else. I always say the only one I’m racing against is me whenever I’m about to do a race. Focusing on that makes a big difference!
YES! So true. It’s funny when I worked with kids a lot because they’d always ask “Miss Chrissy, did you win your half marathon?”. It took a while of explaining that in road races, it’s not necessarily about first place, haha.
Fear has been an issue for years. However I made it goal this year to complete a 5k, 10k, and half. So far I’ve done Two 5ks. The fear is still there, I just run through it
Woohoo, go girl! I love that you set that goal for yourself.
that is the spirit i have when i sign up for the race and thats the only way i can enjoy the race.
Yep! It’s all about getting out there, not worrying too much about the rest of the participants, and doing your own thing. 🙂
I love that you shared this story of your first 5K! You are so right it doesn’t matter what place you come in – it matters that you got out there in the first place!!
Thanks Michelle!! I’ve come a long way but still am (generally) no where near the front of the pack – ain’t no shame in that though. 🙂
You know my motto: finishing is winning! You nailed it with this post!
Thanks Wendy! Love that motto 🙂
Such a great post. Funny thing is I find myself able to put myself out there more and less afraid of races and stepping out of my comfort zone as I get older! But great tips for my girls and just in general!
I find that true for myself too Sarah, in many aspects of life and not just racing. I feel like with age and more life experience, we tend to worry less about what others think which is a good thing.
Great post! This is a legitimate concern and fear so many of my new running clients have. I always remind them that even last place beats the person who was too scared to show up 🙂
Yes! You know the saying, DFL > DNF > DNS. 😉
My first ever 5k was a disaster! We had a similar experience 🙂 BUT, shortly after, I signed up for a half marathon 5 months later, so I guess I found some determination!!
That’s so awesome Christina, way to go!!
My mom is a walker, so I have a particular fondness for the back of the packers! One half that she did, everything was packed up and gone by the time she finished. I so appreciate races that make as big a deal for the last finisher as for the first. With Team Challenge, we get everyone to come together and celebrate the last finisher!
I LOVE when races make a big deal for the last person. In my last marathon a few years ago, I wasn’t even close to last but they had already packed up so much stuff by the time I finished. It was 45 degrees and raining the whole race, and after 5+ hours I just wanted something warm to eat. All that was left was ice cream and cold chocolate milk. I was so sad!
Great article! I am a back of the packer in running and triathlon. I’ve even been escorted by the police in a race as dead last! I never care. I race for me and for what it pushes me to achieve and every time I look at the crowded BLING rack on my wall, I know I earned the same medal as the person who crossed the line first.
In any running race, my Hubby is always one of those front of the packer, wins his age group types and he always runs back to find me and then runs the race again from wherever he finds me. It’s not about first or last, it’s about each of use challenging ourselves to cross our own personal finish lines! #CrossYourFinishLines
Yes!!! Love this story Cassandra. I need to get myself a bling rack – all my medals are in a drawer right now and you’re right, I want to display those bad boys!
Back when I was running I remember being so nervous to do my first run. Great encouraging post.
Thanks Mikki! 🙂
I so needed this, not just for working out but for life in general. Thank you so much for the reminder <3
Aw, you’re so welcome Giselle 🙂 I’m glad the post spoke to you.
I’m definitely in the back of the pack in most of my races, and I’m not really ashamed. I figure, I can only get faster! As someone mentioned up thread, it really is a bummer when the race officials don’t show any love to the back of the pack — particularly when there is no time limit on the race. It’s a pet peeve of mine. Everyone deserves a high five and a “way to go” at the finish line!
Exactly Lex. I completely agree – if a race says “all times welcome” or “no time limit” then I expect there to be set up at the finish. I understand if they advertise ahead of time about a time limit, but it drives me nuts when they sound inclusive of back of the packers and then don’t support us.