My first 5k

Hi everyone,

I've been reading all of the posts, and all the info has been a huge help to me. I am running my first 5k at the end of June and I am wondering some things.

Do they allow you to listen to music trough headphones while running? Or not due to safety concerns? I really hope because I use the music to keep my pace.

How early should I be there?

How do you deal with drinking? I don't want to carry water or have a waist pack thing, the less I have on me the lighter I feel, which is better. Do you have someone there that has a bottle you pass by them and drink? I don't know how it works.

I read alot about not starting off real fast, because you will lose energy quickly, is that a good tip?

Food is another thing...what do you eat in the morning before a 5k, and when? I don't want to get sick.

And do you have to bring someone, or can you go alone?

There isn't much info on the registration form; no rules or anything.

I know a 5k may be nothing to most of you veteran runners, but since this is my first race, I am a little nervous. Do you have any other suggestions or tips for me? I am sure there are things I have no clue about, so any little tidbits of info would be wonderful!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Hey, sugrplm! Congrats on aiming at your first race!! :)

Most of those questions will best be answered by the people who are organizing the race. If there is a website or informational sheet you could pick up, while it may not have the answers to your questions, there will at least usually be a phone number or email address for someone who could help you. That info may even be on your registration form.

5Ks are all very different on music. Some will let you, others won't. That's a question for the race organizers. Most of them, if they don't specifically say no, are OK with it, but again, check.

I would plan to get there at least half an hour before the race, an hour is better. Depends on how busy the race is. Make sure you give yourself enough time to register (unless you've already done that and gotten your packet beforehand) and stretch and do your usual warmup before race time. That usually takes me a good half hour to really stretch thoroughly and do a nice brisk walk around to get my muscles warm.

Just about every race I've been to provided water for participants (some even provide post race snacks or a meal), but again, I would call and get specifics from those organizing your particular race. The breaks on where it is available will vary.

In any race, pacing yourself and not starting too quickly is good advice. In a 5K it is a shorter distance so you're less likely to get yourself in serious trouble or not be able to finish, but try to get a good feel for your pace and stick to it. It should be FUN!

You can go alone. I do quite a few by myself. It is always more fun if you have someone to run with and of course its nice to have a cheering section, but it's not required by any means.

For breakfast, I like some cereal and yogurt. Nothing real heavy, usually just like a half cup of kashi with some blueberries and strawberries and some soymilk and a cup of yogurt. Enough fuel to get you through, but it's light and doesn't make me feel sluggish or sick. Usually I'll get up and eat and then head out. I'm there an hour before race time, remember, so it's plenty of digestion time.

Don't sweat the details too much. Just enjoy yourself. If you've been going out and running regularly, 5K is an enjoyable distance. Short enough to push yourself if you're feeling good that day. :) Good luck and have fun!!!

I've done 2 5ks in the last year.  The one in December (30 degrees) did not have water during the race, but had water and oranges after.  The one in April (85 degrees) had a water station halfway through with one tiny paper cup of water, and water, sandwiches and beer after the race.  (I was shocked by the beer, it just sounded gross after running.) 

I live in the South and down here with the humidity, we sweat alot doing anything.  I am used to running on the treadmill and having my water bottle right there.  I will definitly bring it next time because I get really thirsty.  I have a waistpack with a bottle holder for when I run outside.  The good thing is, towards the end of the run, the bottle is empty so I don't really carry that much extra weight.

I haven't seen anything before that said no headphones.  I always bring mine.  I like to have a granola bar a couple hours before the race.  I can't run on a full stomach, too much sloshing around, and then if you have to go....Check to see if there are any bathroom facilities around, just in case.

My first race I was by myself because it was so cold and early in the morning.  The next one my husband went to and took pictures of me at the finish line. 

It's really hard not to take off running at first because there are always the super fast people that finish in 20 minutes.  I just get in the back of the starting line, that way I don't feel like I'm about to get run over.  If you have a chance, check out the route.  My last 5k was in a different city, so I was unfamiliar with the route.  There were these 2 huge steep awful hills that I was not expecting. 

Also, don't wear anything new.  I you haven't run in it before, I wouldn't wear it to the 5k.  This goes for shoes, socks, sports bra, everything.  It's one thing if I am at home on the treadmill and the tag on my shirt starts aggravating me.  I can stop, take the tag off the shirt and keep going.  Not going to have access to scissors during the middle of a race.