5k training
Thoughts on My Two Months Into Running
10 Jun 2009 07:35 PM
If you’re a runner who happened to chance upon this
blog, remember that this is a newbie talking, so feel
free to post your
comments/corrections/reactions/opinions.
1. Strength training works! In my case it has helped me a lot in running. All those squats, deadlifts and lunges help when pushing off the ground. In my experience, as I improved in my strength training for my legs, I’d also require less effort to maintain a faster speed at a longer time. Exercises that strengthen the core (abdominal muscles, obliques) help maintain a good form throughout running. They also keep the body from twisting when powering up hills or speeding down hills. I’d like to think my strength training played a huge role in my strong finishes, and getting that extra kick as the finish line is near. Can strength exercises reduce the risk of injury? Studies say so, but I can only speak for myself after a few more months into this.
Take note, I say “strength training” and not “bodybuilding”. Strength training does build some muscle, but the name itself implies a focus on building strength, not trying to bulk up and look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’m pretty sure I can beat that guy in the 5k, what with all that muscle weight slowing him down.
2. I have yet to find my best stride/footstrike.
3. I’ve set goals for the 5k because I wanted to take baby steps in endurance running. Training for the 5k (or for a best 5k) requires less mileage than training for the longer distances, or the marathon. But it certainly does not require less effort! The difficult part of the training is doing the sprint and tempo workouts.
4. I haven’t decided yet what I will train for next, after my 5k PR attempts.
5. I love it!
- - - - - - - - -
Mizuno Infinity 5k race results are posted here. I got in at 64th place out of 994 runners, 7th among the females. I didn’t realize there were that many 5k runners that day! I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. The 5k still remains the most popular race distance because it is beginner-friendly, and yet many elite athletes like to challenge themselves with it. Other runners use the 5k for speed work when training for longer distances.
Won’t you like to sign up for a 5k race today? Click here for a list of running events in the Philippines.
1. Strength training works! In my case it has helped me a lot in running. All those squats, deadlifts and lunges help when pushing off the ground. In my experience, as I improved in my strength training for my legs, I’d also require less effort to maintain a faster speed at a longer time. Exercises that strengthen the core (abdominal muscles, obliques) help maintain a good form throughout running. They also keep the body from twisting when powering up hills or speeding down hills. I’d like to think my strength training played a huge role in my strong finishes, and getting that extra kick as the finish line is near. Can strength exercises reduce the risk of injury? Studies say so, but I can only speak for myself after a few more months into this.
Take note, I say “strength training” and not “bodybuilding”. Strength training does build some muscle, but the name itself implies a focus on building strength, not trying to bulk up and look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’m pretty sure I can beat that guy in the 5k, what with all that muscle weight slowing him down.
2. I have yet to find my best stride/footstrike.
3. I’ve set goals for the 5k because I wanted to take baby steps in endurance running. Training for the 5k (or for a best 5k) requires less mileage than training for the longer distances, or the marathon. But it certainly does not require less effort! The difficult part of the training is doing the sprint and tempo workouts.
4. I haven’t decided yet what I will train for next, after my 5k PR attempts.
5. I love it!
- - - - - - - - -
Mizuno Infinity 5k race results are posted here. I got in at 64th place out of 994 runners, 7th among the females. I didn’t realize there were that many 5k runners that day! I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. The 5k still remains the most popular race distance because it is beginner-friendly, and yet many elite athletes like to challenge themselves with it. Other runners use the 5k for speed work when training for longer distances.
Won’t you like to sign up for a 5k race today? Click here for a list of running events in the Philippines.
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Mizuno Infinity Run
10 Jun 2009 03:09 PM
Two months ago, I ran my first 5k race ever. After
that, I made it my next goal to race my best 5k.
Following the 2-month training program I got off the
net, the timing for my 5k race attempt fell on the
same day as the Mizuno Infinity Run - June 7, 2009.
For a newbie like me, I think I followed a moderately hard training plan. This plan included long runs, tempo runs, easy runs, and the workout which I have a love/hate relationship with... sprint workouts. The different types of runs each fell on a certain day of the week, but I switched days based on my schedule. Dex and I have strength training thrice a week. If I had pushed myself a lot during strength training on one day, I’d either reduce the mileage on the scheduled run that day, or exchange the difficult run for an easier run (and make up for the more difficult run on another day). Sometimes I had a run scheduled on a certain night, but then friends would call up, and running night would become sushi night. Can’t have it all, can we?
I joined other races prior to this, but they were all part of the training plan, and none of them were PR (personal record) attempts. Instead, they were supposed to be long runs at a comfortable pace. But sometimes I failed to stick to the “comfortable pace” part of the plan, and ended up racing harder than intended.
THE STARTING LINE. I squeezed in the crowd to get near the starting line as much as possible. In the past runs I’d have been content to stay at the back, but I made an exception that day.
THOUGHTS DURING THE RACE. Almost none, haha! Unlike 15k races and such, the 5k is too short for the mind to go into a reflective state. It was just “put one foot in front of the other as fast as you can” for me.
NEAR THE FINISH LINE. I’ve been expecting a 28 minute finish, but I got in at 25:50. Yahoo!!!
AFTER THE RACE. Surprise! Mizuno Phils. announced that the race was a time trial. Read about it here or check out the Mizuno Philippines Website. All runners who participated in Mizuno Infinity June 2009 are qualified for the race on January 10, 2010, and prizes will be awarded to those whose times show the greatest improvement.
I was pleasantly surprised, though I also had a few misgivings. Why did I have to pick this race to set a PR (aside from the flat course)? Then again, if I join the race on Jan. 10 just to beat one of my slow paces, that would kinda be missing the point, right?
January 10, 2010 is still exactly seven months away. I think I have time to train. Bagging a prize for this one would be a long shot - but it would be fun to see how far I can beat myself.
For a newbie like me, I think I followed a moderately hard training plan. This plan included long runs, tempo runs, easy runs, and the workout which I have a love/hate relationship with... sprint workouts. The different types of runs each fell on a certain day of the week, but I switched days based on my schedule. Dex and I have strength training thrice a week. If I had pushed myself a lot during strength training on one day, I’d either reduce the mileage on the scheduled run that day, or exchange the difficult run for an easier run (and make up for the more difficult run on another day). Sometimes I had a run scheduled on a certain night, but then friends would call up, and running night would become sushi night. Can’t have it all, can we?
I joined other races prior to this, but they were all part of the training plan, and none of them were PR (personal record) attempts. Instead, they were supposed to be long runs at a comfortable pace. But sometimes I failed to stick to the “comfortable pace” part of the plan, and ended up racing harder than intended.
THE STARTING LINE. I squeezed in the crowd to get near the starting line as much as possible. In the past runs I’d have been content to stay at the back, but I made an exception that day.
THOUGHTS DURING THE RACE. Almost none, haha! Unlike 15k races and such, the 5k is too short for the mind to go into a reflective state. It was just “put one foot in front of the other as fast as you can” for me.
NEAR THE FINISH LINE. I’ve been expecting a 28 minute finish, but I got in at 25:50. Yahoo!!!
AFTER THE RACE. Surprise! Mizuno Phils. announced that the race was a time trial. Read about it here or check out the Mizuno Philippines Website. All runners who participated in Mizuno Infinity June 2009 are qualified for the race on January 10, 2010, and prizes will be awarded to those whose times show the greatest improvement.
I was pleasantly surprised, though I also had a few misgivings. Why did I have to pick this race to set a PR (aside from the flat course)? Then again, if I join the race on Jan. 10 just to beat one of my slow paces, that would kinda be missing the point, right?
January 10, 2010 is still exactly seven months away. I think I have time to train. Bagging a prize for this one would be a long shot - but it would be fun to see how far I can beat myself.