Let’s start off today by talking about some typical 5k thoughts that may or may not go through your mind while you are running a short race. Having done three 5ks in the past three months, I am quite familiar with these thoughts:
5k thoughts Mile 0-.5
“Don’t start out too fast. Why is everyone else starting out so fast? This can’t possibly be my 5k pace.”
5k Thoughts Mile .5-1:
“How am I completely out of breath already? Have I really not passed the 1 mile marker yet? I must have missed it. These mile markers must be wrong” (Glances at watch) “How have I only been running for X minutes!?”
Mile 1-1.5:
“Ok I am started to settle in a bit. But I need more downhills. Why are there so many uphills in this course?”
Mile 1.5-2:
“I’ve made it this far, might as well keep at it. Wait never mind this is stupid. I don’t even care how I do in this race because this hurts and I just want to stop”
Mile 2-2.5:
“I really don’t think 5ks are for me. I won’t be running another one probably ever again. Why are there so many uphills?!”
5k Thoughts Mile 2.5-3:
“Ok, less than a mile to go, I can do this. But it’s still stupid and I hate 5ks and I just want to be done”
Mile 3-3.1:
“Ok time to pick it up…wait I can’t possibly go any faster because I feel like my legs are gonna fall off!” (Crosses finish line) “Alright I should probably do another one soon and try to beat my time”
I know I promised a race recap from last weekend- that should be up tomorrow!
And now, for a few other random things on this Thursday:
1. I actually like the t-shirt I got from my most recent 5k. It fits perfectly! I hate when they are really tight and small….I never wear them. And if they are too big I sleep in them.
2. I use vaseline when I wear my heart rate monitor to prevent chafing, an its been staining my running shirts.
3. My office ran out of water this week. For 2 days we had to go to another floor to secretly fill up our water bottles. We finally got a delivery Wednesday afternoon.
4. I have been working on my headstands! I do them up against my bed so I won’t be as scared.
5. And finally, we tried a new Larabar flavor this week! They actually taste like peanut butter and jelly!
And that is all I have for today! Be sure to head over and check out what everyone else is thinking about!
- What are some of your usual 5k thoughts?
- Can you do a headstand?
- Do you usually like your race shirts?
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5ks ARE hard, but I like that they’re over quickly. 🙂
I was going to work on my headstand this year. Yeah, that hasn’t happened.
The only thing I can keep telling myself while running a 5k is that it will be over quickly!
I have just practiced my headstands a few times a week and over the past month its improved quite a bit!
Your headstand looks great! I can relate to all the 5k thoughts even though I haven’t run one in so long. I think all those things during speed work and I agree that everything feels uphill when you’re trying to run fast!
Its amazing how if I do an out and back course certain parts can feel uphill both ways:) Doesn’t make any sense but that’s the problem with running at those speeds!
I have the same thought process lol. I love when a race shirt fits well! I got a great sweatshirt from a 10k too and I live in it.
I would love it if races gave sweatshirts! Ive gotten a few long sleeve half zips and those are great!
Haha 5ks are so hard and I always just think it’s only 3 miles, it’s almost over…
I’ll have to try the PB&J Larabar, my favorite flavor is the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.
If you like peanut butter chocolate chip you will probably like the PB and J too! The PB part tastes the same but it just has more of a fruity flavor instead of the chocolate.
I haven’t done a 5k in forever, but I”m sure my thoughts would be similar to yours. And great job on that headstand!!!
Thanks! I think that anyone who is “racing” a 5k probably experiences similar thoughts to these!
I’m OK until mile 2, then it’s the longest 1.1 to the finish. And that .1? Holy crap! I never knew a .1 to be so sluggish. I think I can finish the .1 in 13.1 better than 3.1
I would have to agree with that! Its amazing how long that last .1 of a 5k feels!
I haven’t done a 5K since I first started running, but I’m pretty sure I would be having the same thoughts. 5k pace is brutal! I have a race shirt from my first half that I love for sleep, and the one from the virtual race I did is so cute and comfy!
It feels like forever running at that pace, even though its a short race! I love getting a nice variety of race shirts:)
I have so many race shirts I don’t wear but I can’t bear to throw them out! I can most certainly NOT do a headstand…. I can do a handstand against a wall, but that’s about it. The only thoughts I have during a 5K are holy S**T why did I sign up for this? Haha. Hope you have a fabulous day!
I hate throwing out race shirts too for some reason! The sentimental value I guess. And I can do the headstand better than a handstand! Although when I was younger I was much braver about handstands.
My thoughts exactly. I hate them so much when I’m doing them but they will always be one of my favorite races. I feel like they are so challenging and the perfect combination of speed and endurance. Also I love when the shirts fit perfectly. I never know to get a small or medium because a lot of races have switched to the slim cut ladies shirts for women and I hate them. I like wearing the guys shirts haha!
I have the same problem! Sometimes I will jus go with a size bigger and figure I would sleep in it, or give it to Rob. When they are too small there is really nothing I can do with them.
My thoughts during a 5K are much like yours, along with “I hate running” and “I’m too slow for this crap”. I did one last night and was so mad after it. I take the blame for doing the first .5 mi at a sub 8:00 pace…whoops.
As long as my race shirts are a tech shirt, I normally like them! I hate when they give out cotton ones. Those just turn into bed shirts.
Yea I can never use the cotton shirts for running!
Sorry your 5k didnt go well, but at least its just a 5k, not a huge time commitment and you can probably do another one anytime (if you feel like torturing yourself more, lol)
You have wonderfully encapsulated everyone’s 5k thoughts! I have only ever run one 5k and it was not just physically taxing but mentally taxing as well!
I used to do headstands as a kid. I tried one a few years ago and OW IT HURT MY HEAD!!! How do you do it without hurting your head?
I used to not like race shirts because they were always huge. Lately, more races are doing “women’s cut” shirts so they are nicer. But if I have the option to pay a lower entry price and NOT get the shirt, that is what I do. In general, all the race shirts I have gotten are pretty ugly with 2 exceptions- Boston and BALTIMORE!! My Baltimore Marathon shirt is short sleeved, has a women’s cut, and is actually a shirt I wear so much that it has a permo sweat smell. Ewww 🙂
The headstands probably don’t hurt my head because I don’t stay up there very long! There is also a certain part of your head you are supposed to put the pressure on, and use your hands for support, so maybe that helps.
I have a ton of Baltimore shirts and I also love them!
Yay for handstands! Good idea to do it against your bed. I have to look out for that flavor Lara Bar!
I definitely feel braver with the bed there,but I feel like its a little less support than a full wall:) You should definitely try the PB&J Larabar!
5ks are so challenging, but I do like them. I used to swear I would never run MORE than a 5k. The hard part for me, is it usually takes me 3 miles to settle into my run lately, so I have to have a completely different mindset when I go into a 5k. I go through all of those same thoughts too. Every damn time.
It takes me a while too to settle into my run, so I need to make sure I do a pretty significant warm up before a 5k!
Hooray for finding the perfect fitting shirt! I totally get not wanting to wear them if they’re too small, and then sleeping in them if they’re too big. Gotta go all Goldilocks on them and find one that’s juuuuuust right 😉
Exactly! It rarely happens so I am always excited when I find that perfect race shirt!
I have no idea why, because I’m about as coordinated as a 13 year old boy, but I can do headstands and handstands, no problem. And yes, 5k distances are SO GRUELING! Andrew has to Vaseline his nipples so his running shirts all have stains right. there. Ha ha! It looks like his nipples are leaking.
I think like 95% of doing headstands and handstands is being brave enough to go into them, and as we have talked about before, its probably a personality thing that makes the difference:)
Oh no that is so much worse than a HRM stain!!
I like races where (1) they give tech shirts and (2) those tech shirts are not unisex! And also (3) they have size XS. So far, the only two races that have done that are Disney Half and one NYRR race dedicated to women runners…
It always makes it a little easier when they have women’s cut! And its definitely nice when they have a range of sizes. I won’t run in anything but a tech shirt so that is a must as well!
Nice headstand! I need to start working on those. I haven’t run a 5K in a while, but the last time I was like “I’m going too fast!” I love Lara Bars – need to try that flavor!
I always feel like Im going too fast when I run a 5k! I definitely need to rely on my watch to help me pace.
I haven’t ran a race in a few years, but I always have your first thought about how people start so fast and I start panicking, lol. And congrats on the headstand, I definitely cannot do one, but maybe I’ll try to get there one day. Oh and those PB & J Larabar sounds delicious!
For me the key to learning the headstand was practicing against the wall! Otherwise I wouldn’t kick my legs up high enough. You should definitely try the PB&J Larabar- its delicious!
I LOVE your thoughts during the 5K list, Lisa; this is so, so true! I ran a mile race last month and everyone kept talking about the “hill” at around the .5 mile mark; I wish I could show you a picture of “the hill.” Hilarious. Everything feels so much tougher in short races and I think the 5K is THE WORST. Why do we keep doing these again? Our water guy at work didn’t show up for awhile and we ran out of water, but just for a couple of days; ridiculous. I gave him the evil eye when he finally showed back up (after several phone calls to the company) and now he’s bringing us TONS of water – ha! Hope you’re having a great day!
Isn’t it amazing how just about all sections of a 5k can feel like they are uphill?! Every time I runs 5k I question why I do it, but I guess they are a really good challenge both mentally and physically!
Running out of water is the worst!! Glad that your water guy has made up for it and brings you lots of water now:)
This post was funny! I think many of those same thoughts. Before I scrolled down and saw your caption, I thought the exact same thing about the kid in front of you in the picture. I wonder what his time was…
I know right?! This pic was pretty early in the race. I’m pretty sure I passed him but he still ran around 22 something I think!
5ks are so painful! I love that race shirt!
Thanks! They are so painful- good thing they are a short distance!
I have never tried a headstand before but I have some neck issues, so I don’t think I will ever be doing one. I ended up selling my 620 and got the 225 because of the chest strap. Such a bummer that your shirts have been getting stained!!
I have finally stopped chafing myself with the chest strap (although all it takes is one run…) I am definitely intrigued by the 225, but I do like some of the features of the 620.
Hahaha I can’t believe I missed this post last week – it’s great! Every single thought is one that I’ve had myself. It’s nice to know that even super speedy runners like yourself have these thoughts too!
I think its all relative because if we are really “racing” at our 5k pace it is supposed to feel really hard!