I've been a treadmill jogger for several years, but haven't challenged myself with a race yet. I'm thinking of registering for a 5K 4th of July race, and I'm looking for training tips, eating tips, running-in-mobs tips?

I try to get in 12 miles a week on the treadmill, doing 3 miles in about 32-34 minutes. Is it reasonable to think I can run anywhere near that outside the gym, in real world conditions?

What were your first race experiences like?

Cheers--
Terry-24

howdy...

I was a treadmill runner for a long time specially since my allergies are killers during certain times of year..I have had the experience of doing many 5K/10K and just recently a half marathon. I can tell you now, there is no comparison with running outside vs running on treadmill. I found out that using inclines on treadmill will help..Last year I did a 10K and there were some hills..that killed me..use\ to running flat surfaces. If you have been running 12 miles a week...you should be able to run the 5k easily. The weather/course etc is the factor..Now, running the half..that was a KILLER..we fought wind/rain/snow/hail and sleet..this was the first part of May too..Never been so sore in my life. ran it in 2 hrs/20 minutes. One thing that taught me was to not start off to fast. come to my journal and ask away..I will try to help you out..Running events/races becomes a drug..You get so addicted. I am currently laying low due to the half marathon then a 10K last weekend...Body needs to mend...

Cya

Races are fun! You'll enjoy it.

I don't do much treadmill running, mostly outside, so I don't have much to offer you there other than to suggest that if possible, you should try to start running outside (or even indoor on a track, but off the treadmill) at least once a week to prep for the race.

3 miles in 32-34 minutes consistently is pretty good (at least for me it would be), and I always find that I run faster in a real race. I think it's the adrenaline. A 5k is 3.1 miles, you won't have any trouble doing a 5k race at all!

Yeah, running outside is very different from running on a treadmill or track. You use way more muscles in your lower legs, mostly from avoiding rocks, planning foot placement, doging people, kids, dogs etc. Personally, I find treadmills boring. I only use the track when I want to "zone out" in my head or listen to music, as I'm not comfortable with headphones on my local trails. I would definetly suggest training outside before doing a race.

The following link is the program that I used when I started running.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

However, my first race was not a 5K it was a Half marathon.
I ran 8 miles - farther than I had ever ran in my whole life, and had to walk most of the last 5 miles. It was a killer, but I know I need to train more, better , differently...

Good luck!

Thanks for the "Cool Running" link and wow! What was your running routine before you decided to tackle 13 miles in one go?

With my weight-training up, I've dropped my running to 13 miles a week, and am having trouble even meeting that goal this week. And my time trial yesterday (3.2mi in 35+min) was the worst time in three weeks. Clearly I need a better training program, so thanks again for the link--

Cheers--
Terry-24

I had been doing the Couch - 5K program when my running partner and I decided to do the Half Marathon. We used a training program from one of the sponsors designed for a half marathon. I had never really run more than 6 miles during my training and that hurt me at the last part of the race.

Last Spring I did the C25k (I cannot recommend this enough to new runners, as well as never increasing distance/week by more than 10%--has kept me injury-free)...my only goal was to be able to run 3 miles at a time. Last June I entered and ran my first 5k...I got bit HARD by the racing bug. Since that first race I have completed 2 other 5ks, a 10k, 2 10 milers, a half-marathon and a 25k. In a week I will be running a 15k and have 2 more half-marathons planned for this year.

Now a 3 mile run is the absolute shortest distance I run in any given week...most of my long runs are in the 10-15 mile range. I'm slow, but I can maintain a consistent pace for hours. '08 is the year I hope to run my first full marathon.

k