subject: Preparing To Go From Your Couch To 5k Runner [print this page] Because you won't need to spend much to start with, I suggest you just get out and give it a try. Here are a few helpful suggestions to help make your transition from couch potato to 5k race expert as smooth and fast as is feasable.
Draw Your Line in the Sand.
Find your first race and sign yourself up for it. Once you've made an actual physical commitment and invested some money in to something, you're much more likely to commit totally to it.
Get Your Preparations Right
So that your capable of running the entire 5 kilometers in one go, you'll need to have progressed your training to trying at least a couple of 30 minute runs a week. You can complete a very respectable 5k race with as little as six weeks of concentrated training.
Enjoy the Experience, It Should Be Fun
Getting up out of your couch to 5k racing is a wonderful way of meeting people and getting in to great shape at the same time as feeling better about yourself and having more energy. Running a 5k is an excellent starting point for a beginner. They're the shortest race distance with an average finishing time of 30 - 40 minutes.
Have a Bit of Something to Eat
It's important to eat before the race, but this isn't the time to try something new which might cause digestion problems. You should base your pre race meal on carbohydrates, so something like toast and jam, a bagel and peanut butter or just a banana and sports drink are good choices.
The secret to getting up off the couch to 5k running and keeping this up in the future is to building up a sound foundation of fitness in the first place. Don't rush through your running plan because without following a well thought out training schedule you risk injury and frustration.
Instead, build up slowly and try other types of aerobic exercise that build stamina without impacting the body the same way as running. Swimming, rowing and cycling are great for this purpose.
