If you are ready to walk 5K, you probably have a lot of questions if you have not done a race before.
There are some tips and procedures that you should follow in order to have a successful race.
You do not want everyone to know it is your first time out necessarily, so pay close attention to these questions and suggestions.
How far is a 5K? A 5K is 3.
1 miles.
Can you walk 3.
1 miles? Can you do it in less than an hour and fifteen minutes at the latest? If so, great! You are ready.
If not, find a walking program or fitness program to increase your stamina.
Look for a race that is a month or so away that you can train for, and start walking! What should I wear? Wear comfortable clothes that you normally walk in and do not wear new sneakers.
You could possible end up with blisters from not breaking them in adequately.
Races are usually in the morning when it is cooler so think layers.
A light jacket you can take off if you need to and clothing that is designed to keep moisture away from your body.
What should I eat before my 5K walk? In the 24 hours before your race, you should not eat anything abnormal to your diet.
So do not decide it is the perfect night to go visit that new Caribbean place you have been thinking about.
A lot of people like to eat pasta the night before to "carbo-load".
This is not quite necessary for a 5K walk but it wont hurt you.
Just do not overdo it.
The morning of the race, keep it simple.
A bagel, banana and some juice would be good.
They usually have drinks and items like bananas at the start of the race too.
Drink a lot of water in the 24 hours before the race, but race morning do not overdo it because you don't want to stop mid-race and hunt for a port-a-potty.
How does the start work? You will want to line up at the start behind the runners.
This is a mistake many new walkers make.
They line up at the start with the elite athletes and spend the first five minutes of the race getting literally run over.
There is no need to be at the start line when the gun goes off as most races now use chips they give you to attach to your shoes.
You go over the line and the clock starts ticking, even if it is after the "official" start.
Will I get a prize? You might! Usually races give prizes for first, second and third place and then for the first, second and third place finishers in each category.
If you are in an underrepresented category and you just finish, then you win! These tips should help you have a great first 5K walk.
Do your best and remember, you are winning just by being out there!