Thinking of training for 5k

Personally I prefer walking to running - I am 63, and have been walking for several years now. That has been art of my efforts to control my weight and my A1C/diabetes. I have walked quite a few 5Ks and it is great fun! Even did the 5K/10K combination two years now at the Illinois Marathon. I encourage you to give it a go - I bet you can do it!

I did sign up for 5k. Also I went through the sports fitness program at the healthy living center. I met with nutritionist, physical therapist, and trainer. They help people to train and not get hurt. I am on return to running program which is for people brand new to running or injured and returning to running. My 5k race is Saturday before twin cities marathon. This is exciting. I never ran a race before.

I said I was a walker/runner. They ask about estimated time to finish and I put down 15 minute miles which meant 46 minutes.

How do you keep from getting bored when running, walking, or doing these very repetitive activities? I am not a nature lover by any means (one tree or plant is the same as the next), and by the time I finish an walk that is only for exercise purposes, I am so bored and wound up from thinking about what else I could be doing that would be much more enjoyable. I am a former dancer and before the malpractice by my HMO robbed me of the ability to dance, I could go on for hours at a time and enjoy. Even with balance training, my balance has been destroyed to the point I can no longer dance, and it is literally killing me mentally and physically. I have tried to "think about it differently" but I find absolutely no pleasure in the activities that I am physically able to do.

@ihatediabetes, I’m so glad you started this discussion. I “ran” my first 5k last year. While I’m proud of myself, there were speed walkers who finished faster than I did. LOL. Never mind, I did it! Do I like running? Not yet. But I’m still doing it. Like you, @ginaquilts, I find running a bit boring, although I don’t mind walking. That’s odd, isn’t it?

I’m a walk, run, walk type runner. I followed John Stanton’s method of running from his book “Running: The Complete Guide To Building Your Running Program”
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Complete-Guide-Building-Program/dp/0143176099
According to his method, you never run for longer than 10 minute segments, followed by 1 minute. That made it easier for me.

IHateDiabetes, I’m envious that you have a whole team of people helping you get ready. Is your race this Saturday? As in tomorrow? All the best. Can’t wait to hear how you do.

I don't mind walking when there is a purpose. I work on a large university campus. and I'm constantly dashing around campus - no problem; I'm not a couch potato. But to just plain go out for a walk for exercise, it raises my blood pressure and aggravates me to no end, so it probably does more harm than good. I'm looking for some physical activity to replace dance, which was always a pleasurable experience and never a chore. After decades in the education and fitness industries, I am totally convinced that people will rarely stick with an activity of any sort unless they enjoy it. Walking, jogging, running, swimming laps, exercise machines - all way too boring. Life is way to short to deal with things you hate to do.

1) listen to music as I walk. I compile my own playlists.
2) listen to Audible recorded books as I walk.
3) I participate in Virtual Races. You sign up, complete the races at your own pace. You see where you “are” on Google street views. This has shown me scenery on a number of continents! I like the races at yes.fit - I have completed almost 30. Right now I am walking the Ring of Kerry. They have a very supportive and encouraging Facebook page!
Good luck.

I think you are wise. One must enjoy exercise to persist in it.

Hi. What is Ring of Kerry? Thanks for the tips.

Hi my race is October 6. That's the day before twin cities marathon. I got new shoes today. I'm making it interesting by talking to my wellness coach and now my trainer. I took photos of my new running shoes and my meals. I showed them that I did not buy the potato chips I usually buy. I think that I stay on track because I am interacting with other people. I have goals that I chose. Then I talk about my preparation step by step with other people. Along the way I am processing with my coach or someone else. I don't go it alone. Then I try to be humorous about what is happening to me. I do try to have fun. My trainer said to just have fun by feeling my body in motion. Then go to race, start, finish and don't get hurt. I think turning healthy living into play makes all the difference. Adults have mostly forgotten how to play. They don't remember catching butterflies and how much fun that was.