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When you think about it does it really matter if its measured in kilometers or miles? Not in practical terms because a fixed distance does not change which ever way you find of measuring it. But it does have a psychological effect on people who may be running the distance.

A 5K Training is 3 miles long. Or if you want to be really accurate, it is 3.10615969 miles long.  Its basically nothing more that a mental attitude which depends on what system of measurement you are more accustomed. Whether you have done your running training based on a 3 mile distance or a 5k one, you have been doing exactly the same thing. When you stop to think about it 100 meters will really not do to much to affect your performance in a race. The only difference will be, for runners who measure their performance in seconds, it the few moments longer running time the extra 100 meters of the 3 mile run will take over the 5k one.

The difference in performance requirements in nothing. For a runner who normally puts in a final burst over the last 500 meters of the 5k course, it means postponing the start of the bust by 100 meters, or doing a 600 meter burst at the end. The only time measuring a races distance as either 5K Running or 3 miles will make a difference is when the run is over a closed circuit where runners who are regulars on the circuit will have a fixed mark or point from where they begin their final push to the finish line. If a runner has a mark he has been using regularly in 5k races, when he is in a 3 mile race he will have to either find a new mark to sue for starting his burst or judge the extra 100 meters from his regular mark and then begin his final burst. If you are a runner who normally does the regualr 3 miles then its the reverse that will apply to you.

Of course, the terminology of 5K Training and 3 miles is being used more and more interchangeably and non professional races often set a 5k distance for a race that is called 3 mile one and a 3 mile distance for a 5k race. Really you are splitting hairs if you are looking at the distance and thinking about how little impact it has for those who run it.

However, many professional runners feel that this casual attitude towards a difference of a 100 meters is a mistake. In a world where victory and defeat is measured in hundredths of a second, the extra 100 meters of a 3 mile race will add up to 15 to 20 seconds to a race time and will give an incorrect measurement of a runner’s performance. After all, even the best of sprinters take about 10 seconds to cover a 100 meter distance so the extra amount that needs to be run should not be ignored.

In the end it really comes down to a mindset and a runner’s habitual distance and his comfort level with the terminology.

Jogging Tip is a brand new website that is all about jogging. Jogging Tips is the premiere website to connect with all of your jogging friends. Learn about training for a 5k and running your first 5K race. Stop by Jogging Tip.com today to get your free jogging ebooks just for signing up to be a member of the jogging tip website.
 

Since you are not a professional runner you have doubtless been told over and over again that you should run against yourself and do the best you can without worrying about how other runners are doing. That’s fair enough because as an amateur runner your main interest is normally in keeping fit and the enjoyment you derive from running. But lets face it, man is a competitive animal and we all want to outshine others when we can. This is never more true that in a race when the race results are a generally accepted measure of success or the lack of it. You may be a weekend or occasional jogger who decides to enter a 5K Training just to see how your performance level compares with others of your age group. If you are 50 years old and finish in the middle of the other people of your age who are in the race, you should be satisfied with your 5k race result. The problem lies in the fact that while its nice to know that you are as good as your peers, you can’t help wishing that you could outperform them and rather than finishing the race in the midst of 50 year olds you could do it among the 40 year olds. How great would that be and how young would it make you feel?

Pushing yourself and your body too hard is not just foolish but also dangerous and you could do yourself serious harm. If you want to improve your 5K times and still take some of those things into consideration then there are a few things that can be done.

The most common method of improving your timing is to practice tempo running. This simply means maintaining an even pace (or tempo) throughout your run. Start with 1k and run it at a pace that brings you to the threshold of exhaustion at the end of it. Knowing when you have reached your threshold is important – overdo it and you could hurt yourself. When you muscles ache and your breathing becomes labored, you have passed your threshold. Once your have established a maximum pace for 1k, start gradually extending the distance (without letting your pace drop) – remembering again not to cross the threshold. Keep doing this until you are running the full 5K Running as fast as you can. What this really is is your maximum pace and you will find that you will get the best 5k results at this pace without injuring yourself.

The important thing to remember is that running should be fun. If you push yourself to the point where running is a task that has to be performed only to feed your ego by getting better results than would normally be expected of you, you are doing yourself a disservice. How long do you really think that your need to run will last? Is it worth it to take the pleasure out of running just to get great 5K Running results that, in the final analysis, do not improve the quality of your life? Keep striving for improvement, but know when to stop. The best advice is to always consult your doctor before you start to train for something that will require over exerting yourself or pushing yourself too hard.

Jogging Tip is a brand new website that is all about jogging. Jogging tip is your perfect place to join with the rest of your jogging friends. Learn about training for a 5k and running your first 5K race. Come by Jogging Tip.com today to get your free jogging ebooks just for signing up to be a member of the jogging tip website.
 

The 5k run walk event is very popular with those who are regular walkers (and even those who are not!) as the next level in both a fitness regime as well as an enjoyable competitive sport. The mixture of running and power walking reduces the overall impact of the exertion on the body and lessens the risk of injury. Since it is up to you as to how much you run and how much you walk, you can find the balance that suits you best without over straining your body.

5k is about 3.2 miles and there is a wide variety of the time it take to run or walk this depending on the level of fitness so you are looking at 20 minutes to an hour. When you begin a new sport you really want to distinquish that you are doing this for yourself and not to compete with those who are at a higher level than you.

Presuming that you are already a walker, 5K Training for the 5k run walk is not difficult. If you search bookstores and the internet you will fine a huge volume of material on run walk techniques and 5K Running programs. As a beginner you don’t need to worry about all that at this time. A simple 3 stage (3 days X 2 of Jogging and one day rest) weekly training program should get you into shape for the race.

Start each day’s training with a simple stretching and warm up routine. This should not take more than 3 or 4 minutes and should leave you feeling loose and relaxed.

Stage 1 (Mondays & Thursdays) – These are your speed training days. Run a sort distance – up to a quarter mile – as fast as you comfortably can. Slowly build up your performance. One Mondays keep trying the increase your speed and on Thursdays increase your distance till you can do 2k at a fast pace.

Stage 2 (Tuesday & Fridays) – These are your run walk day. Starting by covering 2k at a moderate pace by a combination of running and walking (about 50% each). Moderate pace means something between a flat out run or high speed walk and a slow jog or causal stroll.

Stage 3 (Wednesday & Saturday) – These two days are meant for stamina building. Start at 2 or 3k and work your way up to 5.5k. Really you can say that speed isn’t as important but that does mean you should be lazy about it. The most important thing is that you finish the 5.5k without feeling exhausted and totally out of breath. If you are wondering why the distance is 5.5 and not just 5k, it because the extra distance will give you stamina for a fast burst at the end when you are in a race.

Modify the days to suit your convenience but ensure that there is one rest day a week so you muscles can recover and build themselves up. Adjust the training intensity and progress to suit your body. Really the time in which you obtain the finish line is not the most important thing but really how you feel after it is over that matters.

Jogging Tip is a brand new website that is all about jogging. Jogging tip is your perfect place to join with the rest of your jogging friends. Learn about training for a 5k and running your first 5K race. Come by Jogging Tip.com today to get your free jogging ebooks just for signing up to be a member of the jogging tip website.