The two race-things.

[pseudo_vegan]

So I'm running two...race-things...

:worried:

http://www.cherrycreeksneak.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.home

That is the first. I was told by some friends that if you can finish with a 10-min. mile or less, you can start sooner in this:

http://www.bolderboulder.com/

My gosh I'm so nervous just thinking about it.

Methinks I average about a 10-minute mile right now...maybe a little less...I haven't yet found a public track which I can use to time myself consistently to see my progress. I should also get a heart-monitor too (though no tengo dinero). Does anyone have any good tips/advice about what to expect? I guess they're races, even though I'm not really doing either to "win" or even finish with flying colors...

...I just want to finish.

I'm so nervous, but I want to do it. The first is like two weeks out. Is that enough time to train to get down to a 9.5-min. mile? My job also said they'd "sponsor" me or whatever (i.e. pay my registration fee) for the Bolder Boulder, so that's cool because I won't have to pay to suck :D

Ay. So...I don't really know what I'm looking for here. Just some words of advice or support. All of the above :sweat:

:nigel: Cheers and thanks y'all.

[slynny]

pseudo_vegan, First of all everyone is nervous about their first run, and some of us are nervous before all our runs. It's very normal to be nervous and you probably will be until the race starts, but once it starts, unless you're really worried about winning or something, it's pretty easy to relax and just have fun. There is always lots of camaraderie and encouragement from all the other runners.
First of all if you just want to finish....well...you've run five miles before right? so you can finish, you know that.
I think that you run enough that you could train to run a little faster if you wanted. Don't over do it though, you don't want to start running a lot more than you do now. You should always increase the amount of miles you run slowly. In order to run faster you have to train faster. Try some speed work. Run at your regular pace and then pick up your pace to a sprint for a minute or two, then go back to your reg. pace for a while and then sprint again, repeat this through your run but the first few times you run like this do fewer sprints....gradually add more to your runs.
Unless you have health problems I wouldn't worry about a heart rate monitor, a digital watch might be a good thing it you're paying attention to your time, that way you can check your pace at each mile mark (most races have each mile posted for you).
Don't start to fast! Stick to your pace! Try to anyway, it's harder than you think in a race bacause you see all these people passing you and you think you have to keep up or you just don't want all those people passing you and most of all you will just be excited. If you run 9 or 10 min miles people will pass you, don't let it upset you or worry you, just stick to your plan and keep to your pace....you'll probalbly pass some of them latter on.
If you're feeling strong half way or with a mile or two to go pick it up a little...just a little, then if your still feelling strong pick it up more. Better to play it safe in order to make sure you have enough steam to finish strong.

GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!!!

[markc7]

Number one rule is to: Run Your Own Race! Don't let others suck you into running a faster pace early on. It'll just tired you out, and in the second half you'll lose all the time you gained. If it helps you to focus on your own pace, bring music to listen to. Otherwise, try watching the mile markers to make sure you aren't going out too fast.

For training, I agree with slynny's suggestion of doing fartleks. You don't have enough time to do lots of structured speed work like track workouts, since they take longer to recover from. But throwing in a couple sprints into regular runs can be done any day, and plus it's fun!

Last of all, it's totally normal to be nervous. In fact, if you weren't nervous, I would say that you aren't giving the race the respect it deserves! I've run about 40 race between 3 and 100 km, and I still get butterflies everytime I line up at the start line. The great thing is, it goes away for most people within seconds of the start. As soon as your body recognizes that you're doing something that it's done many times before, the butterflies fly in formation.

Good luck!

[pseudo_vegan]

slynny and markc7,

:wayne:

MUCHOS GRACIAS!!!

:nigel: Cheers!