Why I Hate & Love 5K's
"I truly hate racing in 5k’s."
That's exactly what I would have said prior to July 13 of this year. Of course, hate is probably too strong a word. But I really, really, don’t like participating in them. I still have shameful memories of being lapped in 5’s back in my junior college days in track - typically after I’d already ran a 10K. Prior to this past summer, the last time I ran a 5K, someone I knew blazed by me so quickly that I barely recognized her.
Nope. You can have those short races. Give me a 10K or half marathon where I can at least maintain a modicum of dignity.
That’s why I pouted like a spoiled toddler a few months back when a 10K was cancelled with all of us being moved into the 5K at this event. All because of a silly little heat advisory, raising temps to near triple digits. Surely my running coach would agree that skipping that race would be best.
When he thought otherwise, wanting me to suffer in that glorified sprint, that was when my pouting commenced. However, since no one at the office understood why I was holding my breath in a corner and with zero sympathy from my wife (who had raised three kids and had no patience for such behavior), I reluctantly went forward with that race.
Which, to my great surprise, turned out halfway decent.
Enough so that I had to reassess my apprehension for five-kilometer races.
To assist in that deliberation, let me commence with the following:
Reasons I Really, Really Don’t Like 5K’s
Too Short. While 3.1 miles is nothing to sneeze at, in terms of racing, it’s a distance where endurance takes a backseat to speed. I’m the other way around. I tend to do better with the longer races where I can maintain a more comfortable pace for several miles
Too fast. Picking up on the previous bullet point, speed has never been my forte. Every time I run a 5K, my legs feel as if I were flailing along, trying to keep it together as opposed to the more methodical cadence and stride I employ in longer races.
Sense of Accomplishment. Although entirely subjective, given that they are shorter in time and distance, I don’t come away with the same sense of accomplishment when I run a 5k when there are other, longer races. Part of that stems from knowing that if longer distances work in my favor, then that’s where my efforts should go.
Those the reasons I would have offered prior to this last 5K. However, having raced this distance for the first time in several years, I came away with the following:
Why I Really, Really Love 5K's
It Doesn’t Last Long. Running under a heat advisory quickly reminded me that this race would not last nearly as long as the 10K I had intended to run. Feeling that heat beginning to drain me by mile two, having only a mile remaining was definitely preferrable to four.
Easier Recovery. Rule of thumb is that I need a recovery day for each mile raced. Do the math. 10K’s mean a week. Half marathons are nearly two weeks. 5k’s translate to my being able to resume speed work by the middle of the following week.
Speed benefits other races. Speaking of speed work, having to push myself in shorter races like the 5K actually improves my speed for the longer races. Along with that, this 5K reminded me of the value of both patience and establishing the right pace (as I got out a bit too quickly).
The Verdict is In
Although I wish I’d been able to run a 10K on that day - and I hated having to cut several songs from my racing playlist - it’s clear that running the 5K on that day provided some benefits that paid off in future races. Enough that I will likely reconsider my aversion to running them in the future as part of an overall training plan.
Your Turn
Those are my thoughts. What do you think? Are 5K’s your jam? Something on occasion? Something to avoid? Let me know in the comments below or on Facebook. And best wishes with your running!
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