Just signed up for my first 5k - and a question

[yankeebelle5]

Tell me it's ok if I have to stop and take walk breaks. I don't want to be the only one and I don't want to be embarrassed but I'm not sure I can run 3.1 miles straight through just yet. I can on the treadmill but outside has been hard and I've been dealing with shin splints on top of it. Oh and the race is Saturday :/

[jgleespen]

You can absolutely walk! I always try and move off to the right hand side of the course, so I don't block the way of others that are running. There will be plenty of other people do a combination of run/walk too.

Good luck!

[aliciar6]

plenty of people take walk breaks, so don't worry about it just go out there to have fun and enjoy the race

[runforcookies]

I can run 3.1 without stopping but somehow I always try to go way to fast during a race and wind up walking at least once a mile. Don't worry, plenty people will be walking

[shauni27]

Goodness, of course it is ok! 5Ks are generally filled with a lot of beginners who take walking breaks or even walk the whole thing! If you can run 3 miles on the TM though, you know you can do it outside. Go out there knowing it is ok to take breaks, but I bet you surprise yourself with some race adrenaline!

[Deleted]

I just did my first 5k a few weeks ago, I took 2 walk breaks (at the top of the hills), and saw many others taking them as well. Don't fret! It's totally OK.

[ladyk]

Of all the 5ks I've done, I'm always the one bringing up the rear. Seriously, unless you are in it to win it, it is perfectly alright to take walk breaks. People finish marathons using the Galloway method of walk/run combinations. Good luck! Oh and don't let the rabbits (aka speed demons) pull you off your pace.

[jenniferjanec]

A 5K is a first race for a lot of people! Don't be afraid to take walk breaks - totally common.

[trigal]

Do whatever it takes to get from the start to the finish. Good luck!!

[luvmygsp]

Ditto everyone!!
I just did my 1st 5k about a month ago & I surprised myself by not having to stop & walk as I had anticipated, even though I had been training outside.
Of course, I know all of that was just due to race adrenaline, but shoot--oh! I mean shit! I forget I can swear!, I didn't care what the reason was why I didn't need to stop! I was just thrilled beyond belief to cross the finish line, it didn't matter how I got there!

[mayflowers22]

So relieved to hear these answers..

[livinitup]

I'm actually going to tell you that it's easier to run slowly than to stop with walk breaks.

So much easier.

Don't be afraid to run the whole time. It's YOUR race. Run YOUR race.

[MrsE]

It's totally fine. Just make sure you line up toward the back of the pack if there are no corrals so the faster runners can get ahead and you make sure to walk toward the right side of the course so you can allow others to pass. Have fun!