My first 10k, and a training plan for yours
A look back at my very first race and a 10k training plan.
The first half of this post comes to you not from me, but from my former self. It was 2008 and I’d just run my first ever race, a 10k. Below is the blog post I wrong the day after. I’ll never forget crossing the finish line of that race absolutely exhausted and unable to run another step. But looking back on this post bring back more memories.
The good side of writing about your training on the internet for 15 years is that there’s a whole vault of memories to look back on, even if it is a bit like looking back of your teenage diaries. Cringe! I started running as a complete beginner in the March of 2008, and ran my first 10k in the October. Here’s what former me had to say…
From the archive: My first 10k
Hooray for me – I did it. I made it round the Wimbledon 10K in less than an hour only stopping briefly at the top of the hill to let some traffic pass (I was quite pleased to be able to stop for a minute). The last two kilometers were really hard and I wanted to stop and lay down but I didn’t.
I didn’t even have to walk up the hill – I was actually overtaking lots of people on the hill and during the whole race I think only two people went past me (though I did start quite far back).
I’m sure I should have leaned something about myself blah-de-blah during this process, other than that I can run 10k in less than an hour if I try. If I have it’s not become clear yet. I suppose that I’m a lot more determined than I think I am and that, if I really want to do something, I can overwrite my predisposition to sitting on the sofa for the whole weekend and generally being lazy.
Obviously I’m very pleased with my achievement. I had secretly hoped I’d make it under 1 hour but had said to anyone that asked that I was hoping for under 1:10. This meant that when I crossed the finish line the boyfriend was very shocked to see me and didn’t have the camera ready. The bad part of completing the 10K is that now I have to look forward to the next challenge… a half marathon. Argh!!!
Running your first 10k
I didn’t follow a training plan for that first 10k. I ran 3 times per week and built up my weekend run by half a mile each week until I got to 5 miles (8k) the week before the race.
This was 2008 and there were less training plan readily available then, and the ones there were didn’t suit me. So from an early stage of my running journey I was taking charge of my training, adapting plans I found and learning more about how to train.
Below is a 10k training plan that is suitable for those taking on their first 10k or their first in a while.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Lazy Girl Running to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.