Monday, January 18, 2010 10:43 am
GOOD DAY FOR A 5K
When it comes to races and fitness, you should join the crowd.
By Ken Rivadeneira; Illustration by The Studio
The easiest, most convenient way that just about anyone can get into fitness is through racing. It’s motivational, it’s exciting and it’s a communal experience. But out of all the types of races, 5Ks are among the most popular and prevalent. Why? Probably because they’re challenging enough for regular runners who are looking to increase their power for longer runs, but not too difficult for beginners (at just over 3.1 miles, or 5,000 meters).
This year, SOBeFiT’s proud to celebrate its second annual 5K Run + Walk, to be held on the streets of balmy Miami Beach on February 21. Sign up now!
Preparing for the Race
If you want to know how to win, ask a winner, right? Mike Korir, last year’s overall winner in the men’s category of our SOBeFiT 5K, has a few pointers for making it to the finish line a little faster.
He enjoys 5Ks because they’re good speed training for longer races, but if you’re resolute about winning a 5K, you have some work to do: “You must do 400 meters on the track twice a week,” he says, adding that your training should begin at least four weeks before race day.
He advises alternating the days of training—run on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. “Train hard, win easy. That’s my motto.” You had better do what he says, because he intends to sign up again this year!
Check out our list of races happening across the U.S. in the January/February 2010 issue of SOBeFiT Magazine.