The Workout: Singing the Praises of the Short Run

These days, it seems like every weekend there is a running race somewhere nearby, and more often than not, that race is a 5k. What's a 5k? A 3.1 mile run, a distance that attracted more that 4.7 million participants last year.

Why are so many people running 5ks? Because they have something for new and experienced runners alike. And with over 11,000 5k races staged in the US annually, there are plenty to choose from.

Earlier:

Like most runners, I did a 5k as my first race. Several years ago, my local elementary school was putting on a 5k as a fundraiser. My neighbor, with whom I ran on Saturday mornings, suggested we sign up for it.

At first I thought she was crazy. We were slow runners. Why would we do a race if we had no possibility of winning? Well, by the time I crossed the finish line, I knew. It was a fun event, and the distance was just long enough to be challenging but not draining.

However, as years went by and I started racing more, I began doing longer distances. I stopped racing 5ks altogether. As my running and racing habits evolved, I developed guidelines for doing races, and 5ks violated my most basic rule.

I refused to do a race if the time it took to get to the start line in the morning exceeded the amount of time it would take me to run to the finish. So, unless there happened to be a 5k in my , I ruled them out.

But then I had a change of heart. I decided that short races were a great way to work on increasing my speed. It occurred to me that doing more 5ks could help me improve as a runner overall. They might even be worth driving for. 5ks, those races that I once considered the province of new-runners or non-runners, might actually be good for seasoned veterans, too.

Multisport coach Kate Schnatterbeck, with Tri-umph, Inc., confirmed my new-found beliefs. “Many distance runners become very focused on their long runs and short-change their tempo or interval runs. A 5k race is a fantastic way to work a challenging speed- or interval-workout into their training program.”

Schnatterbeck also noted that being in a race situation can encourage athletes to push their pace more than usual. “Working towards a negative split is sometimes easier when you're racing against others.”

But the people who may find 5ks the most appealing are those who are brand-new runners. As local runner Ilyse Steiner pointed out, 5ks are appropriate for everyone, including those who have just started running and have never done a race before.

“I did my first 5k in 2009, and as a non-runner, it seemed like a good introduction without being too intense or competitive,” Steiner said. She enjoyed her first 5k so much that she went on to run several more, and eventually she decided to train for a half-marathon.

“I'm not interested in competing with anyone other than myself, and it's a great way to cross train with cycling,” Steiner said. “The nice thing about a 5k is, even if you're a new runner, it's not intimidating, and it's a great way to run in a low key environment.”

And many 5k race environments are even better than low-key. They're downright fun. Since a lot of short races are also fundraising events, they can feel less like races and more like parties.

And because most 5ks gladly accept walkers, everyone's invited. Some even allow participants to bring jogging strollers, so the whole family can get involved.

Fortunately, we are headed into the season of 5ks. Between local Turkey Trots and Jingle Jogs, there are plenty of fun events to choose from. Just pick one, lace up and give it a try.

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