By Don Jenkins
Running events frequently offer various distances. A marathon may have a half-marathon option, on something shorter. This may lead to someone telling friends and family, “I’m only doing the 5K.”
Putting “only” into the sentence makes sense if talking to a non-runner who’s heard something about you signing up for a marathon. If talking to a runner, the “only” can be omitted.
The 5K is for the racer. In our experience, masters runners who are competitive love the 5K and never tire of trying to get faster and smarter at the distance. Start too fast and your third mile will drag down your overall time. Start too slow and your first mile will drag down your overall time. Let up in the middle and your second mile will drag down your overall time. The 5K is a distance to make as hard as possible without blowing up.
The 5K doesn’t demand 20-mile training runs, but it takes fitness, discipline and practice. Fortunately, it’s a distance that can be practiced because it can be raced frequently.
The 5K is also for runners and walkers who enjoy moving and talking and soaking up the atmosphere. Three miles is a great distance to push yourself without punishing yourself.
It’s the 5K. There is no such race called “only the 5K.”
The Cowlitz Valley Runners club meets every Saturday morning year-round for runs for fitness and fun.
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