BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Bring on the 5k

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about a distance that rarely gets the attention it deserves... the 5k. This was something I was thinking about after seeing my social media feed blow up on Thursday with pictures and posts about the various 3.1 mile Turkey Trots that took place all over the nation.... images of smiling runners of all ages and abilities intent on having fun while burning off a very small portion of the calories they would consume later. According to RunSignup, 2023 Turkey Trot participation shattered records so it wasn't just my feed that was blown up. On that registration site alone, 920,761 people participated in 833 races across the country and raised more than $1.9 million dollars for charities. That represented record-shattering participation on the platform, with an increase of more than 160,000 compared to the previous record set in 2022. And if the current trend continues, there will be even more in 2024! Wow right?

With that being said, there are lots of good reasons for putting the 5k race on your calendar throughout the year. One of which is, it's the best distance to do when you're short on time and it's a great distance to enjoy with the whole family. And don't discount the awesome speedwork workout you'll gain from competing with other runners for that portion of your marathon or half training. That's something every runner can appreciate. 

But don't just take my word for it, check out what professional 5000 meter runner Lauren Fleshman had to say about it and the 10 reason she says the 5k is awesome:

With a growing obsession over distance races, and a focus on completion rather than competition, 5Ks have somehow lost a lot of their allure. They have become little more than a gateway drug for marathons. The prevailing mentality is to go longer and longer and longer, until one day you find yourself down six toe-nails, dressed head to toe in compression gear, contemplating your first 50-K ultra over a morning bowl of chia seeds. Stop! Listen to me. The 5K is awesome. It encourages you to develop a combination of endurance, speed, and strength. You can train for it and still have a life. You can race one every weekend and still be able to walk normally. If people ran more 5Ks, I'm positive the average life satisfaction of humans would increase dramatically.

And without further ado, here are the 10 reasons Lauren says the 5k is awesome (*with my two cents thrown in of course):

10. Fitness

Shorter interval work is more effective than long-distance runs for weight management and gaining fitness. Interval training won't set you up to run a great marathon, but it will make you a baller at the 5K, an event that requires strength, speed, power, and endurance combined. By making the 5K your focus, your training plan will actually line up with what's best for your overall health. Excuse me, what? Yes.

9. Travel

With 5Ks being readily available within driving distance, you don't have to fly around the country to do one. Racing is a cool excuse to travel, but you know what's even better? Traveling without racing. You can actually walk places and see things without limping, eat whatever you want, and spend a significantly smaller portion of your trip on the toilet.

*In longer races, you'll need to pack for the changing race day conditions and take along everything that you might need. This takes lots of time to prepare. Which is why the 5k is a great option. A person can easily get through the race without food, water, or any other supply besides clothing. Which means you can travel much lighter. 

8. Doctors' Bills

Overuse injuries go hand in hand with marathon training. Sure, you can get injured doing 5Ks too, but with less overall mileage and workouts that involve a greater variety of paces, you'll be more likely to stay healthy. More running days per year = happy runners with more money = a healthy global economy = World Peace.

*So as a general rule I’ll agree with this but remember, chasing a PR without a proper warmup can lead to injuries as well. 

7. Free Time

What will you do with your weekends when you aren't destroyed from running three-and-a-half hours?

*As long as you don't spend your time off from running watching running or sitting back dreaming about it, the sky is the limit to make an impact in your community. Use your free time to volunteer in your community or to do something meaningful with your family. You'll all reap the benefits. 

6. Nipple Health

There is no nipple bleeding.

*I have nothing to add to this one. 

5. Budget

5Ks are cheaper, and you still get a stale bagel and a green banana and only have to run one-eighth as far.

*5k races are not only good for your budget and fun but great for the community since most of these runs are nonprofit and give money to local causes. 

4. Competition vs. Completion

The satisfaction in a marathon comes with completion under duress. You reach the point where you aren't sure you will finish, and then somehow you do. It's an amazing feeling, but it's only one way to experience racing. In a 5K, you know that you are going to finish. Satisfaction comes instead from competing: against yourself, the clock, and others in an intense, concentrated period of time. This adds a whole new depth and richness to your running, regardless of your speed.

3. Mulligans

Getting derailed in a marathon due to inclement weather, travel mishaps, poo-poo problems, or just having an off day can cost you 16 weeks of training and traveling somewhere far away for another attempt. If you screw up the 5K, you can just get in your car and try again next week. Boom.

2. The Humanity

When you hit the wall in a 5K, it hurts a lot, but it's over faster than it takes to make a cappuccino. Literally. I timed it.

1. Style

No fuel belts. No water bottles. No gels or blocks or powders or bars. No shorts with 30 pockets. No Vaseline stains. You can run a 5K in jorts with nary a chafe. 5K for the win. Who's with me?

*This distance is not only the very best one to try out a new costume, but is a welcome break for those runners training for long distances who have been wearing hydration vests and packing supplies. As one of those, I’ll tell you that the 5k is a freeing race! It’s a time to break loose and just run!

So there you have it friends. Those are all great reasons to put a few 5ks on your racing calendar. As an ultra runner looking to gain some more speed in 2024 (I actually started using 5ks earlier this year for that purpose and have seen great results!), this is something that I'm actually looking forward to. My goal is to run them as fast as I can and continue saving the intervals for the long runs. We shall see how that goes. Either way, I'll be enjoying every 5k (and I hope you will too) in my future knowing that running, regardless of the distance and speed, is always an undeserved blessing from the Creator. Does that make you smile or what? So get signed up for a few of them today! You’ll be glad you did. 

Happy Running!