I did it! I ran a 5km Race For Life!

This time last week I was standing in a south London park with a medal on pink ribbon around my neck. I’d achieved something I never thought I’d do: running 5km for the first time in my life.

For the last few months I’ve been working my way through the Couch to 5k app, a running program based on interval training. It’s designed to get you running 5km over a nine week period by slowly increasing the length of time you run, which also increases your stamina.

In week 6 of the app, I was celebrating the achievement of running for eight minutes without stopping. A week later, it was a twenty minute run which had me whooping sweatily for joy. As my running distances increased, I found that – shock, horror! – I was actually enjoying myself, and I eventually realised just how beneficial running is for my mental health.

So why did I decide to run a Race for Life?

Well, I thought it’d be a good idea to make a big deal out of my first official 5k, instead of simply achieving it while running round the park on my own. Besides, having a pre-arranged 5km run in my diary meant it was that much harder to back out!

But the real reason is a little deeper. My mum died as a result of her breast cancer ten years ago, and a few months before her death she walked the 5km with her two best friends. The certificate (which my mum no doubt bought from an official website) still hangs in the kitchen – it must have been framed by my dad.

It felt appropriate to be running my furthest ever distance in aid of a charity so important to me.

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Read more: Why my new-found love of running is helping my anxiety

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Preparing for my first Race for Life (and first ever 5km!)

I’d decided to run the Race for Life by myself (none of my friends were in the mood to run it with me!) but because I suffer from anxiety I had a fair amount of casual panic on the days leading up to the race.

What was I going to wear? Would I be warm enough before and after the race in my usual running gear? And how on earth would I carry my stuff?

Usually I run in the park close to my house, so I never have to think about carrying anything more than my phone. But the Race for Life I’d chosen was far enough away to require catching the bus, and I was definitely going to be thirsty afterwards. And what if it rained? Did I need to take a hoodie and run with it around my waist?

According to their website, many Race for Life events have storage for runners’ possessions. But no such luck for the race I’d chosen – so I had to get creative.

After a bit of research I ended up buying a cheap running belt from Sports Direct which could just about hold my phone, a debit card and my headphones. I carried a bottle of water and hoped I’d feel comfortable enough to hold it while running (although I didn’t feel too confident).

Warming up for the Race for Life event

Race day dawned bright and sunny with a predicted forecast of 23’C and a tiny chance of rain. When I caught the bus towards Crystal Palace Park, there were people onboard wearing pink teeshirts and pink tutus with ‘Race For Life’ branded across them – and I remembered that although I was planning to run relatively seriously, plenty of participants are doing it purely for fun!

Once I arrived at the park I wandered through the crowds and found a patch of grass to sit on. The pre-race anxiety was starting to kick in a bit, and I half-wished I’d forced some friends along to watch me run. Trying to keep the nerves at bay, I unfolded my running number and safety-pinned it to the front of my vest (not yet knowing that my hand would constantly hit against the sign during the race and I’d wish I’d pinned it to my back instead!). After a bit of thought I decided I couldn’t chance carrying a water bottle for the duration of the race, so I headed for the friendly-looking women at the Cancer Research tent.

“Excuse me… Is there any chance I can leave my bottle here with you until the race is over?”

They were more than happy to help – and at that moment a man onstage called, “It’s time to start your Race For Life!”

In fact, there were still fifteen minutes to go – but we all stood dutifully opposite the stage while organisers played an audio recording of someone’s cancer story. Although it ended on a positive note, it was still a bit tough to listen to.

Especially because it was then followed by a minute’s silence to reflect on the people we’d lost. 

As a relatively new runner, being in the right mood for running isn’t exactly a guarantee. Right then I actively felt like I was ready for the prospect of running 5km – and I didn’t WANT to think too hard about my mum and her death! Not at this exact moment!  I felt tears pricking the back of my eyes and had to shake it off quickly before I started to actually cry.

Luckily the minute was already over, and the MC announced that we’d collectively raised £86,000 for Cancer Research UK at this event. Not too shabby! A woman in fitness gear leapt on stage and led us all in a round of jumping jacks and jogging on the spot – wherein I immediately realised the running belt was way too loose.

Are you a walker, a jogger, or a runner?

With just a few moments to go before the official race began, we were instructed to join whichever group we identified with: walkers, joggers or runners. Because I apparently always want to challenge myself, I felt my feet heading for the ‘running’ group.

In hindsight, this was perhaps a mistake.

While everyone shuffled and stretched, I put my headphones in my ears and started one of my favourite Spotify playlists. My thumb hovered above the ‘activity’ button on my Strava app; despite not being bothered about my overall race time, I still wanted to track my progress.

Three, two, one… RUN!

As the runners around me began to move, I moved with them – and I almost immediately noticed I was going faster than usual. It was only in that moment that I realised I’ve never run alongside other people before, and clearly I get influenced easily!

Within a few minutes I was out of breath and panting hard. I had to actively slow my pace and give myself a stern, internal talking-to (I may have even closed my eyes for a split second to pretend I was alone on the track).

Luckily the benefit of running amongst so many others was distraction. I could look at people’s outfits, read the messages on their signs and share the occasional smile. I’d also never run in this particular park before, so there was always something new to look at.

At 1km: I was surprised how long it took me to reach the first kilometre. I usually hold my phone while running, which means I can have a quick look at how long I’ve been going for if I want to – but as my phone was firmly wedged into my new belt the possibilities were left wide open. Of course, once I realised there’d be distance markers I then started keeping an eye out for them, even though I didn’t want to!

At 2km: This second kilometre didn’t come easy, either. I grew pretty worried that I might have to pause and walk for a few moments – and although I knew this wouldn’t be the end of the world, I really wanted to be able to run the full distance in one go.

But the biggest thing I’ve learned over the last few months is how much of a mental challenge the act of running really is. This 5km was a huge test in terms of combatting my inclination to self-criticise; there were so many moments where my inner voice was pretty keen on pausing, walking or even just giving up altogether – but I kept on doggedly powering through.

At 3km: By this point I’d finally come into my optimum pace. We were on a satisfyingly straight section of tarmac under the cover of trees, and I felt strong and controlled as my feet repeatedly hit the ground – it was such an amazing feeling! The entire kilometre was a breeze, and I hoped against hope that it’d continue.

Coming up to 4km: Alas, I knew from previous runs that the ‘good stretch’ tends to burn out after a while. This time it was thanks to the running belt around my waist, which I’d tightened so much that it was giving me a stitch (or felt like it, at least). I fiddled with the strap and turned it so the belt was at the small of my back then raised the volume of my music, tried to find an extra reserve of energy in my legs, and willed the 4km marker to appear. Once I knew I only had a single kilometre to go it felt that much more possible.

Coming up to 5km: That last km was still difficult though. I focused solely on what I could see just in my immediate vicinity; the children gazing at ducks in the pond, the infamous Crystal Palace dinosaurs peeking out from behind the bushes, even letting myself muse about the pebbles and leaves on the path ahead – anything to keep me going!

With the finish line in sight: A few minutes before the end there was a diversion for runners who were continuing on with the 10km route. A guy just in front of me peeled off for it but I stayed firmly on course. I ran past the crowds of grinning faces and underneath the ‘Race for Life’ banner…

– and just like that, it was over!

I’m officially a 5km Race for Life runner!

I stumbled over to the Cancer Research tent to retrieve my water bottle, feeling my legs continue to vibrate and shake. The lovely ladies there took a few celebratory photos of me and then I gratefully sank down into the grass.

“I really did it,” I thought. “I just ran a 5k – and I actually enjoyed myself!”

But I opened up Strava, my tracking app, it said I’d actually run 6.1km instead of the official 5km?! Either way, this race was my longest distance and length of time spent running so far!!

I headed for my bus stop with my runner’s number still safety-pinned to my chest. An elderly lady stopped me and said, “Have you been running marathons?”

“No, I’ve just run a 5k!” I said, still full of exhilaration. “ I’m not at marathon stage just yet!”

But judging by the way I feel about running right now, there might well be a marathon in my future (or a 10km in a few months, at least!)

Have you ever run a 5k race? Do you have any tips for a race-beginner like me?  

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What did I learn from my first 5k Race For Life?

• Races mean running a specific distance, not a time. That might sound blindingly obvious, but thanks to the app I’d grown used to solely running for a specific length of time – and the distance I’d cover would often vary.

• Plan how you’ll carry your possessions, and practice beforehand. I didn’t think about carrying water and money until a few days before the race, so

• If you listen to music, decide on your playlist before the race.My go-to choice is a Spotify playlist of either pop punk or rock tracks.

• A warm-up is crucial. Couch to 5k starts off with five minutes walking to warm-up, but I didn’t do this on the race day. In hindsight, I wonder whether that contributed to me being out of breath at the start?

• Running amongst other people can affect your pacing. I wasn’t prepared for how much my pace could be affected by the runners around me, and I started off way too fast.

• A warm-down walk is important! I usually do a five minute warm-down walk but didn’t do it after the race. My legs were sore for the next three days!

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