Signing up for a race?: Hi I found a 6.5km... - Bridge to 10K

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Signing up for a race?

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10
51 Replies

Hi

I found a 6.5km race in Paris in October, it looks very low key and doable. Just not sure if I'm trying to talk myself into or out of signing up lol

What made you sign up for a race?

I mean I am happy just running, but I know that I am very goal oriented and at some point I am going to run out of distance and will need to orient my training around something or I will just run out of motivation.

Any help or ideas? I am not fixed on the idea of a race. In fact, I really am not competitive, but I have found my motivation slipping and it's a mental challenge to keep it up. Do you think signing up for a race will "remotivate"?

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backintime profile image
backintime
Graduate10
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51 Replies
Stephen_UK profile image
Stephen_UKGraduate10

Yes, it will definitely motivate. It puts a date in the diary and that gives you something to work to. Plus, you know you can handle the distance “easily”, so you can just enjoy it.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

If you can run a 5K, I am sure you can run a 6K, just run it slowly, it will take you around 45/50 minutes at a reasonable pace for that 6.5k race in Paris come October, go for it, plenty of time for you to prepare for it. 😊 🏃

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toAlMorr

Thanks Al

I have done 10k on the treadmill, but outside is still a scary place lol. But the grass seed pollen is down to "moderate" so it might be worth trying to get out more

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10

Yes definitely, sign up now . Good luck 😊

Fatgirlslim19 profile image
Fatgirlslim1960minGraduate

I think you should go for it too. I've never been competitive either (and until very recently have never seen a challenge through (except kids and marriage) ) but with running I'm excited to see what I can do. I think if you're already feeling like you're losing some motivation then entering will give you more drive.

Deals1 profile image
Deals1Graduate10

Yep definitely. Go for it. Scenery be good too 😊

Tkaye profile image
TkayeGraduate10

Nice distance to reaffirm why you run, go for it!

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Oh yes BIT, I’m certain it’ll remotivate you! It’ll give you something to look forward to and work towards. I like to have a race entered, even if it’s months ahead. It keeps me focused. So far I’ve run 2 (even though Race for Life wasn’t a race as such), and I have 2 coming up. It’s a wonderful way to keep from getting stale - so go ahead and enter! Plus you get bling! 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10

Just do it.. do it for you...not because you have to but because you want to...It will focus you and it will shake your running up a bit...I did my HM, just to see if I could...for me... and although the training was so different, I enjoyed the whole thing. !

Plenty of time :)

Sounds wonderful.. go for it!! xxx

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate10 in reply toOldfloss

...and your HM is the reason I'm signed up for a race Floss!

The atmosphere watching yours was amazing, with everyone supported and applauded. It just makes you want to have a go yourself.

(I only picked a 10k though...I'm not ready for more!!😆)

Go for it Backintime...you will enjoy having something to work towards. 😊xx

UpTheStanley profile image
UpTheStanleyGraduate10

Definitely worth going for a race, but I’ve heard strange stories about requirements for entering races in France - like needing medical certificates?

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toUpTheStanley

yep, you always need either a licence or a medical certificate

in French, signed and stamped by a doctor, generally dated less than a year ago, sometimes less than 3 months ago

luckily my doctor is less than 5 minutes away on foot - for once an advantage to my small village

UpTheStanley profile image
UpTheStanleyGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

Ahh … probably your story that I half remembered then :-)

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toUpTheStanley

haha, yes, I live in France, in a small village a couple of hours outside of Paris

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply toUpTheStanley

It might have been me or perhaps Hidden I entered the inaugural Bergerac 10k back in May, then had to sort out a certificate (at a cost of £65 because my UK GP wouldn’t give me one and I don’t have a french doctor!) only for the race to be cancelled the evening before due to incompetence at the Mairie! I haven’t found another race yet locally to be able to make use of it. It is valid for 12 months though

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toSandie1961

you should have been able to go to a local French GP with your European Insurance Card no? At the most I pay 25€ for a visit to my local GP

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply tobackintime

I tried but they couldn’t give me an appointment in time (or said they couldn’t!) The receptionist seemed to think I’d have to have an ECG 😳

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toSandie1961

oh my goodness - my doctor listens to your heart, does all the normal health check stuff and gives you your certificate although I did have a heart ultrasound 2 years ago, which gave me a clean bill of health

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10

Yes, definitely go for it and try to get some practice outdoors once the weather cools down a bit

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10

I couldn’t find the one you mentioned in October but did see a women only in Paris in early September which is 6.5k. Big, but looks fun!

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toSandie1961

courirpourleplaisir.fr/Bull...

this is the one at the end of October

and this is the 10k at the beginning odyssea.info/course/paris/ - it's at the Hippodrome, so this one would be fairly flat

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply tobackintime

We are thinking of another trip at the end of October to sort the house out for winter but 20 October is the same day as the Great South, so that wouldn’t work for me. This is the one I saw la-parisienne.net/choisis-i...

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toSandie1961

That looks good too

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply tobackintime

It does, doesn’t it?! We go back to the UK the week before unfortunately 😢

DO IT! You sound like me, I enjoy running, but I need something to aim for, I'm looking for a race now to keep me motivated, there's nothing wrong with that. I don't see races as being competitive, it's just an event that you want to do well at. Where people support you and appreciate what you're doing!

I will NEVER run a marathon.. NEVER.. unless I get into the London Marathon. I don't even want to do it, but If I get accepted, it's my time to run a marathon.. Once.

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply to

you could do the paris marathon? or paris landmarks? there's even a night run coming up through paris :D

in reply tobackintime

I did look at Berlin and Paris.. I'd really like to do it, but London would just be so much easier for me, family and friends.. and I'm not running a marathon twice. 😫😂

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply to

never say never

besides Paris is just a train ride away :D

in reply tobackintime

True 🤔 Maybe... 😂

in reply tobackintime

I love how this conversation has changed from whether you should sign up for a 6.5km run.. to whether I should sign up for a MARATHON in Paris... How did that happen!? 😂

Get YOUR race sorted, you'll love it. 😁 💗

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply to

I am the queen of changing a conversation direction :D

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate10 in reply to

:)

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate10 in reply to

Never, ever, say never, especially in capital letters. It guarantees that you have to do it. Surely you know that? 👍🤣

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toGranspeed

he also put MARATHON in capital letters - did you notice ;)

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

I did! Absolute certainty now. Only question is whether that means one or two.... Shall we take bets? 😄

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toGranspeed

I say one this year and one next year :)

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

Ok, 🤔. I think I’ll go for a half next spring, a full in the Autumn and then a full-on Addiction to marathons. 🤣🤣 Good luck, @Clubberlang!

IAmCharliemouse profile image
IAmCharliemouseGraduate10

I signed up for the J. P. Morgan challenge when I started C25K. It was a scary decision, but I knew that having a target and telling people my plan would be huge motivator. It worked.

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toIAmCharliemouse

I remember your post about that!

I am half convinced now lol

IAmCharliemouse profile image
IAmCharliemouseGraduate10 in reply tobackintime

Lol. The other half is on you.

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate10

I only entered a 5km race to help make sure that I actually stuck to the C25K programme and didn't give up. It was a couple of weeks after graduation and it did keep me focused! It was such a nice feeling to actually finish (and faster than I had expected too!) and it is LOVELY to receive a medal 🥉 for finishing. Silly but I am so proud of it. I think you should go for it, why not? ☺

Goforitmama profile image
GoforitmamaGraduate10

Go for it. Don’t put off until tomorrow....

Just do it. You will be an international runner.

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate10

If you are goal motivated backintime i am sure that signing up for this race will work...it will give you something to work towards and that distance is def doable for you...sign up NOW!!

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10

I guess it's an individual thing. Personally i find races really motivating and i seem to have discovereed a competitive streak that lay dormant for 57 years 😂 (it's only me I'm competing with, but the race attmosphere makes it possible). You'll never know if it works for you unless you try one - and this race sounds like a great place to start.

Slinkymalinki profile image
SlinkymalinkiGraduate10

It sounds perfect! A very doable distance & time frame plus it's in Paris!😃❤️ Watch out for the cobblestones though - my friend did the Paris marathon earlier this year and found them tricky to negotiate. You'll love it!

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate10

Whether it’s a run or a race or a race with just yourself is what you make of it. I’m signed up for a hilly 6 km in France in September. That’s why I started C25K in the first place. I’ve run the course four times already, but as with parkrun it’s best to do your own thing in my view. Go on!

Elisabeth3 profile image
Elisabeth3Graduate10

Sign up. Collect the blingies at the end of the races.

Any race closer to your home (for the future)?

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10 in reply toElisabeth3

not really, I am about 1-2 hours outside of Paris (depending on where in Paris), there really isn't much around. There is one local-ish race that I know of but that's only once a year. The 2 nearest parkruns are 3 train/tube rides away - the downside of living in the very outer suburbs/small villages - the upside, of course, is being able to afford to live here lol

Elisabeth3 profile image
Elisabeth3Graduate10 in reply tobackintime

I see.

I just asked because travelling adds to the tiredness, time, stress and costs.

But I understand it is you who has to travel to the race. The race will not travel to you.

UNLESS you organise one. Hm...?

🤔💡😀

MuddledGardener profile image
MuddledGardenerGraduate10

Go for it! How lovely to run around Paris legitimately! 😁

Comfortnotspeed profile image
ComfortnotspeedGraduate10

I signed up for one my son messaged to me BEFORE I put my contacts in. Then I nearly had a heart attack when I actually saw what it said. But, I think it will be ok. I don’t think there is mud involved...

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