Should I take part in this race?

[Comte]

Completed C25K earlier on this year and achieved 5K continuous running for the first time yesterday. The problem is that I am really slow and the 5 km took me 52 minutes of continuous running . I am due to take part in a municipal 5K race next month on the 16th October and am worried that I will come last. I don't want to be embarrassed so should I take part in the race?

It maybe that I will decrease my time in the next month but probably it will only be by a few minutes.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Is there any way of seeing historical times for this run?

Why do you think your time is slow and why should you be embarrassed?

If you look at the times for the average parkrun, then you will see that many folk walk some or most of the way , taking over an hour to cover 5k, while others will be fit teenagers finishing in the batt of a eyelid.

Some events, (rarely local 5ks) will have a brutal cut off to be deemed to have completed the course in a time limit, but this is normally well advertised.

In my opinion, it is very generous to finish last.

Your time would be faster than mine.

[Comte Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

There are no historical times for this run which is a simultaneous 5K run, a 10k run and a 3K walk on essentially the same course. I have only compared my times with those provided by internet sites for 5K. There is no cut-off time for the runs according to the rules of the race. I really want to take part in this run here in the Paris region so I will do so. Thank you for your reply.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Run... you are a runner...just run and enjoy it I agree with IannodaTruffe ...

Running is about taking part and having fun...do it x

[Rennur Graduate]

check if there is a cut-off time. If there isn't any, then go for it! By then you will probably be quicker (don't overtrain!) and even if you come last, you will still have beaten all those people who did not enter. You might even inspire others to enter next year. Running in a group will probably make you run quicker (don't go too fast!)

In the UK there are loads of Parkrun events where you can experience a community event. Unfortunately there is not that many in France I understand.

[Comte Graduate in reply to Rennur]

There appears to be no cut-off time so I am going to do it.😀😀

[nowster Graduate in reply to Comte]

As long as you know the course route and there's sufficient daylight, I'd go for it. Given there's a 10km run at the same time, you probably will have plenty of time before they pack everything up.

[Rennur Graduate in reply to Comte]

Excellent. You'll have fun. Hope there's no rain (nor too much sunshine!) Bonne chance, mon brave.

[Wwps Graduate]

Pleased to read you’re going to do it! 🙌🙌 let us know how you get on.

I wondered if you had a friend who might want to do it with you, might help you completely forget about everyone else, who will only be focussing on themselves anyway!

Also if there’s a 10k run lots of people still running so no one will be sweeping up behind you!

Good luck, you’ll kill it! Want to hear about it to encourage me to enter one when I finish!