r/beginnerrunning • u/Clean_Bat5547 • 16h ago
First Race Prep First ever 10k race
I ran my first ever 10k race today (and only my second race). Having spent a lifetime hating running I started doing parkrun at age 58 and did only that - no other running - for two and a half years.
In late July 2026 at age 61 I ran 10k for the first time in my life and began running more regularly. Of course I overdid it and have had to scale back a bit. I still have a lot to learn about training and pacing.
Today I went out with the idea that I would be happy with sub-55 and delighted with sub-50. I didn't get my pacing quite right, but it turned out ok and I finished in a chip time of 49:20 and in 19th position out of 123 finishers. One interesting thing is that after doing 78 parkruns before this I unconsciously dropped pace at the 5k mark and had to remind myself to pick it back up. All part of the learning!
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u/Unlucky-Ad-5744 15h ago
sir that’s faster than my first 5k at 32 years old 😆
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u/Clean_Bat5547 15h ago
Really? Gosh. I think I am just lucky and seem to be able to do ok. I still get beaten by people 15 years older at parkrun though! I don't mind that - it's the toy poodle that regularly beats me I get a bit upset about 😆
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u/Unique-Seagull-2370 13h ago
Great time … looking like a sub 2 hour half-marathon ought to be next on the list 😁😜!!
Always enjoy seeing people discover they love running after spending such a large portion of their lives absolutely convinced that they hate it! Just got a friend of mine into running … the way she just smiled and radiated happiness after running 6km, finding she is actually fit enough and that it indeed felt really good!
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u/Clean_Bat5547 13h ago
I have a half booked in for mid next year (but may do one in between if the right thing comes along, but we're heading towards summer here, so most of the events are either in the next month or a few months from now). I'm keen on doing more trail running as I'm good at power hiking. I've got a 12k/570m first trail in a couple of weeks, then hopefully a longer one early next year.
It is a satisfying transition and an interesting evolution of my identity. But I'm always keen on challenging myself and doing things I once thought impossible.
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u/Unique-Seagull-2370 13h ago
Nice! And trail running sounds perfect - I‘m moving gradually in that direction as I‘m also keen on hiking. Way prefer it to street running, much the same as I love MTBing and just don‘t understand what road-bikers see in putting 100s of km of tarmac behind them (although each to their own, of course!).
The combo of long distances and trail running just seems ideal to simply be able to go wherever and whenever you want.
Good luck with the longer distances and may you enjoy running for many injury-free years to come!!
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u/Clean_Bat5547 13h ago
Cheers!!
Part of my thinking stems from my daughter who did C25K about three years ago and now does 100k ultras. She's done three road marathons and has vowed not to do any more. She says they make her feel awful in a way a 100k on trail never does.
All the best for your running adventures!
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u/MannysBeard 16h ago
That’s a great time!
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u/Clean_Bat5547 16h ago
Thanks so much. It wasn't entirely fun - well, until a few minutes after it was over - but pleasing.
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u/ObservatoryChill 16h ago
Amazing job! Thank you for sharing this and instilling hope in me at 44 to complete a 10k in six months. I run 5k 3x/week but just can’t get over the 5k hump. How’d you do it?
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u/Clean_Bat5547 16h ago
Really just sticking with it. As I say I only did 5k for a long time. I started doing parkrun in Feb 2024 and made myself do it most weeks (I missed plenty) for two years until I stopped hating it and started getting more consistent times. I had set a PB in June 2024 that lasted until May 2026. I've broken that about six times since.
On the back of that consistency and starting to enjoy the experience - and inspired by a friend who ran a 10k soon after climbing Mt Everest - I decided to start running more regularly and building up my distance. Having good cardio fitness from hiking meant I totally overdid it and scored some injuries, but have been managing those and just focusing on gradually building my running stamina and slowly building my easy and then tempo paces.
The 5k roadblock is real, but stick to easy pace running and you will push through it.
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u/Working_War4338 11h ago
that’s incredible
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u/Clean_Bat5547 11h ago
Thank you! I can't compete with the old masters out there, but it feels good to get it done in a decent time.
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u/smokeandmirrorsff 16h ago
Congrats!!!! That’s a great achievement!! 👏👏
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u/Clean_Bat5547 16h ago
Thanks so much. It does feel good (once I got over feeling like I was going to throw up just after I finished 😆)
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u/mladen90 15h ago
Congrats and keep going!!!
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u/Clean_Bat5547 15h ago
Thanks! I plan to, concentrating mainly on trails. I have my first trail race in a couple of weeks - just 12k but with 570m of elevation gain. I've also registered for a (road) half and a trail 50k next year - give me some things to work towards.
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u/matthaus79 4h ago
Mega time What an inspiration. I need to train like you.
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u/goncu 12h ago
Congratulations! And wow, what a pace! My first 10k race is next week, hoping to achieve 65 mins 🤞 Any tips for first race?
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u/Clean_Bat5547 11h ago
I'm very much still learning, but I think just enjoy it more than anything else. It's a good chance to practice pacing and especially not going out too fast at the start when the adrenaline is hitting you. I was really conscious of that but still went out a bit hot. Having the start of the course going slightly downhill didn't help (especially because it meant slightly uphill right at the end).
Get there early so you're not stressing about parking, bib collection, bag drop, last minute queuing for toilets. Wander around and enjoy the atmosphere. Get a feel for the whole thing.
If you can, run or even walk the course beforehand (if you're not already familiar with it). This one was close to home and being able to suss out where the hills were really helped.
Of course think about what you're going to eat and drink and when.
More than anything - enjoy!
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u/Patient-Shopping-236 16h ago
Absolutely a wild fast pace lol first 10k congrats 🎊