Running Showdown: 5 Km Races Against Marathons
Once you aim for a race, it changes your workout. Today the question arises: should we dream small or big? Should you be aiming for a fast and fun 5K soon or committing yourself to a complete marathon of courage and glory?
Applicants
5K is what gets many runners off couches and into their shoes. If you can run 30 or 40 minutes, you can sign up for the 5K, end up smiling, and wear a souvenir t-shirt for the rest of the weekend.
On the other hand, marathons are really tough. According to legend, the Greek envoy who inspired the race passed out and died after running 25 miles from Marathon to Athens . Yet with the right training, this is an achievable distance. Oprah Winfrey ran the marathon in 1994 , stunning and inspiring many. By 2015, half a million Americans crossed the marathon finish line every year.
However, there was little backlash. “The ideal race is 5K , not a marathon,” writes Christie Aschwanden at Fivethirtyeight . She repeats the runner Lauren Flashman , who built her 5K career, and argues that we should be more serious about short races.
Race: 5 km. Distance: five kilometers or 3.1 miles. Running time: 31 minutes if you are running at 10:00 minutes per mile. Your mileage may of course differ! New runners usually take about 40 minutes. World record – 12:57. Most of us could cover this distance in about an hour. How to Prepare: You can go from couch to 5K runner in just six to eight weeks of training . If you’re already accustomed to exercise, it’s not difficult to overcome this distance, so training is aimed at getting faster. Either way, plan to run for 30-60 minutes at least three times a week.
Race: marathon. Distance: 26.2 miles. Running time: 4 hours 22 minutes if you are running at a 10:00 pace. The world record is 2:02:57. Marathon organizers usually close the course after six or seven hours. How to Prepare: Training plans for a marathon run for about 16 weeks, sometimes longer. You should get used to running before you start, exercising maybe three or four times a week for several months. A typical marathon plan is to do short runs on weekdays – about five miles each – followed by a long run every weekend. The long run distance is increased every week. The longest run on most training plans is around 20 miles.
Commitment
The 5K plan fits easily into the amount of time everyone should already be spending on exercise. A few short runs a week and you’re done. Is there still time? Come on, run again! You can run five or ten miles on a weekend and it still gets you 5 km. For shorter distances, you can experiment with intervals, hills, or track speed . Heck, you can blow your runs just because you feel like it, and you don’t have to worry about losing progress. 5K learning is flexible. Really flexible.
On the other hand, marathon training is similar to part-time work. A ten-mile run will take about two hours, and a long 20-mile run will take about four. Even short runs will take you an hour, and that’s not counting the time it takes to get dressed and travel to some place whose landscapes don’t bother you. Don’t prepare for a marathon if you don’t enjoy the time on your feet.
Price
5K prices vary, but $ 25 is average for a race that includes a free t-shirt and a mini bagel and banana buffet at the finish line. You won’t get a medal if you don’t become the fastest in your age group, but in smaller competitions it can be a goal within reach! Travel expenses can be as much as you want. No matter where you live, you can probably find a few nearby 5Ks.
Marathons are another matter. Expect to pay $ 100 or more to sign up. (That’s if you can even get in – some popular marathons have a lottery or qualification system to restrict registration.) There is almost always a free shirt, and you get a finisher medal just for dragging yourself across all those miles of road. …
Since the marathon is a massive event, don’t expect to have more than one option a year, even in a big city. If a marathon in your city takes place in the spring, and you want to run in the fall, you have to travel. Some runners are looking for marathons in exotic locations and are planning vacations around the race.
Marathon training is expensive too. You will probably wear at least one pair of shoes and you will need running gear over several seasons as training takes a very long time. You will also be energized by little things like energy gels and body glides. Accessories that seemed silly when you only ran three miles, like straps for water bottles, will now look like essentials.
Pain and suffering
You will run faster in a 5K workout, but further on in a marathon workout. If you hate sprints and fast runs, you will spend 5 km and many training runs in agony.
However, the total mileage of the marathon program is much higher. You will have more blisters and sunburn than a 5K runner, and you will likely have at least one black toenail. (Tip: Learn to love dark nail polish.) One small plus: You will have a really good excuse to get a lot of massage.
Injuries are just tossing. The more miles you run, the more likely you are to get injured, but some complaints have more to do with speed than distance . It is psychologically easier to deal with trauma if you train 5K. You may have to sit out the race you planned, but you can get through another one when you recover. However, if you get injured while preparing for a marathon, canceling your trip plans and losing your hefty entry fee is a major disappointment, especially if there is no other race you can sign up for.
Experience
The marathon is an unforgettable experience. People often rank their marathons among the most important events in their lives, along with graduations, weddings and childbirths. No matter how fast you run 5km in your neighborhood, it can’t compare to the thrill of actually running 26.2 miles the first and possibly last time in your life.
There is a sense of camaraderie on the part of your fellow runners; it is a kind of rite of passage where everyone knows that together they are doing amazing things. Viewers cheer you on almost every mile. Not just a few people here and there, but a lot of people clapping their hands, waving their hands and holding funny signs. I was handed orange slices, gummy worms and beer. On a hot day, people stood outside with garden hoses and sprinklers. It was about the 15th mile and these people were the best.
Twenty-six point two. Think about it. You will run more in one day than most people ride. Whether you are running fast or slow, love it or hate it, you can tell you just ran a damn marathon . You will have a serious right to brag. Put on your jersey and medal to work on Monday. You deserve it.
Or, I think you could run 5 km. It’s kind of like a good workout.
Verdict: 5K is more practical, but maybe you should include a marathon on your list
Want to run a marathon? If so, run a marathon . The bragging rights and excitement of the crowd is well worth the extra effort, expense, and agony – for some of us.
I ran both. I am happy that I ran a marathon, and someday I want to run another one. But I am really okay with short races almost all the years. This is because as much as I liked the marathon, training was hell. I really hate running long distances.
But it’s me! Try running long and try running short and see how you feel. If you hate running fast but find a kind of zen in getting lost in your exercise-obsessed mind, long-distance running is for you. There are even distances outside of the marathon that you can aim for.
But if you prefer shorter and faster workouts, there is no shame in that. For a long term purpose, you can even make a season out of it. Run 5K, adjust your workout and try to run the next one faster. Compare your accomplishments with others your age (results are often presented by age group) and see if you can move up in the rankings. With enough practice, you will probably start bringing home medals someday.
However, like me, you don’t have to choose one or the other. You can run a half marathon that gathers the same exciting crowd, but it requires half the black toenails. You can run marathons in some years and run 5K (or even one mile, my current passion) in others. Ultimately it all depends on how much time and money you can spend on achieving your goal, and what kind of runner you are.