Information About Popular 5K Races

A few years ago, I decided that it was time to start shaping up and getting healthy. I bought a pair of running shoes, joined a gym, and the next thing I knew, I had lost 25 pounds and was in great shape. I felt so good that I figured it was time to run in my first event, and I can honestly say that it is something I will never forget.

For about three or four weeks, I worked on running longer and longer without stopping, and eventually I got to where I could go for about 20 minutes. I wanted to see how far I had gone and found out that I had run just under two miles, quite a bit short of a 5K race, but pretty good nonetheless. I continued to work at it, because if at all possible, I was hoping to run the entire 5K without stopping to walk.

As the day approached, I was getting closer and closer to being able to complete the entire distance without stopping, but was still not quite there yet. I knew that it was likely I would get right up to the end of the race and have to stop, and to be completely honest, that kind of depressed me. On the day of the run, I said a little prayer and drove out to the location where the race would be held.

I told myself that even if I had to stop running and walk the remaining half kilometer I had not yet been able to complete, it would not be the end of the world. I had already dropped almost 40 pounds of extra weight at this point and was feeling much better.

I am proud to say that I completed the entire run that day without stopping to walk at the end. It was kind of funny, because I guess I sort of got over the hump that day, or maybe it was the extra adrenaline, but I did not even feel like I was going to struggle at the end. In fact, not to sound cocky, but I believe I could have run a little more if necessary, and while I was not close to finishing first in the race, there were many more people behind me than there were in front of me.

Running the 5K was a great experience for me, because it provided a challenge when I pretty much felt that the challenges in my life were over. Preparing for it helped get me into good shape, and completing it gave me a great sense of accomplishment. I have run in many events since then, but I will never forget the first one.

NJ

1st Day 5K Race – Fair Lawn, NJ
Cupid’s Chase 5K Race – Glen Rock, NJ
Branchburg National Night Out 5K Race – Branchburg, NJ

PA

Amos Herr 5K Honey Race – Landisville, PA
Victory For Voices – Quakertown, PA
St. Anthony’s Tackling the Hills & Festival – Avondale, PA

llinois

Sully Shuffle – Oak Lawn, IL
Angel for Autism – Nashville, IL
Chicago Tragic Events – Chicago, IL

Michigan

5K Pheasant Trot Race – Three Oaks, MI
Alive and Racening: 5K for Suicide Prevention – Houghton Lake, MI
Clinton Fall Festival Richard Beazley Memorial – Clinton, MI

Minnesota

Columbus Fall Fest – Forest Lake, MN
Dash for Dads For Prostate Cancer – Minneapolis, MN
District 279 Foundation Reading is Fun – Maple Grove, MN

Massachusetts

Mary E. Flaherty School Fall – Braintree, MA
MitoAction Energy 5K for Mitochondrial Disease – South Boston, MA
Neil Shapiro Memorial – Winthrop, MA

Utah

Foam Fest – Ogden, UT
Community Health Centers Inc – Salt Lake City, UT
Kids Fest Guardian Angel – Salt Lake City, UT

Ohio

Beach City – Beach City, OH
Bishop Fenwick – Zanesville, OH
Central Ohio Symphony Rhythm & Shoes – Delaware, OH

NC

Pink Shamrock – Raleigh, NC
Poplar Grove Plantation’s Autumn – Wilmington, NC
River Bound Race Series – Charlotte, NC