PORTLAND'S SHAMROCK RUN
The Shamrock Run offers chip-timed roadrace distances at 5K (3.1 miles), 8K (4.97 miles), and 15K (9.3 miles). Shamrock also has a 5K fitness walk – the Shamrock Stride – and a 1K (0.6-mile) run/walk for children age 10 and younger known as the "Leprechaun Lap."
I am really enjoying doing 5Ks, and here are a few things I have learned along the way:
1. Don’t be nervous. I’ll admit that I was nervous once I arrived. I was having flashbacks to high school track meets, which always put butterflies in my stomach. Somebody once told me not to be nervous because there will always be people who finish before you and people who finish after you. She was right. I knew that I wouldn’t finish in last place and I knew that I wasn’t competing against the other walkers—I was there for me.
2. Pace yourself. This can be tough. Usually, I start walking faster than I’ve ever walked in my life. I think the adrenaline gets me going. I’ve tried to be in the front of the pack even if faster than I like but then slow down each mile thereafter. Now, I find somebody more my pace so that I could keep up with them more comfortably.
3. Enjoy the moment. The whole experience is unlike anything else. Along the way, you hear the collective pounding of sneakers on the pacement all around you. Sometimes people sit in their front yards and gather on the sidewalks just to cheer on complete strangers. When you look around, you see people who are all there for one common goal. I listened to some rockin’ songs on my iPhone (without which I might have lost motivation when it got really tough), and when you see the finish line approaching, no matter how tired you feel, somehow you dig down deep and give it everything you’ve got left. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have walking.
4. Keep moving. Don’t stop moving just because you cross the finish line. Keep walking for several minutes to cool down, and visit the water station to rehydrate. Stay on your feet as much as possible—this will help you avoid cramps and postworkout soreness. Spend several minutes stretching, too, focuising on the calves, quads, and hips, which are likely to be sore in coming days.
5. Be proud. I never thought that a 5K was really a big deal—I mean, it’s no marathon, right? But it was a challenge and I was glad that I had pushed myself to the end! We crossed the finish line in 17:30, which is not bad considering there were 6500 5K walkers alone. I couldn’t believe it! Never would I have expected to have done so well or have been so proud of myself. Good job Katrena!
6. You CAN do it. I saw children under 10, seniors over 60, pregnant women, dads pushing strollers, tall, short—every size, shape, and age imaginable. Everyone was there and they all did it! Don’t let the fear of coming in last deter you—it’s still better than all the people who never try.
7. Try again. I am 100% motivated to try again! I want to get a better time. This goal has inspired me to take up a regular walking routine. I am already looking forward to my next walk. I never thought walking could be so enjoyable and motivational until I did my first 5K. It’s worth the try. What have you got to lose?
