Running the Rock-n-Roll 5K Race this Sunday

I am really pumped for my next race in Chicago -- the Rock-n-Roll 5K Tune-up! Everyone who runs has likely heard about the Rock-n-Roll Marathon series that occurs all over the country (they are hosting a half marathon in Chicago this August). They are now scheduling shorter, 5K races. So I knew I had to compete. The race is near the Lake Michigan shoreline and will have live entertainment at the Finish Party.

The race is chip-timed so I will get another official time to add to my newborn running career/passion. And you get a 'unique finisher medal' -- I hope it is a cool one! You also get a pair of cool flip flops and a t-shirt. Not sure what I am going to do with flip flops since I don't wear them -- maybe I can use them as shower shoes on my mission trip in August.

So let's pray that the weatherman is wrong and that it does not rain during the race (which starts at 8AM on that Sunday). I would prefer not to run in the rain or on wet, potentially slippery surfaces. Even with the rain, they are predicting temps in the low 80s. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

I feel pretty solid about this race. I am shooting for a new PR. And who knows? Maybe I will get an Age Group medal (not betting on it but ya never know...)

is running a 5K each month too much?

So I thought I was pretty much done with scheduled runs this year. I mean really, I am a new runner so I need to take care not to overdo it, avoid overtraining, and pace myself as I slowly build up my stamina, endurance, and allow my body to adjust to this whole running thing.

So how many runs should I take on this year? Is there a general guideline as to how much time there should be between run events? Anyone who is reading this is encouraged to enlighten this newbie! :)

Before this morning, I was scheduled to do the following 5K runs:

Weight Watchers 5K Walkit in May

LifeTme Challenge 5K in July

AIDS Chicago 5K in October

I was cool with that. But then this morning I saw two other runs that peaked my curiosity. One was the Rock-n-Roll TuneUp 5K in Chicago at Montrose Harbor on June 19th. This is a Chip Timed Event -- my first one of those. There will be entertainment and the route should be scenic and fun. And since I am probably running their Half Marathon event next summer with my friend Beth, I figured why not run their 5K! So I am signed up for it. Anyone else want to join me? Let me know! More info can be found here.

The other was a "running cruise". I had never heard of such a thing. But John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield are organizing two -- one to Alaska and one to the Caribbean -- and they look like a lot of fun. Not to mention the idea of running in a totally different location where there would be so much to see! Four runs totaling 26.2K plus all the other cool stuff that comes along with being on a cruise. More info can be found at Like No Marathon on Earth. I have not signed up for this yet but I am so tempted....