i'm new to 5ks ....

I'm just a fat girl who likes to walk with people. That's why I started every two feet. The idea remains, but I took down the FB page because only "family" posted and it was kind of silly. I could talk to them one-on-one.

A week or two ago my niece Lydia, asked me to "friend" someone on FB. Michelle wanted to try 5ks. So I did. And she signed up for the one in Nazareth on the 24th.

Then I got a message from her. "Since you do so many of these, what is an approximate time for finishing?"

That's a really good question. 

For a newbee? 55-65 minutes. To get Lydia moving, I had her try a 1-mile fun walk.  Her first 5k with us and her friend Kathy, the Jingle Bell Run/Walk last December, was about 62 minutes. (I hate saying hour and two minutes. Sounds so long.) Kathy was about 64 minutes. Both have been doing them about a year now and are down to the low 50s. I come in now (after 3 years) at about 49-51 minutes. But I don't walk nearly as much as I used to. I could be closer to 45 minutes I bet.

The more you walk the better and faster you get. Especially if you do intervals. (1 minute quick, 3 minutes slow. Slowly it turns upside down that you're doing 1 minute slow, 3 minutes quick.)

But it's not really about time, is it? It's about starting and finishing even if you're the last one over the line. Don't compete, just complete. I was that person a long time. It wasn't until I started walking with Bonnie, who has a quicker pace because of all the gym time, that I sped up. She's also very competitive. It was good for me. Even if I do call her "Jillian".

I suggested to Michelle that she keep a  little notepad in the car so she can write down the time and date (and race name of course) so you can see your progression. I'm sure a phone has an app for that. Or you could write it on your bib if you save them.  Also write down challenging terrain or severe weather so if your times are way off you know why. I know when I see a gravel trail it will slow me down. (53 minutes!) The Parkway kills me.

I forgot to tell her to take pictures.  Drats.

I am not a trainer or exercise coach. Any advice I give is based on a mere three years experience. A little of that came from being a training walk leader for the 3-day and the Avon and a 12-week First Strides class. It could be totally off the mark. It could be right. If you're serious about starting an exercise program "talk with your doctor". I know nobody does. But I don't want anybody suing me for bad advice.

But the fact remains that Lydia is now moving, and I'd like to think that it's because I helped her. Sharon is also moving much better. When I started with her we stopped 3 times every walk.  So I have a tiny track record with family.

I'd love if there was a half-marathon just for walkers. Or a 10K or a 15K. I need challenges to keep me motivated.

I'd love for every two feet to be a viable walking group. I'd love to have a competitive 5K for walkers only. Or even better a noncompetitive 5k-10K-15K. You pick how far you want to challenge yourself.  It would be a clover leaf so that each circle finished and started at the same spot. That would be so cool.