Dissapointed.....

ive been crunching numbers and ive realized that realistically i cant be running a sub1hour 12km by september. realistically the best i could do (running 5km at a time for 1 month, 6 for one month etc to get used to running the distances) is 7 km a week, i dont want to enter the 12km and not be able to finish - what do you guys think - should i try to push for the 12km (if i can get there) or concentrate on running a spectacular 6km?

i havent run any form of race at all so id love some advice.....

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Love and have no fear

instead of focusing on what you might not be able to accomplish, instead look at each race as an opportunity to test where you are at in your running right now and then look forward to improving upon that time. So, if it takes you over an hour to run 12 km, then so be it. You'll have your starting point of where you are at as a runner now and then can focus on what you can do during your training to improve upon your time.

for example, for my first marathon last year, I would have liked to have finished in a certain time, but then I looked at the bigger picture and focused on just finishing the darn thing and then after that I can focus on improving my times.

I think it's too easy to get caught up in running certain distances in certain times, which may or may not be within our realm of reality based on our running abilities at this time. I try to view each race not as the pinnacle of where I wish I was as a runner, but as a gauge on which to measure my current level of training and fitness. Then on subsequent races, I can step up my game and see if I've improved, stayed the same or gotten slower.

so if you have a certain 12K in mind you'd like to do, then just go for it. enjoy it. train for it. and learn from it.

I think Gp had good advice. Are you on training plan to work up to the distance? It is achievable by September. You can't go wrong pushing for the 12k. The distance training is not going to hurt you if you decide to drop down to 6k. I say don't worry about speed, just work on putting in the miles and you'll certainly finish.

boy GP is so smart. I totally agree with her...and AA too. go for it. train right for it. sept is plenty of time to train. you will you ever know if you are great if you don't try?

thanks guys, its really made me feel better. i went for a 3 mile run today, i only got to 2 yesterday. then when i got to read your replies it sort of sunk in how far away september is. thanks again everyone

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Love and have no fear

Get your miles in, dont worry about speed for now, soon you will running farther than you ever thought you could... then your speed will increase..
it wont take as long as you think.

keep up us posted, you can do it.