Today I ran 3.1 miles, the same distance covered in the above picture (but without the mud).  My training plan called for a paltry 3 miles, but Overachiever VJB decided to tack on the extra tenth of a mile just for kicks.  These early weeks of training call for quite a few 3-milers which got me to thinking about this mileage, and the more popular 3.1 mile (5 kilometer) racing distance.

Until this year, I have never been jazzed about running 5Ks.  I know that a lot of marathon runners use races of this distance to assess their running fitness with an annual time trial.  However, I DO NOT for the simple reason that I am not a sprinter.  The few 5Ks I have run (not raced) have left me depressed and demoralized.  I suck.  All 5 feet 2 inches of me are built for endurance, not speed.

I think 5K races are so popular because the mileage is very attainable for just about anyone.  Beginning runners can be ready to cover this distance in just a few months.  Once they’re hooked, participation in longer races becomes desirable, or not.  Beginners might discover they are speed demons and focus on getting faster and faster while 42-year old marathoners could decide to get over themselves and their hang-ups and run 3.1 miles for FUN!