5 tips to 5k Success (From & for Newbies)

Goodbye January!

February is here. 😀 (..& Good riddance January!) January was a rough month for many 😦 Everyone around me..family & coworkers have been sick with minor to somewhat severe illnesses. The weather was cold, rainy, with little sun & just over all dreary outdoors. I never realized how depressing January actually is once you get past the excitement of a new year.

My health and wellness hasn’t been the best this month. Even I got a bit under the weather. I feel like I’ve been sick and tired for the greater part of January, and am just now bouncing back. Also, My sleep and fitness have been touch and go, but I still have hope for improvements in an overall healthy lifestyle balance over the course of this year. (fingers crossed!) It’s the planner in me that looks to the future with such high hopes 😀

😀 Employer Insurance Programs 😀

One great thing that I did for wellness is taking my corporate health insurance incentive program seriously this year. The company I work for awards those who do and track “healthy things” like eating well, exercising, going to the doctor & dentist with a HUGE discount on their insurance. And I’m talking as much as $125 off of each person’s bill! It’s an awesome program, that I’m really grateful for—seeing how expensive insurance can be! 😮

This year my healthy insurance incentive program has really motivated me to jumpstart taking action of my health.. such as getting my eyes checked (1st time in 15+years!), annual Pap smear, (YAY!.. sarcasm haha) and I’m even getting a flu shot! 😮 (I pray I don’t feel ill afterwards 😐 ) I even completed a 5k and I plan on doing another one in two weeks 😀 (even more fingers crossed!)

🙂 5ks in the Future 🙂

I’ve completed 5ks before, but never with a healthy mindset or proper training. In the past I would over or under think the challenge and not properly commit. I love running, but often running irritates my knees due to their positioning. 😦 Therefore; I mainly walk nowadays. This time around instead of stressing the option of running or walking I did both! 😀 I mostly walked, but I jogged a little. My knees did end up a tad sore, but I also haven’t ran in a while so it’s okay for now (Let us pray.. lol)

There is a 5k & 10k option coming up that I am highly considering. If I choose to complete another so soon here’s 5 tips I would suggest to someone else in my shoes. 🙂