Thinking Pink this October?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

That means there are tons of great opportunities for runners, both to contribute to a great cause and to find new and exciting outlets for your running.

Fundraising runs and walks across the United States and elsewhere give us a chance to get out there and run in an organized environment while sharing a sense of purpose and camaraderie that’s a little different from what you experience on the average race day.

In fact, if you’ve been on the fence about participating in an organized run, an October charity run might be right up your alley (find one here).

Fighting cancer brings together people from all fitness and experience levels, meaning you might find that the overall feeling of an event is a little more fun and a little less intimidating.  You’ll often find more walkers and joggers in the mix, meaning that if you are unsure of your ability to run a full, competitive race, you’ll likely have no problem participating at whatever level you are able.

So, friends, if you weren’t planning an October 5k but want to get involved, how do you make it happen from wherever you happen to be in the program?

Newbie? If you’ve just started the 5K program and aren’t ready for a serious 5k run, consider just walking one this month.  Sign up with a friend or meet a new one while you’re there.  The walk should be manageable and you’ll get a good dry-run of a real race day, which will build up your confidence for a later race.

Running in progress?  If you are well into the program but haven’t worked your way up to a full 5k, consider just getting out there and treating it like any other workout.  You can even run your intervals on the course running and walking your way until you reach the finish line — no pressure, just go have fun.

Running Graduate?  Welcome to the show!  You trained your way up to 5k or more and now you can make it official.  Eat well, drink plenty of water, and have a great race.  You’ve already done the work!

You’ll hear more from us about Run for the Cure throughout the month.  Please don’t hesitate to share your experiences this October!