Running for Beginners

Team World Vision loves beginners! And we want to help you feel confident as you train to accomplish a significant goal. Here are some questions we have heard from our team members that you might be asking as well...

Can I really do this??
What should I wear?
What kind of running shoes should I buy?
Do I need a watch?
It's important to wear a watch in order to help keep track of your pace, or the number of minutes it takes you to run each mile. It's especially key if you are doing a run/walk program and need to keep track of the time you run and then the time you walk. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a watch! GPS systems are great, but a $7 watch from Target works just fine!



What is Body Glide?
What do I do when it rains?
What is an expo?
The race expo takes place the weekend of the race. It's where you check in and pick up your bib number for your shirt. Usually, the expo is 2 days (Friday and Saturday before a Sunday race, for example.)

Remember the expo as you make travel arrangements. Most races require you pick up your race packet and bib number in person at the expo, and don't allow you to pick up your bib number on race morning. Plus, it's fun to walk around and pick up free samples!


What do I do if I get injured?
What is my pace?
Your pace is basically the speed that you run, or the number of minutes it takes you to complete each mile. A 12-minute pace means you run each mile in 12 minutes. It can take a little while to figure out your pace.

It's good to complete a 5k test run every few weeks to help adjust your pace during your training program. A 5k is 3.1 miles. You tun this distance as fast as you can to determine what pace you should be training and running the race at. Use these pace predictor charts as a guide.



Do I have to run the whole time?
What if I'm a plus size runner?