After months of consistent solo training in a nearby park, the opportunity arose to take part in the 15th Hammer Lauf, a 5 km road race event that offered a more structured and communal running experience. Having already reached the point where 5 km runs could be completed without breaks, the race became a milestone moment to see how that preparation translated in an official setting.
Training Towards running 5km Without Breaks
The foundation for this race was built over weeks of regular running. Early sessions were focused purely on building stamina and simply running 5km. Over time, the ability to complete that distance uninterrupted became a given, never easy, but no longer in doubt. Each run in the park helped establish a rhythm and level of comfort that made the decision to participate in a race less intimidating.
Joining the Hammer Lauf
The event was organised and attended by a wide range of participants. The group included personal acquaintances with varying levels of experience, some faster, some slower, and one tackling the full 5 km distance for the first time. This created a shared yet individualised experience, as each person ran at their own pace throughout the race.
The Challenge of running 5km at the Starting Line
One of the more unexpected difficulties running 5km came at the very beginning of the race. With a large crowd packed tightly together at the starting point, moving at any real pace proved impossible in the first few minutes. As a result, those initial moments were spent more or less walking behind others. This congestion also led to an unintentional surge in speed later on, a subconscious attempt to “make up for lost time,” which had its own consequences on pacing and heart rate.
Race Conditions and Environment
The weather offered no favours, rain was present from the beginning. Still, the overall route was lined with onlookers providing encouragement. For some, this kind of support can be uplifting. For others, especially those not accustomed to public attention while exercising, it can feel unnerving. The inclusion of names on the runner numbers added a personal element to the cheers, which might not be for everyone.
Watch Accuracy and Distance Discrepancies
A curious discovery emerged during the race: the running watch used to track the distance recorded only 4.6 km instead of the full 5. This stood in stark contrast to previous runs in the park where distances had been fairly consistent. Over time, it had already become noticeable that laps around the park were being measured slightly shorter than they used to be, a difference attributed possibly to software updates or general wear on the device. This raised a question of how much trust could be placed in such devices when exact measurements matter.
Finishing Time and Reflections
The final recorded time for the 5 km was 33:25. Though not aimed at breaking records, the goal was to run the entire race without stopping, a goal that was achieved. The race served more as a validation of personal endurance than a competitive outing. One of the group members, running the full distance for the first time and untrained, managed to complete the course in around 45 minutes without taking any breaks, a notable achievement in its own right.
Weighing the Experience
Despite the satisfaction of completing the event, several aspects of the race gave pause for consideration. Chief among them was the crowded and slow start, which made it difficult to establish any kind of natural pace until well into the run. This may be unavoidable in mass-start races, especially for those positioned further back, but it had a direct impact on the running experience. For someone accustomed to running solo in a park, the sudden shift to a packed, public event brought with it new logistical and psychological challenges.
In hindsight, the Hammer Lauf offered a rewarding sense of accomplishment and a new type of running environment. Whether or not it becomes a repeated activity remains uncertain. For now, solo park runs may continue to be the preferred format, free from congestion, unsolicited encouragement, and erratic pacing. But as with many first-time experiences, the value of having done it at least once remains clear.
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