The truth is that I’ve started running 10k races (I haven’t actually done that many, but several) when it wasn’t that difficult for me to run that distance. So, I never actually had to prepare for those or build my endurance up. Having said that, I need to mention that when I started running all those years ago I could barely run 300 m.
Now I actually run distances longer than 10k on a weekly basis. So here my experience is not a conventional one. I know many people, however, who started from building up their endurance for 5k, then moved to 10k etc. It’s actually a great way to motivate yourself – to choose a 5/10k race in such and such time and place and work for it! That little medal I get at the end and the improvement in time makes me feel very good about myself 😀 ! The time I had in my last ‘in-life’ race was 52 min 49 sec (not awesome, I know 🙂 ), I ran a virtual one recently (thanks to coronavirus) and finished it in 45 min 39 sec, but I’m a bit suspicious about it 😀
My relationship with running isn’t consistent – I do so many other sports that I don’t always have time. But when I ran my first 10 k I wasn’t doing any running – all my other sports (gymnastics and lots of cardio from Les Mills) kept me fit enough – I finished the race in just under 55 min.
I guess what I want to say here is that if you’re sporty – 10km is not very difficult (yet trying still). It can also be a cool goal and an acknowledgement of your progress! It’s also a fun thing to do with a friend!
If you’ve just started running – please set yourself a goal to run 10k (or 5k first) in half-a-year or a year – it will encourage you to work towards it, and a race is just a very fun thing to do, a great experience!