Absolutely new w/questions!

[gdiddy13]

So I started running last fall, and tomorrow is my first 5k! Honestly for some reason I'm a little nervous. Kinda stinks, I don't have anyone to run with, I've got a few friends that might run at some point.

I couldn't find a FAQ sticky, (maybe one can be made?), but I've got a few silly questions.

Does it matter if I put my number on the front or back of my shirt?

Also at the bottom of my number it looks like it can tear off, and it has a "spindle" hole on it. What do I do with this?

Are you allowed to listen to your mp3 while running?

If I don't have a watch how will I know my time? I don't think they have those time chip things.

If I finish tomorrow in about 25 minutes, is that at least decent? Where might that put me? Oh yeah, I'm male 27, and about 205 of sexiness!:eek: Got plenty more questions, but I'll stop here! Thanks in advance!

[brobers]

I'm no expert but I tell you what I did/do. I started running, again, after 21 years about a month ago. I spend most of my time on the treadmill at the fire station running on my own. I ran my first 5k on the 17th. I put my number on the front of my shirt on the left side as it seemed to be the best place to be out of the way. Some at the race I entered put it on their shorts. I think as long as they can see it when you cross the finish line they don't seem to care. I have no idea what the tearoff is. I used my MP3 player. At first I saw no one else with them but at race time they were everywhere. Nothing better than singing along to Metallica and freaking out everyone around while I sing "Die, Die, Die My Darling" in the last mile to keep you going. As far as times go I think if you do 25 minutes that is a good time for someone new. I run 26-28 minutes for 5k on the treadmill but ran a 40 minute 5k on race day. My race was a trail run, it had rained the previous days, slightly hilly, and plenty of mud. I was 12th out of 19 men in the 5k and 20th out of 47 MF combined. I thought that was pretty good. Actually just finishing was an accomplisment.