9 Reasons to Run a 5K This Spring

Get motivated to lace up your sneakers this season.

Hit the Road - Always wanted to run a race, but you’re not about that marathon life? A 5K (5 kilometers, or 3.1 miles) is a great way to ease into distance running, and it’s fun to boot. Keep reading to see the top reasons to lace up your running shoes. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Dean Pictures/Corbis)

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Hit the Road - Always wanted to run a race, but you’re not about that marathon life? A 5K (5 kilometers, or 3.1 miles) is a great way to ease into distance running, and it’s fun to boot. Keep reading to see the top reasons to lace up your running shoes. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Dean Pictures/Corbis)

You Can Find One Without Much Effort - No need to travel to another state to run in a great marathon. You can literally find a 5K in your area every weekend this spring. See Running in the USA to locate one near you. (Photo: Rachel Frank/Corbis)

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You Can Find One Without Much Effort - No need to travel to another state to run in a great marathon. You can literally find a 5K in your area every weekend this spring. See Running in the USA to locate one near you. (Photo: Rachel Frank/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Rachel Frank/Corbis

You Can Help Someone - 5Ks are often organized to raise funds for a charity or cause. You can pick a race that supports an issue you strongly believe in so that your entrance fee is put to good use. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters/Landov)

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You Can Help Someone - 5Ks are often organized to raise funds for a charity or cause. You can pick a race that supports an issue you strongly believe in so that your entrance fee is put to good use. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters/Landov)

Photo By Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters/Landov

You Can Bring Your Girls - Just like they make happy hour and gym time fun, your friends will make racing at the crack of dawn fun, too. Recruit them to sign up — and train — with you. (Photo: Eleonora Ghioldi/Blend Images/Corbis)

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You Can Bring Your Girls - Just like they make happy hour and gym time fun, your friends will make racing at the crack of dawn fun, too. Recruit them to sign up — and train — with you. (Photo: Eleonora Ghioldi/Blend Images/Corbis)

You’ll Be Motivated - Already fell off from your New Year’s resolution to get fit? The notion that you will soon have to eke out 3.1 miles is a good motivator to get yourself to the gym! (Photo: Nice One Productions/Corbis)

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You’ll Be Motivated - Already fell off from your New Year’s resolution to get fit? The notion that you will soon have to eke out 3.1 miles is a good motivator to get yourself to the gym! (Photo: Nice One Productions/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Nice One Productions/Corbis

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You Can Train With Minimal Effort - There are entire programs out there designed to help you go from being sedentary to running 5 kilometers with minimal training. So you don’t have to reorganize your entire life to prepare, like you would for a marathon. The Couch-to-5K running plan and app will get you ready in nine weeks, with a commitment of just 30 minutes, three days a week. (Photo: Dean Pictures/Corbis)

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You Can Train With Minimal Effort - There are entire programs out there designed to help you go from being sedentary to running 5 kilometers with minimal training. So you don’t have to reorganize your entire life to prepare, like you would for a marathon. The Couch-to-5K running plan and app will get you ready in nine weeks, with a commitment of just 30 minutes, three days a week. (Photo: Dean Pictures/Corbis)

You’ll Have a Good Day - There’s no destroying your toenails or jacking up sensitive parts of your body with the friction of running 26.2 miles — you can pop in, run for 40 minutes, have a post-run beer (yes, that happens), then shower and go about your day! Worried that it will be too hard? You can walk the entire thing and still finish in less than an hour (and you won’t be alone). (Photo: Corbis)

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You’ll Have a Good Day - There’s no destroying your toenails or jacking up sensitive parts of your body with the friction of running 26.2 miles — you can pop in, run for 40 minutes, have a post-run beer (yes, that happens), then shower and go about your day! Worried that it will be too hard? You can walk the entire thing and still finish in less than an hour (and you won’t be alone). (Photo: Corbis)

You’ll See Your City in a New Way - Running in the streets lets you see the city differently than you do from behind the windshield of your car. Plus, you’ll get to explore neighborhoods you might not ever make it to on a regular day.(Photo: Daniel Kreher/imageBROKER/Corbis)

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You’ll See Your City in a New Way - Running in the streets lets you see the city differently than you do from behind the windshield of your car. Plus, you’ll get to explore neighborhoods you might not ever make it to on a regular day.(Photo: Daniel Kreher/imageBROKER/Corbis)

You'll Get a Good Workout - As you power up hills and complete the fast/slow intervals that will help you get through, you’ll torch hundreds of calories in just half an hour. (Photo: Tetra Images/Corbis)

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You'll Get a Good Workout - As you power up hills and complete the fast/slow intervals that will help you get through, you’ll torch hundreds of calories in just half an hour. (Photo: Tetra Images/Corbis)

You’ll Feel Like a Boss - You can’t cross a finish line without feeling like Beyoncé, complete with a strong, capable body and willpower for days. Get yourself some of that confidence!   (Photo: Corbis)

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You’ll Feel Like a Boss - You can’t cross a finish line without feeling like Beyoncé, complete with a strong, capable body and willpower for days. Get yourself some of that confidence!   (Photo: Corbis)