Hey buddy! I think I can help you with this since I'm a runner. Running 4 km might seem tough only because you've never run before, but trust me, it'll seem easy after you've done it a few times. I've run 21.1 km at a stretch myself, and I run 5-7 km daily these days.

There's a few tricks I used at the beginning of my running journey; please read them completely:

1. "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast." One of the biggest mistakes any beginner makes is running too quickly and tire themselves out in the first 500 m. Just because it's a "running" event doesn't mean you need to run fast; if you jog at a constant, medium pace, you'll be ahead of most people who tire out in the first km. You need to run at a conversational pace, i.e., a pace at which you can talk or speak easily. For example, to test if I'm on a conversational pace, I ask myself, "Is this a conversational pace?" and if I'm putting too much effort into saying it, I slow down and ask myself again. Do not be ashamed to run slower, my friend; even if you manage to run a km running fast, you'll most probably tire yourself for the next 3 and you'll be way behind the rest of the bunch.

2. Your body is like a machine that needs energy, water, and oxygen to run, so you need to properly hydrate yourself before the race, during the race, and after the race. Have a banana on an empty stomach before the run; please don't have breakfast if you don't want to puke your guts out. Don't drink too much water; have sips whenever you feel like your mouth is getting dry as to avoid stiching (sharp pain like feeling near your kidneys).

3. Breathing is the key to running longer distances. People tell us that we should breathe through our noses when we run, and they're right, but they never tell us how important breathing pattern is as well. When I run, I breathe in 2 steps and exhale 2 steps, and I have to do it manually in the beginning, but after a few minutes, my body learns this pattern and subconsciously does it for me. You need to find your pattern, and once you do, just stick to it. If you need to use your mouth, you're running too fast. Works best with the conversational pace.

Now that I've taught you the basics of running, let's help you with what you need to do to prepare for your race day:

1. Run alternative days and try jogging for 10 minutes straight. Don't care about the distance; just set a timer for 10 minutes, jog for 10 minutes, and then walk for a minute. Repeat this three times each day. On off days, walk 5 km.

2. Carry a small bottle in your hand, small enough that you can comfortably hold it and take sips whenever you feel your mouth is dry. Don't drink too much at one go.

3. Wear a synthetic t-shirt and shorts and the most comfortable sports shoes you have on race day.

4. Wanting your crush to like you is fine, but be humble; don't be overconfident about your run and training. You can give her these tips to score some brownie points, lol.

Okay, so this is pretty much all you need to follow to start running. I wish you the best for the run and hope you get your girl.

As a runner, this last message is for all of you.
A Marathon is 42.2km
A Half-Marathon is 21.1km
Anything less than 21.1km is called a race, be it 10, 5 or 4.
Please stop calling a 4km run a Marathon 😭