Now, some people have a nervousness about signing up for a running race, because

the other runners are so much better than them. Relax. There are plenty of very good
runners in every race, but there are also many beginners. Mp3 player: Also not
necessary, but pretty cool and can add some inspiration to your running. However, if
you run on the road, headphones can be dangerous, as you might not hear traffic
coming your way.

 Fuel belt or Camelback: A way to keep yourself hydrated while you run. Not
necessary for short runs. Also, for longer runs (60 mins or more), I just place water
bottles along my route.
Mechanics
I can’t advise you here, as I’m not a trainer. But most of the time, you don’t have to
worry about this. Just try not to fall down. One thing to watch out for is how tense
your upper body is — try to relax your shoulders, relax your hands, relax everything
but the muscles needed to propel your body forward. The reason is that you may be
using extra energy (and tire yourself out faster) if you’re running with your fists
clenched, for example.
Later, after you get past the beginning stage, you can worry about stride length or
turnover rate. But for now, just worry about getting out there.

Pain
I also can’t advise you on injuries. Unless you have sharp pains, or pain in the joints,
you should be able to run through minor aches. But if you have anything sharp, or
your joints feel injured, stop running. You could make it worse.
The runner’s best friend is ice, and rest. In fact, it’s good to ice your muscles and
joints down after every run, if you can. It helps with the healing process. Aspirin or
Ibuprofen are also good tools, also to help stop inflammation.
Going beyond beginner
Once you’ve gotten a few 5Ks under your belt, and have been running for a few
months, you’ll want to start a real training plan and progress to the next level.
Training plans are available online for free (see some of the sites below).
Good articles and sites
 Runner’s World
 Cool Running
 About.com Running
 Beginning Runner