My First 5K is coming up!!

Hi everyone-
This is my first post on this board - I generally spend my time on the Lap Band board.  Someone directed me over here, so here I am!

I am running my very first 5K race this Saturday.  I started running last summer, a couple months after my surgery and it is definitely the reason I have been successful.

Now I am getting myself psyched up for this race.  I had a rough run today after two really strong weeks of training.  Now I am prepping myself for a strong week of light training and good nutrition.  I've read about how you should eat the week leading up to your race, and that it shouldn't be that different from normal.  But I feel that my eating the last two weeks hasn't been great, so I really want to focus on a good week.

What do you recommend?  One thing I realized today when reading info was that I do not focus enough on carbs.  I am so obsessed with protein that I am not really getting enough carbs for fuel.  So I bought some fruit to add to my diet this week as I prepare.  Any other thoughts?  What else should I try to focus on to have the best week possible?

I appreciate your support!  Can't wait!!

 5k's really aren't that much different than a regular workout.  You really don't have to 'carb' up for them.  I will eat a zone protein bar sometimes before my intense workouts (such as a 5k).

If you get into longer runs, over 90 minutes, then I think carbs become more important.  For my half marathon last year (after which I stopped running for 4-5 months cuz I got burned out from the training) the week before I worked on getting a couple hundred calories more that had carbs in them.  It doesn't have to be bread and pasta which don't work for me.  

It also depends on where you are restriction wise.  I wasn't restricted back then and they were very cautious in my fills back then because I was training for the half marathon.  I could eat a piece of toast with peanut butter on it before the race.  I am restricted now - so I know I can't do that now.

Good luck on your first 5k!  Savor the feeling of crossing the finish line - there is nothing like it and you find yourself looking for the next 5k to do and wanting to beat your time.  I just did my second 5k of the season on Friday and getting hooked again.

I don't really change anything for races than I do normally.  At least not for the shorter races.  Anything over 10K and I tweak things a bit but for your first 5K, I'd just go do it.  You can start making adjustments from there as you find what works for you and what needs tweaking.  Best of luck to you.

Congrats to you!

I'm doing my 2nd 5K saturday! FIRST one in a loooong time.


have FUN!