Cavewomen don't carbo-load

Wow, I can't believe tomorrow's the big day! My first 5K race! I picked up our (mine and Scottie's) race packets, complete with (pretty nice!) t-shirts. I took a drive around the race course, and I have my timing chip on my shoe, iPod loaded, and favorite running clothes set out. I'm feeling some butterflies, though I can't figure out why. The only competition is with myself, though I must admit I would prefer not to be the red-face fat girl who finishes last.

Of course I've been thinking about how best to prepare during my evening before the race. I've decided that a little extra carbohydrate boost might be a good idea, but I'm not going to carbo-load. First of all, it's only 3.1 miles - not a marathon. I don't really need much in the way of extra carbohydrates. But I have noticed that I tend to run better and feel less fatigued after eating a moderate amount of carbs. Second of all, I don't eat a ton of carbs on other days, and they say not to change much before a race.

So tonight for dinner I'm having lemon pepper chicken breast; a romaine and cabbage salad with boiled egg, tomato, radish, carrots, and avocado; and (*drum roll....*) PRETZEL BREAD! I am indulging in one of life's little pleasures that is Hy-Vee's delicious pretzel bread. I could've gone a little more Paleo and chosen a sweet potato, but I'm not going to eat the whole loaf, so I figure I should be okay.

I'm off to rest, hydrate, and fend off the pre-race jitters!

Running: So easy a caveman can do it.

I signed up to run my first 5K (~3.1 miles) race on July 24. Today is July 9. I could not finish my 2.5 mile run without walking. Twice. 2.5 miles was a breeze on Sunday, but my past couple runs have been not so great. I'm okay with being slow. I mean, I consider 6 mph to be an all out sprint. But walking is NOT OKAY!

It's mostly mental - I know. And I've been pulling out every trick I can think of to get past the brick wall in my brain that keeps me from running for 2.5 straight miles. I get into my music. I find a good pace. I focus on the tv that's attached to my treadmill. I look around outside. I talk to myself. Out loud. (In the gym, yes. People can stare all they want.) "Keep going!" "Don't stop!" "Don't walk!" Most of the time it works or I wouldn't be able to run as far as I do. But sometimes my body just can't - or won't - keep up.

WHY? I don't get it. I try to eat just the right amount of food before I run, and I stay hydrated but not too full of water that I get sick. I don't try to push myself too hard. I just try to not walk. That's the goal of my entire workout - not walking. And lately, more often than not, I can't do it. Sometimes I want to chalk it up to my weight and say I'm just too heavy to run yet. But that's crap. I can run. I've been running. I ran 2.5 straight miles on Sunday. I should be able to do it again!

And next week it goes up to 2.75 miles. And the next week is 3 miles. And then it's time for the race! I'll admit it - I'm a little nervous. I still feel so far away from my goal. But I am determined to run that damn race if it kills me. I will run the whole thing. I will not walk for 3.1 miles. I might puke and I might pass out afterwards, but damn it - I'm a runner!