2 Days 'til Race Day ~ Elliptical last night, Tough run this morning

I made a last-minute decision last night to do the elliptical, and was surprised at how easy it was this time! I had to go pretty fast to feel like I was getting any kind of workout at all. Made me realize how much stronger my legs have gotten since running again.

It had been awhile since I had done the elliptical since I had been doing the IronStrength workout. This week, however, I decided to forgo the IronStrength workout, since it takes a lot out of me and I wanted to take it easier this week to prepare for the 5K race on Saturday. I'll resume it next week for sure.

This morning I ran 1.4 miles. When I first started out, I was debating how far I should run. Should I try to get in one more 3.1 mile run 2 days before the race, since I've only run 3.1 miles once so far since returning to running? Would that make it easier or harder to run 3.1 miles on Race Day? I wasn't sure. All I knew is what I had "heard" that it is better to taper off the week before a race. I wondered, however, if that only applied to those who were already running longer distances.

I decided just to run and see how I felt. My body gave me the answer. It was screaming at me to take it easier, as my breath was a bit labored and my legs were stiff, so take it easier I did. I almost stopped at a mile, but pushed myself to run a little bit further and did 1.4 miles. Afterward my shins were hurting again, but nothing too terrible.

Tonight, foam rolling it is. Tomorrow, rest (as much as possible).

And supposedly, I should be "carb loading" leading up to the race. I'm not sure how necessary it is for a 5K race, but I'll do it anyway and see if it helps.

Tonight's dinner: Kraft Deluxe 4-Cheese macaroni and cheese with tuna, and fresh steamed broccoli. Tomorrow's breakfast: Oatmeal with raisins; eggs with cheese (I must have cheese on my eggs or I can't eat them)
Lunch: A chef salad with croutons and pita bread crisps.
Dinner: A big plate of spaghetti with a lean meat sauce; garlic bread; salad.

I also read that the morning of the race, it's best to eat something low in fiber yet high in carbs (so you'll retain water and stay hydrated), so I'll probably do a banana with peanut butter and some milk. And of course plenty of water far enough in advance to allow enough time to empty my bladder before the race.