Prepping for the CVS Downtown 5K

The CVS Downtown 5K is just a little over a week away.

Cheryl Smith is a certified nurse practitioner at MinuteClinic at CVS Headquarters, and she joined The Rhode Show with some tips to help runners prepare.

MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who provide treatment for common family illnesses and injuries, administer vaccinations, conduct physicals and wellness screenings, and offer monitoring for chronic conditions.

According Smith, most of the fuel runners will burn during the 5K will be coming from fuel that's already been stored. If you're going to eat morning of, keep it light, by eating something small an hour before, like a banana.

"You do want to make sure you've got water, 12 to 16 ounces of water about an hour before you run."

The night before the race runners can have some carbs or protein to get the fuel in your body ready for the next day.

Besides eating properly, runners want to make sure they have protection from the sun. It's best to put the sunscreen on 30 or 40 minutes before the race. Wearing a hat and light layers will also protect you.

Other things to keep in mind:

• Know your limits
• Warm up before the race, including lots of stretching
• After the race, don't forget to rehydrate

Remember, if you have anything you're concerned about, see your primary health care provider or if you can visit a MinuteClinic near you,