Long Run Nerves...

I'm a tad nervous for today's long run. It's only 7 miles, and I've done way more than that before, so I'm not freaking about distance. I'm a little panicked that I didn't prepare yesterday for a long run the way I should and usually do.

Yesterday was an odd mix of chaos and a great time. I'll start with the great. Our good friends had a holiday party, and they just so happen to be two of the sweetest people around. My best friend (who now lives outside of Philly) was there, as were some of our other friends we rarely get to see. Nothing compares to being about to hang out with good friends. If I could fuel my run on laughs and giggles, I'd be golden. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to turn happiness into a blend of carbohydrates and proteins for sustained energy.

And now for what will create a challenge for me today.

Cheese. Cheese from the heavens. Brie, Roaring 40's Blue Cheese, a gouda, pepper jack cheese, cheese dip... It should be known that I cannot resist cheese. It's so good, but I know that no matter how good it is, it's just not good for me (at least in the amounts I consume). It calls to me like the lover I try to put out of my mind, but when I see it, all the feelings of longing and desire overcome me and I am helpless to resist. And that is what happened yesterday. I ate so much cheese I was drunk on cheese. And I knew it would be my undoing today (what I didn't think about was that the cheese would keep me awake ALL night with heartburn and a stomach ache). Damn the consequences; it was so good!

And then there is the lack of hydrating. I was chasing Pickle around for the first 3 hours we were there because the party hadn't started and my hubby was in band practice (yeah, that's right. My husband is a rock star). There just wasn't time to drink water because I was dealing with him kicking and screaming over not being able to play daddy's drums. By the end of the night I was exhausted and my legs felt like they'd been beat up. I'm not sure how they are going to carry me today, but hey...

I also didn't actually eat a real dinner. We were there at 1 and didn't get home until after 8. Come to think of it, I don't think I ate a real lunch either.

So today, I'll be running on a lack of sleep, lack of nutrition, and lack of hydration. Ouch. This run in going to hurt. But there is going to be a run. It may take me forever, but I will finish. Gotta stay on schedule.

And for just a little funny addition to chaotic yesterday. I took Pickle to the grocery store to get him out of the house during band practice (he seems to think he can actually play an instrument and desperately wants to join the band). While we were in the grocery store, I heard, "Will the owner of a Nissan Sentra..." Hmmm. There are lots of Nissan Sentras. It's not us.

"Champagne colored..." Oh no!

"License plate (our number... I have no idea what my plate number is, but I know it when I hear it. And I wouldn't write it here anyway, I suppose...) please report to Customer Service. (I could hear the woman trying to contain her giggle) Your car rolled out of it's parking spot and is sitting in the middle of the road."

As I was running back up the isle with Pickle yelling "WEEEE!", people were snickering. One woman said, "Who does that?"

I answered her just so she knew what the sad criminal looked like. "That would be me."

I have to say that the people at the grocery store were great. A checkout teller offered to watch Pickle for a few minutes while I took care of the situation. And miracle of miracles-- my car didn't hit a person or another car. Amazing!

I don't think I'll forget to pull the brake for a long time.

UPDATE: I almost skipped out on my run. But after seeing Kim in all her snow running gear, and seeing my running buddy Erin finished her first marathon this morning (GO ERIN!!), I knew I couldn't skip out. I got my butt out there and moved. Slowly, but I moved.