the walk of shame.

Wobbled out of bed this morning, with a killer headache, sore calves and a bruised ego. I had completed Crazylegs in 53:39.

So, I can look at it this way. I beat the time I had originally thought I would run it - 55 minutes. But I also let myself down in the sense that I thought I could run that hilly race in under 50. All-in-all, I should just be happy I completed it without any complications. And with my best friend.

The fact that the weather turned out to be gorgeous and fabulous (albeit the wind), I feel that we really lucked out, considering they called for an 80% chance of rain after 9am. As we approached the starting line, Amanda and I are decked out in our long sleeves, iPod garb and enough adrenaline to fill a bus. This was our first road race.

And we're off. Failed miserably at trying to play it cool the first mile and produced an 8.5 minute mile. We approached the gradual incline that is the corner of Lake and Langdon, with Observatory hill in sight and unintentionally boosted our adrenaline to new levels. It's hard to hold that confidence and determination to get up that hill, when people are dropping like flies. Made it half way and for the sake of my wheezing lungs, I too dropped like a fly. The "walk of shame," so-to-speak.

Thankfully, Newton was correct though. What goes up, must come down. With a little gravity, my run could be salvaged - right? That flat, mundane, open space that was Picnic Point, was the hardest part of the race for me. For future races, I must push through that third mile determined.

After that, it was a breeze. Literally. Nothing was more exciting than seeing Camp Randall at the end of Breese Terrace. Produced a crazy fast last mile, turned the corner into the tunnel, high-fived Amanda and we crossed the finish line. Nothing was cooler than seeing thousands of people watching me finish the race. So much adrenaline, I almost threw up. Not kidding.

Such a great feeling completing a race. I had never thought I could run five miles and seeing all of these people competing made me question why it took so long!? I'm ready for my next challenge.

Now where's my free beer?

24 days? That can't be right...

A realization was had today. I could not be any less prepared for this little running shindig I have planned on April 30th. Physically. Mentally is another story.

This week was a step in the right direction. Being the non-runner I am, I figured I was helping out my training by increasing my incline on the treadmill. Yeah, that was an amateur mistake. Made perfectly clear when I attempted to run outside for the first time this spring. Don't let the clear skies fool you - it might look like fantastic weather to run in, but you don't experience 20 mph-sustained winds with wind chills, bright sunshine and rolling Wisconsin hills on a rubber conveyor belt. Normally I would never complain of such a gorgeous spring day, but oh my goodness was that an eye opener. Made me realize I hadn't been moving in the direction I had planned with my CrazyLegs "training."

Clearly I was a fooled on that first day of April - By my ego. So to mend what was bruised, I trekked a healthy three miles on the treadmill the next day. I was Freud's dream model that morning and just like that - ego restored.

On the list of downfalls this week:

• Obsessive amounts of caffeine.

• Cranberry Almond scones from Barriques.

• Opening Day at Miller Park. ('nuff said.)

The upward slope:

• Had a monumental hour and a half long massage. Worth every penny.

• Spring decided to show it's pretty little face.

• Drove with the windows down and belted out some tunes this afternoon.

• Met a potential running buddy. Someone who hasn't completed the Chicago Marathon, like my one running partner has. That's also a plus for my ego. (See: Paragraph 2)

• Did a circuit training exercise for 15 minutes that included wind sprints and abs. I regretted that decision the next day. (Kind of like the time I thought 1/10 of a mile in lunges would be a smart move.)

• Spent a few days in the Milwaukee area. Cleared my head. For sanity's sake.

I know all of those perks of the week weren't entirely detrimental to my running ability, but more so for my mental health. Something about that first breath of cool, spring air. An uplifting face-to-face conversation with someone for the first time. Being able to sit down to dinner with my family - all five of us. The sound of your cracked muffler as the bass to your Sara Bareilles' tune. It all makes you put life into perspective.

It was a good week - for "me."