Observations.

Some things I've learned and observed over the last week...

- When you dangle the prospect of really big and exciting news in front of people, they immediately think "you're pregnant." ;)

- Dive bars with good friends really is the way to spend an evening in Chicago.

- Likewise, I turn into Oscar the Grouch (minus the trash can) somewhere between the hours of 2:30 and 4:30 in the morning. Mike can vouch for this.

- When you find a random dude passed out in the bushes of a CVS at 3 in the morning and report it...the Chicago fire department will indeed respond quickly. When you're able to wake the aforementioned random passed out dude and send him on his merry way...there's no way to rescind said phone call, likely resulting in some seriously irritated officials.

- I have consumed more soda this week alone than I have the entire year to date. It would likely be more cost efficient if I just connected myself to an IV of Dr. Pepper.

- I finally stopped being hungry sometime on Thursday. I had no idea I'd end up with such a ravenous appetite post race.

- If couch riding were an Olympic sport, after yesterday's performance I'd be a gold medal winner. I think I was asleep for more hours than I was awake.

- Even though you may feel like a million bucks, you're not fully recovered. I was way too ambitious with Saturday's 10 mile run. It turned into a painful 4.5 mile run + 2.7 walk. Coach even yelled at me. I was only supposed to do 5 miles. Oops.

- I surprised myself by feeling perfectly ok with my over-ambitious run that went horribly wrong. I reminded myself that I can--and have--accomplished things that others only dare to dream about. And that makes me pretty bad ass.