I signed up for my first VIRTUAL RACE!

(And I clearly have way too much time on my hands... making that font all crazy colors!)

I barely ever race, let alone virtual race, but I recently signed up for Kristina's Race For Paws 5k/10k.

You should really consider signing up! All of the proceeds go to PAWS Chicago, which is the largest no-kill shelter in the Midwest.

I am sure you all know I am an animal lover. I wish every animal was as pampered and loved as my little Christmas and Jelly. I know I can't save every animal, (Paul won't let me haha!) but making a donation to PAWS is the least I can do!

Now I just need to figure out when I'm running the race. I am definitely not shooting for a PR! This will be a "fun run" for me. I'm being careful at the moment...

I wish my cats would walk on a leash. Then you better believe I'd be walking the 5k with them! I could get them their own Garmins, sweat bands, and Cat Gu!

But seriously, Paul and I are looking for a new Cat Condo for them. They have had a small one for years, and Jelly still loves it, but we want to spoil them. We almost bought one that looks like this at Big Lots the other day....

No, we don't mind if we are THOSE WEIRDOS.

Are you running Kristina's race For Paws 5k/10k?

Have you ever run a virtual race?

What's the most expensive thing you have pampered your pet with? Christmas just got his teeth cleaned, that was pretty damn expensive! But now his mouth smells like oranges. He's worth it!

Thinking Out Loud: Treadmill Thoughts!

Thank you to Amanda @ Running With Spoons for this Thinking Out Loud link up!

Yesterday, I was stuck running on the treadmill. (It was 5 degrees out. My threshold is 10 degrees.) Eight miles on a treadmill, even with pod casts, is enough to drive me crazy. Here are some random thoughts I had during my Eight mile stint on the Planet Fitness treadmill.

1. I started out annoyed because when putting in the "time" on the treadmill, I could not put in a time longer than 60 minutes. That was the max. I hate having to stop in the middle of a run and reprogram the machine. It messes with my mo jo!

2. Why am I farting so much? It was probably the red velvet whoopie pie I ate right before bed.

3. At 1.25 miles into the run I was already questioning whether I was going to be able to finish the entire 8 miles. I haven't run 8 miles since... Christmas Eve! (I had to look that one up when I got home.) I used to never question my ability to run a certain mileage, but I would say within the past year, I question my abilities more. I am sure that is because I don't run long anymore. Not like 8 is long, but for me, right now, it is.

4. My shoulder started hurting around Mile 4 I harbor tension there. I reached up and stretched. Ooh dang, I stank. Farts and B.O. No wonder no one wants to share machines with me at the gym.

5. My phone rang at 6:47am. It was my grandma. I don't know about you, but when my grandma calls I answer the phone. I figured she accidentally called me and I was right! I still ran and talked to her for a few minutes. Then I had to wipe the sweat off my phone.

6. I was a little concerned with how my knee/IT band was going to hold up for 8 miles. It started to feel a little "weird" around mile 5.5 but I pressed on. I realized I may regret it later, but after my stretching and cool down walk it was feeling pretty normal.

7. I was playing with the speed during my run, but it reinforced one of the many reasons I dislike the treadmill. I hate CHOOSING my speed. I like to just run what feels good, and the treadmill makes that impossible. First world running problems, right? "Oh poor me, I have access to a gym 24 hours a day in which I can lace up my $100 running shoes and run on a treadmill when it is cold outside."

8. I was ALMOST done with my run and no one had annoyed me yet- which is pretty awesome considering there are a lot of annoying people at the gym. Well, then a young guy got on a treadmill about 4 machines down from me and he was sniffing SO LOUD. I could hear him over my pod cast. There is something about sniffing that makes me want to punch the sniffer in the face. My blood was boiling, but he only ran for about 6 minutes so luckily he got off the machine and no one got hurt.

What do you think about on your runs?

Do you hate sniffing as much as I do?

Tell me something random- Think Out Loud!

Weekly Workout Re-Cap!

 Just so you know, I haven't felt like listing it, but I do knee/hip/glute strengthening every day as well as stretching. I warm up and cool down before every workout. It is a great part of my routine now!

2/10- Lifting Chest. I was pretty sore after this one because I did 5 sets of everything instead of 4. Ouchy-wa-wa!

2/11- 5 easy miles. I was nervous leaving Paul at home so I looped our block 9 times to make it 5 miles. Talk about a late Groundhog Day.

2/12- Rest. We went to Baltimore to find out pathology results. I was too nervous to workout beforehand and I was too happy to workout afterward! Instead, I ate some gummy fish!

2/13- 5 FREEZING MILES!!!! It was -8 with the windchill. I still managed to have a good pace even though I was bundled up like a marshmallow. Thank you, rest day!

(My Garmin screen is not cracked. That's cat hair.)

2/14- Lifting! The gym was super crowded so this workout took me a long time.

I threw in this ladder workout at the end for shits and giggles. 

My arms and legs were shaking like crazy. I miss that feeling!

2/15- REST. The windchill here in PA was -33 and snow was blowing everywhere. Plus I was extremely sore from yesterday!

2/16- Dreadmill run. I was still feeling DOMS from Saturday  but my knee felt great before and after the run. I am cautiously optimistic!

I messed with the speed throughout the run... 

worked my way up to a 7 minute mile and then back down.

2/17- Chest workout in my sun room. We had a two hour delay so I kind of went slow. Nothing too interesting to report other than push ups are always more fun while watching Dr. Phil!

Try my ladder workout! It is a limb shaker!

Gym Etiquette 101 (A RANT)

I'm going to get super ranty and snarky so if that is not your thing... move along!

I went to Planet Fitness this past Saturday at Really Crowded O'Clock. My plan was to lift back and legs. I warmed up, then headed over to the pull up/dip machine for my first circuit. I always do pull ups first because they are practically a full body exercise. I want to do them at the beginning of my workout when I have all my energy.

There was a young (early/mid 20s!?) girl using the pull up machine to do tricep dips. I did the normal gym etiquette thing... I lingered back and waited for her to finish up. Well after about 2-3 minutes, it became very apparent to me that she was doing several sets and taking substantial breaks (at least a minute) in between her sets. At this point I decided I was going to ask to hop in and get a set done. (I would also like to mention, all you have to do is move a pin on this machine to change up the weights. It's not a long process to switch between people, it can be done in two seconds.)

Normally at Planet Fitness, people are more than happy to let someone rotate in. In fact, they are overly polite about it. Or maybe they are overly polite because I'm a girl, but seriously, I look like something the cat dragged in when I hit up the gym, so I don't think it can be all that. I think it really is that most people that go there are adults and know how to share.

Except for this bitch. She glared at me out of the corner of her eye and said, "I have two more sets."

Dangggggggggg okay.

So I lingered back, starting texting Paul (about the snarky bitch, of course), and waited for this chick to get done. She did her set of tricep dips. Then she got off the machine, got a drink of water, picked up her little notebook and wrote something in it, stretched up, stretched down, got back on the machine, stood there for about 20 seconds, and then did her final set.

I was so. freaking. pissed. It was as if she purposefully took longer just to make me wait. I guess she gets her jollies doing that rather than sharing with others.

When she walked away, I hopped up on the machine and PR'ed in close grip pull ups- I did SEVEN out of anger!!!! Took me about 30 seconds and then I was off to do some legs. 

I passed the rude girl on a tricep push down machine. I guess it was tricep day for her. 

Idiot. Who has tricep day?

(Come on, I warned you there would be snark!!!!)

What is the rudest thing you have ever encountered at the gym?

Weekend Wrap Up!

After the craziness of the past two weeks, I am excited for a return to normalcy.
That being said, we had a great weekend!

I awoke dark and early at 3am, but I didn't care. I was still riding high from the great news we learned the day before!

My heart wanted to go for a nice, slow, "longish" run before work, but according to the news, it was very windy out, and the windchill was -8 degrees! I realized my "longish" run would have to wait. But I still bundled up and my warmest cold gear and stuck close to my house- just in case Paul needed me or the cold got to be too much. My second toe went numb around mile 1.5, so I was going to call it quits, but by mile 2 my toe was all warm and toasty, so I just kept going! Around mile 4.5, a bead of sweat froze on my upper lip. That's when I knew it was time to head home. I made it an even 5 miles.

Cat hair on my Garmin screen.

It's a good thing I got a run in because the students gave me all kinds of sweets for Valentine's Day...

They know I love cats!

After work, Paul and I met my parents for a yummy meal at Da Vinci's Italian Eatery. I did the opposite of what you are supposed to do... I didn't order a salad and I ate lots from the bread basket! Da Vinci's bread is sooooo good. Then I had Salmon Imperial, which is salmon over angel hair with lumps of crab meat.

My awesomely funny parents.

We laughed so hard!

My awesomely funny most favorite person in the world!

After dinner, I dropped Paul off at his buddy's house. Then I went straight to the grocery store to get him something for Valentine's Day. It was packed with dudes doing last minute shopping. Apparently, I was the only lady who waited until the last minute. 

I wanted to buy him some chocolate covered strawberries (he loves them!) but they didn't have them. So I ended up buying the ingredients to make them myself. I went home and got all "Edible Arrangements" up in my kitchen!

Not the most beautiful looking things but they tasted good!

Here is my day in pictures...

Chocolate covered bacon (in the shape of  a rose, no less!) from Paul!

I lifted at Planet Fitness.

This is the first time I did legs in MONTHS.

I finished with a ladder workout. 

My arms and legs were shaking.

Bob and Rachel came over for dinner and games!

We made it all romantic for them!

Dollar Tree rose petals. Yes, we're adults.

Woooweeee was I experiencing some MAJOR DOMS on Sunday. Actually, it crept in on Saturday night, but was in full swing on Sunday morning. What a perfect day for a rest day! Especially because it was -33 with the windchill!

I tried my chocolate covered bacon rose with my breakfast. It was disgusting and I spit it out. The bacon tasted like it wasn't cooked... it was all soft. Even though I didn't swallow it, the taste really upset my stomach and despite taking a couple Tums, it still felt weird the rest of the day.

In an effort to do something other than lay around all day, Paul and I went to a big antique gallery that's pretty much right down the street. We had a great time looking around and I even got this awesome book for $3...

It's from 1957 and and is a "how to" for good Christian teenagers 

to have fun without going too far. It is hilarious!

Did you ever have chocolate covered bacon? What did you think?
How did you celebrate Valentine's Day?

Let the Sun Shine!

I recently had my first early morning run in about a week and a half. Well my friends, something crazy happened during my short time away from early morning runs... IT IS NOW GETTING LIGHT OUT EARLIER!!!!

In the darkest doldrums of winter, the sun is just starting to peak out when I leave for work around 7:30.... which means it's completely dark for my 6:00 runs. But no more! Now I see daybreak around 6:30!

I'm such a fickle person. After daylight savings time, I get depressed running in the dark. But I slowly start to get used to it and even enjoy it. Now that it is getting light out, it is sort of exciting, but at the same time, I feel like I am behind. "What!? You mean I didn't get my workout in before the sun came up!? I MUST BE SLACKING!"

I think I just need to chill out and appreciate the fact that I am getting a couple runs in a week. And while my knee/IT band isn't 100%, it is definitely feeling better than it was- and it has to be due to the positive changes I made, the exercises I am doing, and the whole "running less" thing.

Also, I just found the perfect gift for Valentine's Day! Hey Paul, check this out!

Do you run in the light or the dark? 
Which do you prefer?

10 Things Runners Can Do to Love THEMSELVES All Year Long!

1. Take a freaking rest day!

2. Cross train. (Does not count as a rest day!)

3. Don't forget to stretch.

4. Wear proper shoes- not just for running but at work and play.

5. Strength train regularly.

6. Work on any weaknesses in your body mechanics for a few minutes each day.

7. Warm up and cool down.

8. Use food as fuel but don't obsess. Food can be fun too!

9. Get enough sleep.

Or if you're like me and you can't sleep, at least spend some time laying on the couch in your pink robe with your little fur ball on your lap!

10. Take a moment each day and appreciate the amazing things your body can do!

Want to add anything to my list?