Lost? Gimme a shock

Alright so I've been a little lost in the blogging world over the past month.  I know I know, you've read my past posts about it.

I feel like I'm in a strange limbo land with everything.  I've been so used to living out of a suitcase for the past month and working off shifts that getting back to my "routine" which I've become so attached to... is actually HARD!

I need a shock to my system I think.  Just hook me up to one of those Heart shocker things they have in an ER and shock the crap out of me.

Anyway, I'm going to be getting back into regularly posting! YAY!

Look for my post tomorrow about my trip!

Pittsburgh Marathon Recap!!

Good morning Kittens!

WEEW. It has been ONE CRAZY freaking month?! April was a mess.  From puppysitting to working off shifts I was ALLLL sorts of a hot mess.

Anyway, The fun isn't over just yet.  I've got a super secret surprise trip planned for the boyfriend this week. But in the meantime I have and awesome recap of the Pittsburgh Marathon which took place yesterday in my home town!!

This year I ran as part of a relay team (6.1) miles, my brother in law ran as part of another relay team (5 Miles), and my sister ran the whole thing making it her 5th (!!!) Marathon! YAY!!!

The day before all three of use headed down to the expo where we picked up our race packets, swag bags and a special Boston Tank that we purchased to wear. There was TONS of Boston support at the expo.  Even a HUGE wall to sign..

This year we decided to purchase Run for Boston Tanks to wear... 

And of course the official Marathon Tshirt:

Swag Bag explosion

My sister and brother in law headed over to our house around 5am (talk about early).  She wanted to get there in enough time to park, stretch and visit the port-a-potty 50 times.  Justtttt kidding.  But seriously.

The race didn't start till about 7 am so we had a while to hang out, stretch and find her running partner.  Before we knew it they were already huddled into their corral and we lost sight of them.  Security was tight as expected with the tragedy in Boston a few weeks prior.  We couldn't see much of what was going on but in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Pittsburgh Marathon starters did a Macarana to break the world record.

They have 5 "starts" to the race where each group of runners paced at a certain time would start.  We hung around the start until we were sure she had started. We didn't know exactly when she started but we had a general idea.

My parents then walked me to my shuttle so I could catch that to my starting location for the relay.  They continued to follow her all over Pittsburgh and sending me pictures and updates of her status.

  Eventually she passed me at my relay exchange-- she didn't look that thrilled:

Then it was my turn to run!! GAH! I was so nervous.  I had trained for this race but as you saw last week I was suffering from a very high heart rate and was worried I wouldn't even be able to finish.  I just strapped on my Garmin and Heart rate monitor and off I went.  I didn't pay much attention to my Garmin.  It was mostly running just to give me an idea later in the run of how far I had come and how much I had left.  I used it a little to pace myself.  At one point (the flat parts) I was running a 9:40 pace! woot! But then the long and dreadful hills.  They weren't very steep they were just a long and gradual grade which was annoying to say the least.  I was able to run the whole thing which I was extremely proud of.  I did however take a Goo and spill gator aid alllll over my arm, leg and Garmin--- But hey that's a marathon.   I have no picture of myself running because my family had to rush to see my sister finish and could not actually see me run.  Bummer. 

Anyway, I finished my run 6.23 miles in 1:12 which was not my best but it was close! 

My sister finished her Marathon in 4:20:12 which was not her best one but she wasn't going for a PR

Both my sister and sported shirts with the Boston Marathon unicorn on the front and "#RunForBoston" on the back.  There was TONS of Boston supporters out there and you really could feel the love. 

My 60+ relay team

Calling all runners. I need your advice

Alright so I have a problem.

Problem: super high heart rate when I run.

How high? 180+.

How far was I running? I was attempting to run 6 miles. Only made it a mile in. 1 mile. Are you freaking kidding me?

I need some advice on possible reasons why my heart rate could be so high and possible solutions if there are any.

My heart rate has been this high all week. No matter what I do. Not only is my hr monitor telling me it's high but I'm getting very winded very quickly and very tired quickly.

My race is this weekend. I need to be able to run 6 miles. I've never run 6 miles in a race and want to be able to run the whole thing.

Possible problems:
1. Time of month? Is that enough to har an increased hr?
2. Not eating enough? I've been working goofy shifts and haven't been getting in the right amounts of food.


Do you have any other ideas? Please Orr me know!!!

Such a nice gesture

Hey kittens!

Yesterday was a long day. Got up early for work and had to stay late. Didn't get to the gym "on time" which threw me off. I ate out for "take your kid to work" day. No I don't have kids but yes I got invited to lunch.

Anyway I got home from the gym and was so thrilled about some stupid strawberry plant I bought at CVS. My dad told me my boyfriend had stopped by and left a package for me. That's kinda odd because I live 5 minutes from him and he knew I wasn't going to be there. As soon as he told me I ran upstairs to see what it was.

On my bed was a perfectly folded box. I didn't know what was inside from the box but I was excited for a surprise. When I opened the box there was a card with the words "I love you". I flipped it over-- his name and company written on it. I opened it further and saw a pair of Adidas pants. Since when does anyone actually listen to what I say and since when do we give surprise gifts?!

I've been telling my boyfriend for weeks about how nice he looked in his athletic Adidas pants. They just fit him so well and I wanted a pair myself. I must have said it only 3 times but somehow he remembers and knew.

It was such a sweet gesture and I really didn't expect anything. I guess that's what life is about. He wanted to show me he was listening and did love me.

So of course I called him up and thanked him a thousand times over about the pants. I was so excited. I'm so odd. Anyway it was extremely surprising and really nice and I just thought I'd share a nice story with you all.

Giveaway!

If you haven't seen already my awesome blogging buddy Sheree from The Hartungs posted a giveaway that a few of us bloggers have decided to throw.  Go hurry on over there and enter before it ends! And make sure you check her out because shes awesome!

Gym Frustrations

Alright so I'm writing my post a little later than usual because like I said before, I'm working off schedule.  My week has bee turned upside down--literally.  I'm working the opposite shift I normally like so I'm still trying to figure out the gym, work, food balance.

I need to vent a little today.  (Seems like I've been doing that a lot).

I went to the gym this morning to a new class.  I had ran on the elliptical for 40 minutes before hand so I was a little sweaty.  I got into this class which was called Turbo Kick.  The website says its a cardio class that focuses around boxing.

I get into the class and pick a spot and sit on the floor to stretch my legs out.  Chick A walks in.  Shes totally buff and looks likes hes been spending far too much money and time in a tanning bed.  Her skin matches her hair.  She comes up to me says, "Oh did you just join the gym?? Is this your first class??"

...

I know I'm fat.  I know I'm a bigger girl.  But for some reason this REALLY PISSED me off.  I politely explained the situation about working off shifts and how I regularly attend ALL the classes that are offered at night-- and how I've belonged to this gym for 10 years.  10 YEARS.

She just stared at me and said, "oh".

So in comes the instructor.  Looks equally as fake as Chick A.  Clearly too much time in a tanning bed (Now don't get me wrong-- I love me a tan but these chicks were comparable to the tanning mom) She introduces herself-- much more than I could say for anyone else.  But then she starts telling me how she understands I might be out of shape and how modifications can be made to make even the lowest of gym go-ers successful in her class.


ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?

This was me.

I wanted to get up in her face and call her out.  I wanted to say, "Uh thanks, I may be fat and I may not be in your "Ideal shape" with your leathery skin and fake boobs but I've lost close to 40 pounds from the work I'm putting in and I don't need your stupid modification.  I WILL do all the moves and I WILL outlast you all."

but I didn't.. I just politely said, "oh okay perfect".

I think the final thing that REALLY pissed me off about this class was that I kept getting referred to the whole class as "The new girl".  And not even in a cute funny way, more like, "Oh everyone pick up your heavy weights-- EXCEPT the new girl you'll do this without weights."

Excuse me?

Ugh this instructor got me all pissed off this morning.

Good news is, I showed up Chick A who quit halfway through because she was too tired.

I guess the moral of the story is 1. Don't piss me off and 2. Don't underestimate the power of yourself or someone else.  While all these fake overly tanned, overly dyed chicks though I couldn't do the exact same workout as them turns out they were wrong and I kicked ass.

And I will continue to kick ass until I get where I  want to be.  Not where someone else thinks is okay.  But where I want my body to be-- How physically fit, thin, or whatever.

Back to the old grind... Oh wait

Good morning kittens,

I'm back from my adventures of puppy sitting last week. It was kinda crazy driving back and forth between my house, the dogs house, and work. It was a huge change in my schedule and I don't really do well with change.

I said last week I would stay away from temping food at their house. Yeah that didn't work. I ended up gaining two pounds but I'm okay with that. I made the bad choices and its my fault. It's not like I didn't know where those 2 pounds came from.

This week I'm working off shifts meaning not 7:30-4 as per usual. It will throw me off a little but it's that much easier now that I'm back in my own house.

Sorry I haven't posted that much for you guys. I promise to get better with that. Don't forget I have a scentsy party live rift now and I've been getting some serious love from the pages I sponsor!