Category: Monthly Review

Tuesday Topics: September 2023 Review

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Yay for September being almost over!  I am rarely ever excited for a month to be over.  Now I am because it has been one heck of a month.  As I’ve mentioned, school is a circus, and I am learning to walk carefully on the tighrope without falling.  I haven’t been lucky.

Let me tell you about how September went for me:

Mileage:  September was not a good month of running.  I went out running yesterday for 20 minutes.  Before that, my last run was on September 1.  To date, I’ve run 2.48 and walked 16.29 miles.

Current Book:  I finished reading “The Guide” and was very happy when I finished it.  It wasn’t that exciting but I also didn’t want to stop reading it.  I was determined to finish it.  

I am currently reading “Beautiful World, Where Are You”.  So far it is OK but more interesting than The Guide.  😀

2023 Running Goal:  I am saying goodbye to my goal.  No way will I run 386 miles in 3 months.  This year wasn’t my year for running.  I did the best I could and am OK with it.  I will continue to run and will be happy with whatever number I end up with on December 31. 

What I would like to do now is run or walk every day.  

Injuries:  None.  I am sore from yesterday’s run.  I know I need to keep showing up to either run or walk and I will no longer be sore.

Races:  None.

Health:  I am doing OK.  I am sleeping better but now need to watch what I eat.  I’ve noticed my shorts feel a bit tight.

School:  I was looking forward to the new school year.  I began the school year with 21 students and now have 20.  One student came in 2 weeks after school started and then two students were moved to a GE (English-only) classroom.

It’s been a rough 5 weeks.  My students talk a lot and don’t follow directions.  When I ask them a question, many do not answer.  I am left wondering if it is me or them.  Regardless, it is frustrating.

We have a new Reading curriculum.  We’ve had minimal training yet I was expected to assess my students in English and Spanish.  Luckily, one of the interventionists helped me.  I have to teach Reading in both languages (remember, no training) and have spent HOURS reviewing lessons and trying to figure out what to do.  The assessments are long and they’re pen and paper so I have to manually grade each assessment.  Then we enter the data into one program (MasterConnect) and then into another one (PowerSchool) for grades.  I do this for 3 different components of the curriculum (Knowledge and then Skills in English and Spanish).  Let’s not forget that I also teach Math, Science, and Social Studies.

New this year is an extra 30 minutes we spend with the students either helping them in Reading or Math.  I am doing Math.  Each day is a different lesson and thankfully I don’t have to write the lessons but it is another session I need to prepare for every day. 

I am mentally exhausted.  I have been neglecting myself.  I am actually surprised I haven’t quit yet.  Yesterday was a good day for me.  I went out for a run.  I had a good day with my students.  We couldn’t go out for recess because of the rain but had fun doing various indoor activities.  We did the Chicken Dance and the Macarena (school version).  I think they were surprised to see me have fun with them!

Thanks for reading.  I hope that for next month’s review, I will write more positive things about school.  Or maybe write about something more exciting.

The topic for next week:  Tell us what you love about living in your town/city/state.  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Tuesday Topics: August 2023 Review

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  Feel free to post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Back to school always wears me out.  I have spent HOURS setting up my room and figuring out what I need to do.  There was minimal running, but I did a lot of walking.

Let me tell you about how August went for me:

Mileage:  As of yesterday, I’ve run 15.30 and walked 47.74 miles this month.  It is my lowest month of running miles (in February I ran 19.76 miles) but my highest in walking miles.  I still stay that’s a win!

Current Book:  I finished reading “The Guide” and am halfway done.  I am not too crazy about it and stubbornly I don’t want to stop reading it.  I know it doesn’t make sense.

Current Shoes: Still running in my pretty blue Launch shoes.  Well, I should say walking.  

2023 Running Goal:  At this point, I seriously doubt I will make my goal.  I am 51% done.  I need 388 miles and there are 124 days left this year.  I need to get back to running mode and hopefully, I can do it once I get settled in school.  But, any advice as to how to get back to running?  I feel like I need to start over again.  My last run was on August 7.

Injuries:  None.  My feet don’t hurt as much since I haven’t been running.  They did hurt the first two days of school when I was walking back and forth in my work shoes.  From now on I am sticking to gym shoes.

Races:  None.

School:  Last week was my first week.  It was chaotic, interesting, and stressful.  I will write more about it in Friday’s post.

Health:  I am still not sleeping well.  I nap when I get a chance.  I am going to the doctor on September 8 for a physical and will ask for blood work to be done to check my A1c, glucose, iron, cholesterol, etc.

I think I have mentioned this before but my last period was in January.  I thought I was done with periods.  Guess what showed up two weeks ago?  Yep!  ¡Ay caramba!

Not a very exciting month but I am trying to make it through each day.  I am sure once I am settled in with school, I will start running again and I can write about more exciting stuff.  😀

The topic for next week:  Tell us what you are excited about this week.  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Tuesday Topics: July 2023 Review

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No!  July cannot be almost over.  I have a few weeks left of Summer Break before I go back to work.  I think I have said it before but a teeny tiny part of me is excited about the new school year.  So far I have 22 students and already have in place a welcome letter to send them in the next couple of weeks.  Do remind me of this excitement when complaining about the school year.

Let me tell you about how July went for me:

Mileage: A good month.  As of yesterday, I’ve run 64.92 and walked 19.80 miles this month.  My walking miles are the highest it’s ever been.

I began training for a 50k.  Who knows if I will do it?  The beginning of the school will be here soon and every year I am swamped for the first couple of weeks/months.  How is it that I am already being negative and thinking that I won’t succeed?

Current Book:  I am currently reading “God Spare The Girls.  I am not liking it too much.  I always have a difficult time with God, church, and priests.  Throw in here an extramarital affair, and it isn’t going well.

I finished reading “The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team”, “A Slow Fire Burning”, and “Intimacies”.  I loved, loved Kara’s book.  I was disgusted by what she went through.  I had to stop reading when she mentioned what her coach did during the sports massage.  I am glad he was banned from anymore coaching and he should have been sent to prison for what he did to her.  I did not like “Intimacies” but kept reading it hoping that I would like it.

2023 Running Goal:  Total mileage to date is 380.38.  It is 47 percent of my goal leaving me with 419.62 miles to go. 

Injuries:  It is the same song—some discomfort with the hip and the same with plantar fasciitis.  

Races:  No races in July.

School:  Summer Break!  This week I and taking some PD classes.  They’re interesting but tiring too.  So much thinking!

Health:  I’ve had a few hot flashes this month but they didn’t feel awful.  Hopefully, I won’t have to suffer anymore.  I haven’t had a period since January and I am glad because I hated it.

The topic for next week:  Favorite Instagram Pictures/Memories.  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Tuesday Topics: June 2023 Review

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  Feel free to post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

How is it that we are almost halfway through 2023?  Time goes by very fast.  This week is my last week of Summer School.  My students are so cute.  They love coming to school and enjoy all of the things we do in class.  I am very grateful for the program assistants that are with me in the classroom because incoming kindergarten students need a lot of help.

Let me tell you about how June went for me:

Mileage: This month was OK.  As of yesterday, I’ve run 37.19 and walked 3.32 miles this month.  

Current Book:  I am currently reading “Win Me Something” and so far am enjoying it.  For some reason, I enjoy reading books that take place in NY.   I love it when they mention the various boroughs and different places in NY.  I never had the desire to live in NY, but sometimes do wonder if I had the chance, would I have lived there?

Current Shoes:  Finally running in my beautiful Brooks Launch.  They’re a fun and bright color.  Sometimes I also run in the Brooks Hyperion.  Those are cushioned and feel light.  They’re great for speed work!

2023 Running Goal:  Total mileage to date is 306.44.  It is 38 percent of my goal leaving me with 493.56 miles to go. 

Injuries:  Stretching and foam rolling helps but the discomfort with the hip comes and goes.  It is the same with plantar fasciitis.

Races:  No races in June.

School:  Summer Break!

Health:  Hot flashes and summer are torture!  There is no A/C in my classroom and last week it was awful.  This week the temperature will be a bit better.

I got my results from Inside Tracker.  My A1C went down but there was a big increase in my triglycerides level.  If it isn’t one thing it is something else, right?

I am not tied down to a scale but have noticed that my shorts and pants are a bit tighter.  I got on the scale yesterday and I have gained 10 pounds since February.  I think this is the heaviest I’ve ever been.

That is all for June.  Not too much excitement.  I have a month and a half left of Summer Break.  I will continue to take it easy and relax.  Before I know it, I will get an email from the Principal letting us know when we can go to school to set up our classroom.

The topic for next week:  Your 2023 mid-year review.  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Tuesday Topics: May 2023 Review

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May is almost over which means June is almost here.  It also means 4 more days till the end of the school year.  I have some fun events planned for my students – movie day with popcorn, crafts day, and awards ceremony.  I also have a “pick your choice” so they can do whatever they want.  

Let me tell you about how May went for me:

Mileage:  While April was a great month, it wasn’t the same for May.  I had a running streak going in April and then missed the 30th because I was up late the night before and then was exhausted the next day.   

As of today, I’ve run 20.64 and walked 1.54 miles this month.  Those running miles also include a 10k.

Current Book:  I finished reading “Damnation Spring” and “Choosing to Run”.  The former was long and I somewhat lost interest but was determined to finish it.  I didn’t like the ending but I think a different one would have made the book a bit longer.

I enjoyed Desi’s book.  It was a fast read and it was interesting to read what she did and felt before, during, and after winning the Boston Marathon.  I remember crying tears of joy that day.

My goal is to read 12 books this year and I already finished book #8.

Current Shoes: Still running in the Brooks Ghost.  Ha, I am tired of writing about these shoes.  I’ve run nearly 290 miles, so I will soon retire them and then run in another pair.  A better idea would be to just stop wearing them, right?  🤣 🤣

2023 Running Goal:  My goal this year is to run 800 miles.  It is about 67 miles per month.  Total mileage to date is 261.21.  It is about 32 percent of my goal leaving me with about 537.79 miles to go. 

Injuries:  None.  The hip is better.  It isn’t 100% better but not as bad as before.  I still have plantar fasciitis but it isn’t as bad as before either.  

Races:  I ran one this month – Spring Trail Chase 10k.  It was warm, but the best part was that I ran in shorts and no jacket!  

School:  I am still mentally exhausted and cannot wait to be done.  Friday is my last day!

Health:  The hot flashes continue.  Other than that, I am feeling good.  I continue to watch what I eat because of my high A1C.  I have an appointment next month to have blood work done again and hopefully, that number will be lower.

I will be switching insurance plans for both medical and dental from HMO to PPO because just finding a dentist is a hassle.  Plus, I need to see my chiropractor again, and hopefully, someone to talk to about my mental health.  HMO is cheaper but it is like pulling teeth to get the OK to see a specialist.

May was sort of OK and hopefully June is better! 

The topic for next week:  How will you celebrate Global Running Day?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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