Category: Running

Weekly Run Down: Joy and goodbye May

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Another great week for me!  Ran 5 days for a total of 18.33 miles and did another 2 virtual races for the Uncanceled Project.

This week was a HOT one!  I went out too late on Monday and struggled during my 4 miles.  I am sure I was dehydrated because I had a headache and felt some chills towards the end.

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I spent the rest of the day relaxing and catching up on blogs.

Apparently I did not learn my lesson on Monday because I went out again too late on Wednesday.  I did 1 mile, then 4-30 second surges, and then ran easy for total 3 miles.  I did pretty good with the surges (8:46/7:57/8:17/8:09)!

I am NOT eating well at all and paid for it on Thursday.  I did 5 miles and it was tough.  My shorts are a bit too tight and moving was not easy.  

Sometimes a run sucks and sometimes it doesn’t.  On Saturday my run did not suck.  I ran 3 sets of 5 minutes.  Couple of things: 1) Ran each set without stopping and that is something that rarely happens.  2) Got negative splits and that rarely happens too.  3) Fastest splits in a long time.  I was very pleased with this run.  I was happy.  I know the weather had something to do with it as it was perfect for running.  

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I finished May with 72.05 miles.  That has been my highest this year. 

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Sometime in March I removed the Instagram app from my phone.  My last post was March 12.  I downloaded the app again.  At that time I had 900 followers.  Well, I unfollowed everyone because I want to start over.  It’s been interesting to see how many followers I lost.  🙂  I began with 900, then had 883, and ended up with 871.  So I lost 29 followers in a couple of days.  Tomorrow is a new month and I will start following people again.

It was kind of hard to find joy this week with everything that is going on in this country.  Last night we got an alert that the Mayor had imposed a curfew (9pm-6am).  Honestly, it wasn’t till last night that I saw what had been happening in the city.  Now I am watching a Facebook Live of a looting taking place not too far from my house.  I’ve been watching it for over an hour and cannot stop watching it.

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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Weekly Run Down: A good week of running and being kind

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Another great week for me!  Ran 5 days for a total of 20.07 miles and did 2 virtual races for the Uncanceled Project.

I have my days when I can easily get up at 6:30 am and am ready to start the day.  There are also days in which it is 8 am and I am feeling so tired and could stay in bed all day.   I  This week was a combo of both.  I did three runs in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and another one in the evening.  have no idea how I am going to do it when I go back to the classroom in the Fall.

Going back to workMy run on Saturday felt so hard.  I procrastinated and went out at 2pm . I was struggling in the first half mile of the run.  The plan was to run 3.10 miles and then turn around to run another 3.10 miles for a total of 6.20.  At 1.5 miles I wanted to quit but knew I still needed to keep running to get home.  I decided to try a different route to get home.  By the time I was almost home, I was at 4.23 miles.  I asked myself “why quit now?”  I kept on going but stayed close to home because I knew it was going to rain a lot.  It did!!!  And then it was sunny and warm again.

I got on the Peloton one day.  I bought these gym towels to use and I like them.  They’re the perfect size to cover the handlebars.  I had ordered a different kind but that order never got delivered.  After a few emails back and forth with the company, I decided to get my money back and go with Plan B.

The theme this week was Kindness.  I am a kind person.  I do kind things but don’t expect anything in return.  We should all be kind no matter the situation.  We don’t know what people are going through and sometimes all it takes is a smile, a compliment, or just being nice to others.

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Last Sunday when I was coming home I stopped at Wendy’s.  I paid for my meal and paid for the order in the car behind me.  Did I have to do that?  No,  I wanted to.  The cashier told me “That is a very nice thing you did”.  I smiled at her and said “Thank You”.  I felt good but more importantly I hoped the people behind me were happy, healthy, and enjoyed their meal.  

My friend, Carolina, set up a GoFund Me page to raise money for the street cart vendors in Little Village.  I grew up in Little Village.  These vendors cannot go out there and sell like they used to.  Like many people in this country, they have no income.  When things get better, who knows if they will be able to sell again.  I donated a couple hundred dollars to give to the vendors.  I was inspired by my nephew.  He donated his stimulus check because he said he did not need it.  I was so proud of him when he said that.  I used Zelle to send the money to Carolina and she told me it was too much money and that I didn’t have to do that.  She was right.  I didn’t but I wanted to.  I told her that right now I am very lucky.  I have a job, a house, and am healthy.  There are other people in worse situations.  

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We have two weeks left of school.  Seriously, school should be done this Friday and not the following Friday.  Kids and teachers are burnt out and need a break.  On Thursday I held my last Google Meets session with them.  I would have one Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm.  I did tell them that I will still be there for them if they have questions or need help.  As a way of saying goodbye to 2nd grade, I made a postcard.  Here is what it says:

Your teacher misses you.
Hi!  The school year is almost over.  You did a good job in the classroom and I am very proud of you.  Thank you for your help and your patience.  I know these past few months were not easy but we did it.  Remember that when we return the following year, you will be a 3rd grader.  Never forget that you are very intelligent.  Take care and I hope you visit me in the classroom when we return to school.

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Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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Tuesday Topics: Some of my best races

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  Last week I wrote about some not-so-great things that have happened to me at races.   So today let’s discuss some of my best races whether it is because of a PR, the course, or some other reason.

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This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What was your best or worst race You can write about this topic or 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!

2016 Chicago Marathon – It it my marathon PR.  I simply love everything about this race.  I’ve run it a few times and also love spectating it.  

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2015 Live Grit 10 MilerI met Wendy and Marcia at this race.  It was warm in the beginning of the race but then the temperature dropped about 20 degrees.  I did not have a jacket and was COLD.

2019 Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon – I was undertrained but loved this race.  I was also dealing with plantar fasciitis but I made the best of it. It is an incredible experience running the bridge to Canada, in Canada, and then back to the U.S.  

2019 Delaware Marathon Running Festival – Hilly course but I met Kim!  What’s not to like about it?  Running in Brandywine Park felt peaceful and very relaxing.  It was just what I needed to deal with all of the hills.

2013 Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4thI don’t remember how I heard about this race but am so happy I did.  I love everything about it (distance, price, location, to name a few things) and continue to run it each year.  I am sad it is cancelled this year but understand the reason.

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2020 Publix Atlanta Half MarathonSo the race itself was not that great.  It was a VERY hilly course and I was undertrained.  What I loved about it was the Olympic Marathon Trials that took place the day before.  I got excited and goosebumps being so close to many elite runners – LOVED seeing Desi on the course!!

Utah Valley Half Marathon 2017 – A race meeting up with blogger friends!  The views were incredible.  It was the first time dealing with altitude and running a downhill race.  Not easy but I finished in 2:34:59 which is a whole lot better than I expected!!

Walt Disney World Half Marathon and Walt Disney World Marathon – Did this as part of the Goofy Challenge.  Seriously, I have no idea what I was thinking when I signed up.  I don’t think I was thinking AT ALL!  🙂  It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.  No regrets at all.

The Great Alaskan Running Cruise 2017 – It was a fun week exploring and running in Alaska.  There were a total of 4 races:

5K Kick Off Run/Walk in Anchorage and Welcome Party
√ Glacier Half Marathon in Juneau
4-Mile Amazing Race in Skagway
5K on the trails in the Tongass National Forest in Ketchikan

♥ Chicago Lakefront 50K 2012 and 2014 – I don’t have a recap from my first race in 2012 but HERE is the second one I did in 2014.  As if running a marathon isn’t hard enough, I decided to run a race even longer than 26.2 miles.  I ran the RnR New Orleans Marathon early in March and then ran the 50k a few weeks later.  Why not, right?  🙂

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I enjoyed writing about this topic.  It was fun reading older posts (sometimes cringing because of what I wrote – Yikes!!), but overall remembering each one which made me smile.

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Weekly Run Down: Running across Illinois and for dreams

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This was a good week for me.  I ran 5 days for a total of 17.40 miles.  I did not want to miss any runs because I signed up for The Run Across Illinois Challenge and I am still participating in Deborah’s Run Bet Challenge.  I don’t really care about winning any money.  I just don’t want to lose the money that I entered in the bet.

It was sunny on Monday but must have been cooler since I had a heavier jacket.

I run in the morning before logging in for school but this week I ran twice in the evening.  It was warm on Wednesday and I have no idea what I was thinking.  I overdressed and wore pants and a long sleeve top and then regretted it.  On Thursday morning it was raining with thunderstorms and I knew I couldn’t get out to run.  I waited till the evening when it had stopped raining.  It was humid but still comfortable to wear shorts and a tank top.

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Saturday morning I had to run 5 miles.  I took it easy but still struggled to get it done.  I went out later than usual and while it wasn’t too warm, it was sunny which I guess wore me out.   I saw some pretty flowers along the way.  Later I went to do laundry (I used to go on Sundays but now prefer Saturday).  I must have been more tired than expected and so I took a nap and missed the Bloggers Zoom Call.  🙁

Another rainy day on Sunday.  A big difference from Saturday.  I did not want to go but then remembered the challenges I am doing and I was out the door.  It wasn’t too bad.  And yes I was warm again.

Of course I wanted to stay home like Mateo.  I cannot imagine him being comfortable but I guess he is.

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I did my 5k for the Uncancelled Project.  This time I am determined to get it done each week.

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Something I am excited about is The Great Run Across Illinois that Wendy mentioned in a post.  I even got Marcia to sign up and we created a team – Bloggers Outrunning COVID.  Our goal is to run 210 miles.  I didn’t realize that we had to get it done by the end of the month.   I honestly thought it was 70 days but that is for solo runners doing the challenge.  Yikes!  But we’ll get it done, right Marcia?  🙂

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Are you doing the Uncanceled Project 2?  What about any other challenges?

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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Weekly Run Down: Mixed emotions and a sign

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Happy Sunday and Happy Mother’s Day!  I hope everyone is having a great day.

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I ran 3 days this week and one workout on the bike.  I have no pictures but honestly I did run.  🙂  My 5 miles on Saturday was tough.  It was in the low 30s but very sunny.  I had 2 layers and was warm enough.  The problem was the wind.  No matter which direction I went, it was blowing in my face.  Still was pleased with how I did.  My slowest mile was 12:18 and my fastest was 11:34.  

Felt good to run to one of my favorite places.  Took a few minutes to think about where I would like to travel when things are back to “normal”.  

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Back in March I signed up for the Un-Canceled Project.  They weren’t that difficult to do but yet I only did 2 of them.  I was kind of disappointed.  So I signed up again for round 2.  It begins tomorrow and ends June 21.  

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Here are the topics.  Did you sign up as well?

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This week was full of different emotions.  I was happy, tired, sad, angry, and scared.  Am I weird?  Or just a normal human being considering this situation we are in?  My best friend’s dad died on Saturday morning from Covid.  Ugh!  When will this end?  Seriously, I am trying to be positive but sometimes it is just so hard.

School is going well but sometimes I do get bored with it.  On Thursday about 8 students logged in Google Meet and we had a great time.  There was one student that was usually very quiet in class but this time was participating more and answering many questions.  That made me happy!

This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week.  I’ve been spoiled.  Over the years administration has spoiled me with providing sweets, lunch, breakfast, etc., for the whole week.  On Monday a teacher from another school posted on Facebook that she received a gift from her administrator.  I did wonder if we would get something similar.  On Thursday coworkers from my school posted their gift.  I knew mine was coming soon.  Waited all day and nothing.  Our Principal sent an email letting us know that it was coming.  Friday morning came and a few teachers from my team got their gift.  Nothing yet for me.  Finally around 3:30pm I looked outside and saw it.  It made me VERY HAPPY!  I am not saying that I deserve it or anything like that but it just feels nice.

Looks like they’re up to no good.  Ha!

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How was your week?  A bit more exciting than mine?  🙂

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

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