Zenaida Arroyo

08
Dec
2023

Fit Five Friday: 5 favorite fitness stocking stuffers

Fit Five Friday-19

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up! This week’s topic is “5 favorite fitness stocking stuffers.” Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

More holiday gift ideas! Here is my holiday gift guide. It has a variety of gifts that I have purchased for me or my students.

Here are 5 additional items to use for stocking stuffers:

🎄 Gift cards – You can never go wrong with gift cards. I know many people think they’re impersonal but I actually love them. There is a gift card for pretty much every store.

🎄 Socks – One can never have enough socks. I go through stages and have own pairs from Smartwool and Balega. Currently, all of the ones I use now are Brooks Ghost Lite No Show Socks.

🎄 Pens – I love pens. Everyone needs pens. I have so many at home and school. I told myself NO MORE PENS. A few that I love are the BIC Cristal Xtra Bold Ballpoint Pens, Bold Point; Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens | Medium Point; Pilot Precise P-700 Gel Ink Rolling Ball Stick Pens, Fine Point; and the TUL Retractable Gel Pens, Needle Point, 0.5 mm. I know these aren’t fitness related, but I still need pens to write down ideas and thoughts for my blog.

🎄 Kitsch Spiral Hair Ties for Women – They’re gentle on the hair and they prevent tangling and hair damage.

🎄SABRE Pepper Spray – Sad that women “have” to carry this while out on a run. That is another conversation.

The topic for next week: 5 favorite fitness moments of 2023. We hope you’ll link up with us!

05
Dec
2023

Tuesday Topics: Holiday Gift Guide

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Holiday gift guide for runners. You can write about this topic or 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!

December already and time to do some holiday shopping! This post won’t list items only for runners but some of the products that I bought this year and have used. I hope you like them enough to buy for you, your family, friends, etc. Some of these items I purchased for my students, for me, or for the house. The BEST purchase was the foam mattress. My nephew was the one who told me about it. I was a bit reluctant to buy a mattress from Amazon but I do not regret it at all.

▪️ SpaceAid DryingNeat Sink Organizer, Instant Dry Sink Caddy Organizers, Kitchen Sponge Soap Holder Dispenser, Countertop Fast Drying Rack

Spaceaid-1

▪️ ChapStick Total Hydration Hello Bordeaux

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▪️ Momofuku Noodles and Chili Crunch

Momofuku noodles-1

▪️Amazon Essentials Women’s Classic-Fit Short-Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt

Amazon Essential Tshirts-1

▪️Aoibrloy Toss Catch Ball Set

Aoibrloy Toss Catch Ball Set-1

▪️Jump Rope, Adjustable Length Tangle-Free Segmented Soft Beaded Skipping Rope

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▪️Brooklyn Botany Lavender Essential Oil

Brooklyn Botany Lavender Essential Oil-1

▪️BALEAF Women’s Fleece Lined Leggings Thermal Warm Winter Tights –

BALEAF Women's Fleece Lined Leggings Thermal Warm Winter Tights-1

▪️ZINUS 12 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress

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▪️WISELIFE Reusable Grocery Bags 3-Pack Foldable Washable Large Storage Bins –

Wiselife Reusable Bags-1

▪️TOMYOU 200 Pieces Building Blocks Kids STEM Toys

Building Blocks Kids STEM Toys-1

▪️The Original Gorilla Grip Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Smooth Edge Manual Hand Held Can Opener

Can Opener-1

▪️ Graphite Smencils Cylinder – HB #2 Scented Pencils

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The topic for next week: Show us your year in bling! Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

01
Dec
2023

Fit Five Friday and December 2023 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the December edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!

This is the last coffee date of 2023! What a year it has been. I wanted to participate every month but made it to all except for two months. Not bad at all. It is fun to catch up and read everyone’s post. Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I was inspired while spectating the Chicago Marathon last month and entered the lottery for next year. I will find out in a few days if I get picked. I haven’t run a marathon since 2016. I got a PR that year and bettered my time by 40 minutes from my first marathon in 2006.

I read my race recap and laughed. Erica wrote about how disliked “The number of people who report being “disappointed” after running a personal best in the Chicago Marathon”. I agree with her, but I wrote the same thing in 2016.

I may not have gotten a huge PR and I am a little disappointed in myself. I trained hard this summer. OK, so I did miss a few runs and the last 3 weeks I hardly ran at all. I am glad I was able to finish but I know I could have done better. I was hoping to finish under 5 hours. Sigh. Maybe I should just stop here, let it go, and move on. Another marathon in the books and call it a day.

I also entered the lottery for the NYC Half Marathon in March and I got picked. I was actually surprised that I got picked again. I am excited about it. I hope to actually train for it and that it isn’t too cold like it was this year.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that even though I am not a big fan of Halloween, I had a good time that day. It was wild! I spent the morning going over reading and math, but the afternoon was all about Halloween. We passed out candy; played musical chairs, bingo, and hot potato; we danced; and then we had a school parade. My students said they had fun. Mission accomplished!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that last week I got the covid and a flu vaccines along with the second shingles booster. Last year I only got the flu and shingles and was sick the next day. The same thing happened this year. I had a fever and my whole body ached. I could barely get out of bed, but I managed because I had to eat and use the bathroom. Priorities. On Thursday I felt so much better and felt like a new woman.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that Kim will no longer host the Tuesday Linkup with me. Her last post with me will be on December 26. We had a good time together and am happy for those years we hosted it together. I am pleased that Jenn will be hosting the linkup with me. I have been working on a new graphic for us. It was fun creating one and I even made one with our favorite pets but, no, we will not be using that one.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I’ve been looking for a race shirt. I’ve always liked how Erica has one shirt she wears for her races. During a big race it is “easy” to find her. The shirt that I originally wanted wasn’t available in my size. I found another one in a different color but in a men’s size. It doesn’t fit quite well. I will keep looking and hopefully will get one soon.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 running/fitness safety tips. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like. We hope you’ll link up with us!

28
Nov
2023

Tuesday Topics: November 2023 Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

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!

I feel like November is going by fast. What a month! A few of us celebrated a birthday – 51 for me!. I was off for a few days for Thanksgiving Break. The time off was wonderful and I didn’t want to go back to work yesterday. Now I am looking forward to Winter Break.

Let me tell you about how November went for me:

Mileage: So far I’ve run 20.98 and walked 0 miles this month. I couldn’t get it together to be consistent and run on more days.

Current Book: I finished reading “The Maid” and am currently reading “The Truth and Other Hidden Things”. The former was good and it took me longer than expected to finish it. There were times that I lost interest and put it down to watch TV. I am enjoying the other book but sometimes get annoyed with the main character. It is still a good book.

Next year my goal will be to read 24 books.

2023 Running Goal: I said goodbye to my goal. 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.

Injuries: None. How can I have any when I am barely running? 🤪 Sometimes I have some pain/discomfort in my hip. And depending on which shoes I wear and how long I am on my feet, they hurt too.

Races: None, but am hoping I can run a 5k in December. This year I ran a half marathon, 10k, 10 miler, 8k, and a 4 miler.

Health: I am doing OK. Depending on how my day goes, I sleep well and on other days I don’t.

School: It is still an up-and-down situation. I am still overwhelmed with a lot of work to do and not enough time. I like my students and sometimes I like my job. A few weeks ago I got a new student from El Salvador. She is sweet and shy and is excited to be in school. I like my principal. She is very supportive and understands where we (teachers) come from.

Still, I will end this post with what I said last month: Each day brings me closer to another year of teaching and then to another year closer to retirement.

The topic for next week: Holiday Gift Guide for runners. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

21
Nov
2023

Tuesday Topics: I am thankful

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Tell us why you’re thankful for running this year! You can write about this topic or 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!

Another year and another birthday. I feel lucky and happy to be celebrating another birthday. I went to work where I got presents and hugs from my students. After work, I had two meetings. Then I went to Portillo’s for a burger, fries, and my free chocolate cake. Everything was yummy! It was a good day.

Now let me tell you what I am thankful for.

💖 I am thankful for my students. I know I complain about them but no matter what happens during the day, I still enjoy and like my students. They’re kids. It isn’t their fault that the district has a rigorous schedule and all day is all work, work, and work. The other day, after 5 tests, they asked to color and to listen to music. A few of them danced!

💖 I am thankful for my job. Similar to the previous point. Not all days are bad days. On Tuesday as we were getting ready to go home, one of the girls told me, “Ms. Arroyo, you are fun”.

💖 I am thankful for my health. I am healthy. A little high cholesterol but that’s it. I take good care of myself, but know that I need to be more active. I want to run the Chicago Marathon next year. I know I can do it and that it won’t be easy

💖 I am thankful for my cats. My fur babies! I swear they both understand when I ask them if they want chicken or fish for their snack. I know, I know, what you’re thinking. They meow and it makes me laugh. Lately, Mateo has been more cuddly at night. He usually sleeps on the foot of the bed, but now he sleeps next to me.

💖 I am thankful for running. I had no idea I would still be running years later after I took that first running class with CARA. Then I signed up for a race and then another one. Then we know what happened. The other day someone was saying how I find running to be fun. I know he meant it sarcastically (who doesn’t), but while I do find it fun, it is more than that. I said that to me it is my alone time. I like running because I feel like I am alone in the world with no worries. It is just me alone for those miles before getting back to reality.

Next week is a FREE topic. Feel free to write about any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics