Author: Zenaida Arroyo

I am a 2nd grade teacher and a runner. I love coffee and cats.

Tuesday Topics: My running motivation

Tuesday Topics-227This week’s Tuesday Topic:  How do you maintain your running motivation?  You can write about this topic or post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

This is the perfect topic for me to write about because right now I am lacking motivation to go running.  My last run was yesterday and prior to that it was February 14. 

Below are a few tips I am following to get motivated:

• Sign up for a race.  I have a few races that I am signed up for.  Since I am no longer running the NYC Half Marathon, I want to sign up for a half marathon in Chicago.  There are plenty of those here, but this time I want to make sure I train for it.  

• Buy new gear.  One of my favorite reasons for running.  I ordered a pair of the Brooks Run Lucky Launch 10 and two luxe short sleeve tops.  

• Go outside.  It is warmer outside.  I love that it is light outside much earlier now.  The sunshine and warmer weather always makes me feel good. 

• Set a goal and keep track.  In my case, it is to remember my goals.  I still want to run/walk 2,204 miles and that won’t happen by itself.  I like the RTE Tracker to see how I am doing.  The bibs I get for meeting set goals are a bonus.

• Run one mile at a time.  Right now I am not training for anything (though I need to for my upcoming 8k in a few weeks) so I will run for whatever time/miles I want to.  This way I am not pressured and most likely will look forward to my run.

The topic for next week – How do you organize your running gear?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

New Tuesday Topics

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Fit Five Friday and March 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

New Ultimate Coffee DateWelcome to the March 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 AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am no longer going to NYC to run the half marathon.  The training hasn’t been there.  I thought about running it without training but feel like I will end up injured.  And that is the last thing I want.  I am happy I ran it last year and maybe will plan to go again another year.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that last month I told you that I paid over $600 for night guards.  Imagine my surprise when I got a message from the receptionist telling me that apparently my insurance did cover it and I was getting a check back.  That money went straight to my savings account.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you about my fun experience when I went to get a mammogram.  Last week on Thursday I got a reminder for my appointment the next day at 8:40am.  The next day I left a little early so I could get something to eat for breakfast and to hopefully be seen before my appointment time.  I knew it wouldn’t take long and the plan was to go back to work.  I arrived at the hospital but the receptionist told me that she didn’t see my name on the calendar.  I was confused thinking that maybe I had the wrong date and time.  But how could I when I got a reminder the day before.  Suddenly, I realized that I was in the wrong hospital.  I had gone to the one I used to go.  Luckily, it was still early and the correct hospital was about 15 minutes away.  I arrived on time and was done in about 10 minutes. 

I got my results yesterday.  Everything is normal.  

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that a few weeks ago I made an offer on a house and it was not accepted.  My offer was $30k OVER the asking price!  My agent told me the owners received 32 offers.  The house was “cheap” and it needed some work to be done.  I was ready to do it and was actually excited about it.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you I am now a fan of shopping at Aldi’s.  I remember the store as a kid.  I also remember it (years later) the store being closed on Sundays and they would only take cash or debit cards only (not the case now).  I have found some great options there and for a lower price.  I like to buy chips, fruit, and vegetables.   I also like the balsamic vinaigrette for my salad.  Can you believe that these past two weeks I have eaten a salad for lunch?  Yep, my salad has spinach, strawberry, chickpeas, feta cheese, and walnuts or sunflower seeds.  It is delicious and looks so pretty. 

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 things in your gym bag.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Tuesday Topics: February 2024 Review

Monthly Review-February 2024This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  Feel free to post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Let me tell you about how February went for me:

Mileage:  So far I’ve run 14.87 and walked 1.64 miles this month.  It’s been a nonproductive run for running/walking. 

Run the Year 2024:  I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year.  I have completed 59.69 miles (per the RTE Tracker).  I know I have a lot of work to do here.  Once the weather is better, I plan to walk to work a few times a week.  It is 6.2 miles to work so I think it is doable.

Current Book:  I finish reading “Nowhere Girl”.  There were some parts that were sad but overall I enjoyed the book.  Currently I am reading “The Lincoln Highway”.  I saw the map in the book and it makes me want to get in my car and drive along the highway.  

Injuries:  None.  

Races:  None.

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

School:  It is going OK.  Also, busy with tests and assignments.  We are learning about insects and the students are enjoying the lessons.  Lots of information!

We read a book in Spanish about saving the sea turtles.  We watched a video from the Dominican Republic which shows the baby turtles going to the sea.  My students enjoyed it.  Also, in the book, one of the characters made a turtle with clay.  We did the same thing.  They had fun with it too.

El regreso de las tortugas-1

What I am looking forward to next month:  A few days off from school (Pulaski Day and Good Friday).  I am going to San Antonio with my mom for my aunt’s 90th birthday party.  I am not sure if I am still going to NY because I haven’t been training for the half marathon.

The topic for next week:  How do you maintain your running motivation?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Tuesday Topics: My running pet peeves

Tuesday Topics-226This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are some of your running pet peeves?  You can write about this topic or post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

I’ve written about this topic before.  So now I will combine all of them into one post.  There are quite a few.  🤣 🤣 🤣

Here is what I wrote in previous posts.  

Runners that post their pace all of the time (Garmin, Strava, and RunKeeper, etc.) 

• Walkers that start in the front of a race.

• Runners that make sudden stops.

• Runners that take up the whole path.

• Dog owners that don’t leash their dogs. 

• Runners that blast their music.

• Runners that talk non stop during  a race. 

• Long lines at the port-a-potties.

• Running out of food or swag.

• People that honk or catcall while I’m out running.  

• Races that start late.

• People that spit.

• Shoe companies that think they are making their product better, but really they’re not.  Don’t change anything!

• Chafing and not realizing till taking a shower.

• An ugly shirt or one that does not fit properly.

• People that do not throw their water cups in the trash can.  Stop being lazy.  

• Races that do not have a refund or deferral option.  Worse is when there is an option, but you have to pay again.

• Spectators with signs saying that I am almost there.  No I’m not.  Don’t lie to me.

• When I want to hit the pause button on my Garmin and instead hit the lap button.

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

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Fit Five Friday: 5 things I love about myself

Fit Five Friday-4We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!  This week’s topic is “5 things you love about yourself”.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

Why is it difficult to write nice things about ourselves?  It shouldn’t be.  I will admit that I had to google for some ideas.  As I looked through the list, it was hard to pick 5, so 10 will do – double the fun.

• I am not helpless and can take care of myself.  

• I am kind and compassionate.  

• I have a strong work ethic.

• I enjoy alone time.

• I am grateful for being alive.

• I see the good in people.

• I am great at my job.

• I have strong legs.

• I am in good health.

• I am beautiful, inside and out.

The topic for next week – Runfessions with Marcia.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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