Author: Zenaida Arroyo

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

Weekly Run Down: Three runs this week and 2 more weeks

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Hey there!  I hope you all had a great week.  Last week I wrote about how I did not feel well.  I didn’t get a cold and I feel so much better.  Maybe I just needed to rest?  I have a race in two weeks and I absolutely cannot get sick.

MONDAY: 4.01 MILES 
I don’t remember too much about this run.  I just know I did run.

WEDNESDAY:  4.33 miles
I wanted to do 10×400 intervals with 400m recovery.  I did 8 and each recovery was less than 1/4 mile.  Felt good but got tired towards the end.  This rarely happens but my Garmin showed the mileage as the treadmill.  I was actually shocked. 

THURSDAY: 1.24 MILES 
It was not my day at the gym.  I wanted to run 4 miles but got to the gym late.  I started watching “Narcos Mexico” but honestly could not even get excited about it.  Also, I need to wake up earlier since I’ve noticed that it takes me a little bit longer to get out of the house.  

Two more weeks till the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon.  I am excited but also nervous about it.  While I am not 100% ready/trained for it, I am more ready for it than I was for the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon.  The goal is to finish it.  It will be state #43 for me.

Overall not my best week.  Since I didn’t do a long run this weekend, the plan is to do it tomorrow morning.  A little off schedule but that is OK.  Also, I have an appointment with my agent to see a house so cross your fingers that it goes well.  

How was your week?  Anyone planning to go to Atlanta to spectate the Olympic Trials and/or run the half or marathon?  A friend of mine was planning to go and share the hotel cost but now cannot make it anymore.  Let me know if you want to share a room.

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

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Random Thoughts Thursday 111

Random Thoughts Thursday

• I am loving these Facebook memories.  This is from two years ago on Sunday.  I think we were then off due to the weather?  

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I got home today and noticed that my iPad was not in my gym bag.  I called the gym and asked if someone had turned one in.  Sure enough someone did!  I couldn’t believe my good luck because I thought for sure someone had taken it home.  

• How funny is this?  Sure made me laugh.

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• This showed up on Facebook and it was weird to see my name on the shirt. 

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• This made me laugh too.  Sometimes I can be stubborn too.  🙂

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Tuesday Topics: My first race

Hey there!  I hope everyone is doing well.  How is it that it is Tuesday again?  Don’t the days go by fast?  I am feeling better which is a good time.  No one has time to get sick, right?  Now let’s continue with our fun topic this week.

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This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What was your first 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!

This topic brought so many fun memories.  I started running in the summer of 2005.  I remember I was downtown and saw a much older man running.  I told myself that if he could run then so could I.  I signed up with CARA for a beginner’s class but somehow did not complete it because I signed up again.  Haha!  I remember the goal was to run for 30 minutes but I “only” made it to 28 minutes.  Still I was pleased with how I did.  The next year is when I signed up for the Chicago Marathon. 

I didn’t know anything about running.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I did it anyway.  A friend from work was also a runner and he would tell me to run too.  I said “No” and that I wouldn’t/couldn’t even run a mile.  Ha, if only he could see me now.  🙂

Anyway, back to the topic.  My first race was the Tinley Turkey Trot 5K on November 12, 2005.  I don’t remember how or why I signed up.  Honestly, I don’t remember this race AT ALL.  When I was writing this post, I thought my first race was a different one and that one I do remember a bit more.  Now I am wondering if I was even there at all.  Athlinks says I was and finished in 39:48.

2005 Tinley Turkey Trot

Since then I’ve run many more 5Ks and many more races.  Each one has been a different experience and I have learned so much throughout the years.  

√ The right pair of shoes make a big difference.

√ Not every race will be a great race not will every run be a great run.

√ The right gear also makes a big difference.

√ It is OK to miss a few runs.  Don’t sweat about it.

√ Sleep is important.  No matter what, you need to sleep and rest.

√ It’s OK to run with no goal in mind.  Just run.

√ Don’t compare yourself to others.

√ Listen to your body.

√ Be flexible.  You can plan, plan, and plan, but sometimes something happens to mess up said plan.

√ Anyone can run a marathon.  I didn’t think I could and I did.  I’ve run 8 of them!  The most difficult thing about training for it is the time commitment

√ Everyone has their own accomplishments.  Of course be happy for others but most importantly be happy with yours.

√ Chafing sucks.  Taking a shower afterwards is just as painful or worse.

√ A cold beer after a race on a hot day tastes delicious.  Not so much on a cold day.

√ Running is a hobby.  Don’t get too serious about it.  If a run or race didn’t go as expected, life goes on.  🙂

What was your first race?  Have you run this race again?

Tuesday Topics

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Weekly Run Down: Sick again and a favorite treadmill

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Hey there!  I hope you all had a great week.  Mine was OK because I got sick again.  So far this year hasn’t been kind to me.  Oh well.  Enough complaining and let me tell you about my week.

MONDAY: 1.69 MILES 
It just wasn’t my day at the gym.  I got there later than usual since I was in the bathroom longer than expected.  Yeah, I ate way too much on Sunday.  Monday was the day the workers decided to clean the treadmill which meant the one I use was not available.  I got on a different one but it was shaking the whole time and that wasn’t pleasant.  I moved to another one and the same thing happened.  Finally, “my” treadmill was available but by then it was time to go.  Oh well, at least something instead of nothing.

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WEDNESDAY:  1.5 miles
I was tired and just could not get into my run.  I stopped my watch and when I tried to save my run, I accidentally deleted it.  I couldn’t believe it!  I don’t think that had ever happened to me.  Oh well.  Not a big deal since I manually added it.  I don’t remember exactly the distance but it was around 1.5 miles so that is what I am going by.

That night I went out with friends for dinner.  Yummy but I was so full and sleepy by the time I got home.  Oh and more snow that evening.  🙁

FRIDAY: 4 MILES 
Again at the gym to run 4 miles.  Actually felt really good which made me happy but I was exhausted by 2pm.

SUNDAY: 7.21 MILES
I thought about running outside but it was still dark when I was ready to head out.  Back to the gym and my favorite treadmill was available.  I watched a few episodes of “Money Heist”.  I was wrong the first time I wrote about it.  There are 3 SEASONS (not episodes) so I was happy to continue watching the show.  Planet Fitness had Einstein bagels for its guests and I grabbed two.

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When I saw this I stopped running.  I was like WTF!!!!

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My poor kitty when I woke up.  Even he was still sleepy.  🙂

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This was a weird week.  I kept sneezing and coughing but it did not feel like a cold.  I drank Emergen-C with warm water before going to bed each night and that helped.  Saturday morning I woke up queasy.  I had a light breakfast and then in the afternoon went out to lunch with my coworker.  Afterwards I still was not feeling well.  Still queasy and bloated.  I was so uncomfortable pretty much all day.  I am feeling so much better so that is a relief.

How was your week?  Do you have a favorite treadmill or workout machine at the gym?  

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

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Random Thoughts Thursday 110

Random Thoughts Thursday

• On Sunday I watched an interview with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and she talked about her book “Just Ask”.  I became so interested in it and decided to order it to read to my kids.  I’ve had it for a few days but have not had a chance to read it.  Has anyone read it?

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I am not a fan of Shakira nor JLo but loved their performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.  I know there were a lot of criticism but I am not even going to go there.  They’re both beautiful and can put on a great performance!

• I saw this in an advertisement on Amazon for a car vacuum cleaner.  Please explain to me what the last sentence means.  Engine needs to be started before a car cleaning?  Huh?

Order now.jpg• We’ve been having a mild winter and I love it.   This showed up in my Facebook memories last week.  I remember that day.  I remember going outside to start my car and to let it run for a few minutes.  Also, I wanted to know what negative 45 degrees felt like.  Yeah, it was cold.

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• I haven’t run outside since I fell.  The other day I was taking my mom to my sister’s house and I showed her exactly where I tripped.  Now you see how easy it was for me to fall?  🙂