Category: Running

Weekly Run Down: Feels like Summer and 31 miles

My workouts were the same as the week before except for a longer warm up and cool down on Wednesday run.  I haven’t run more than 30 miles in a week since July 2018.  It was hot these past few days and it took a toll on me.  I felt exhausted.  It could also be the end of year exhaustion.  Summer is here and we are expecting humid days too.  I am just glad it isn’t rainy and cold.  Overall it was a good week with some great runs.

I was off for one week and it was rough to go back to work on Tuesday.  Some of my kids were happy to see me.  The week did go by fast too.  We did a fun thing each day to count down to the last day of school.  Three more days to go and coming up this week we will have a pajama/costume day, a memory book, and an awards ceremony.  Tomorrow after school I am going to drop off a few gifts for some of my students because they worked so hard this year.  They showed up day after day, participated in class, and did the work.  I am very proud of them!

On Wednesday it was Global Running Day and I celebrated by running with my blogger friends!

I ran 7 miles on Saturday and it took me a few hours to recover from it.  I did good throughout the run but then felt really tired when I got home.  I also had a headache.  I showered, ate, and then took a nap.  I am thinking that maybe I was dehydrated.  I never take water with me on my runs but this time I took a small one with Tailwind.  I took another nap in the afternoon and I am glad I did because I had my nephew’s graduation party that evening.  It was small gathering with a few cousins and we had a good time.

I am behind on reading and commenting posts from Friday’s linkup.  It took me a while to finish reading and commenting posts from last Sunday and Tuesday’s linkups.  I promise I will get to them. 

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

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Weekly Run Down: A few days off and cats on my runs

What a week!  It started off hot then it was cold.  Yesterday and today it warmed up again but I still have the heat on.  So weird how last week I wrote that it was very hot and the AC was not working.

After 3 days of not sleeping well because of a broken AC, I slept very well on Sunday night.  I ran 5 miles with 4-45 second surges on Monday morning.  Splits were 8:24, 8:15, 7:54, and 7:40.  Yay!  My run on Wednesday was great too.  I ran 5 x 1/3 intervals and managed to get negative splits again (11:11, 10:56, 10:53, 10:32, and 9:55).

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It was cold and raining on Friday.  Nope, didn’t not get out till the evening for 1 mile.  

It was much better on Saturday and I went out for 7 miles.  It felt good being out there.  It was definitely warmer than the day before but I still wore tights and a jacket.  I did 2 Peloton runs and it was just the right mix of music to make me smile.  

I saw lots of cats while out on a run!  I see them here and there but they all run away from me.  This time I stopped to take a picture and then I looked over to my left and there were more cats relaxing on the front steps of the house.  But darn I was so happy to see them that I did not take a picture of all of them.  Instead I will post pictures of my cats.

Saw these too!  Aren’t they adorable?

I took 4 days off from work.  Let me tell you that I definitely needed those days off but I am sure you knew that already.  So what did I do?  I RELAXED.  I did take my mother to the doctor on Wednesday morning.  I also watched LOTS of TV.  I am hooked on the show “Rizzoli and Isles”.  Anyone else watch it?  It felt so good to be off that now I am really tempted to take off the rest of the school year.  But if I’ve made it this far, then what is 7 more days?  I can do this!

Here are the photos of my fur babies.

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

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Weekly Run Down: Hot in the city and some tough runs

Remember how a few months ago I was complaining about the cold weather?  I knew it would warm up again and it came in full force this week.  I was not ready for it.

The week started off with a 4 mile progression run on Monday.  The runs we don’t want to do are the ones that surprise us.  I was tired in the evening and didn’t want to run.  Now I cannot remember why I didn’t run in the morning.  

Tuesday was 5 miles with 2 miles at a faster pace.  Those two miles felt hard.  Not sure I like the mile repeats.  Mateo knew exactly how I was feeling.

I have no idea how I ran 5 miles on Friday because I did not sleep well the night before.  In this run I also did 4-45 second surges.  I also did a fun 90s Dance Run which I enjoyed.  The best part was at the end when Rebecca thanked the teachers.  It felt so good to hear that since right now I am burned out.  Only 12 days to go!

Another rough night and I struggled Saturday morning.  I had to run 6 miles and could not do it.  I did run 1 mile for my run streak. 

As I mentioned earlier, we got some hot weather.  On Thursday I came home and turned on the AC.  It turned on but there was no cold air.  I had my cousin check it out thinking that it would be something simple.  Nope.  I told the landlord.  Fast forward to today, Sunday, and someone came before noon to check it out.  Yep, 3 days with no AC.  I know many people don’t have it either and it is just awful.  I am grateful he is here and hoping he can fix it today.  Update:  It is fixed!!!  I will sleep so much better tonight.

Even my cats are feeling the heat! 

My runs this week weren’t that horrible.  I know these past few weeks ago they were all great and this week some were challenging.  That is OK since I know not all runs will be great.  Can’t wait to see what my coach will have me this this week!

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

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Weekly Run Down: My 200th Peloton run and getting ready for the end of the school year

Happy Sunday!  This week was another week where the weather was up and down.  Yesterday it was cloudy with some rain and I felt like something was off.  This week is supposed to warm up so that is exciting!  

On Monday morning I did my 200th run with Matty.  I signed up for this run the week before.  It was a good class but imagine my confusion when all of a sudden it was over.  I stopped and checked my watch thinking “no way is it already 30 minutes”.  Well, it turned out that the class was 20 minutes instead of 30 minutes.

I didn’t sleep well Monday night and woke up on Tuesday very tired.  My workout was run 5 miles, 4-45 second surges with 1 minute recovery, and ending at 6 miles with a cool down.  I did the workout on Wednesday since I felt much better.  It was sunny and no wind…just perfect.

The rest of the week went well too.  I ran 7 miles on Saturday.  I took it easy and walked when I wanted to.  I listened to music and thought about home life and school.  Excited because I am planning to take a few days off!

This week my students took their MAP tests.  I thought all school districts in IL were required to have students take the test.  One of my friends works in CPS and she said the students in her school were not required.  Ugh!  That is very annoying and frustrating.  Whomever is making these decisions doesn’t know what they’re doing.  Kids do not need more tests.  Anyway, my students took 2 tests in Reading and Math in both English and Spanish.  Let’s just say some were very tired and had no interest in taking another test.  Some students clicked on any possible answer in order to finish it.  Some were on the bed taking the test (I told them to get off the bed).  Some were laughing and talking and looking at something else but the screen (one student said she was talking to her brother).  One student logged off before finishing the test and never came back.  What an exciting week!  I am supposed to do makeups and heck no, I am not doing that.  😬 I already did 4 days of testing.  If the school wants these kids to make up a test then they will need to make the arrangements.Bitmoji Image

I spent a few days packing up my classroom too.  I know next year I will be a Dual Language teacher which means I would be using new Reading materials.  Our District will also be using a new Math curriculum.  Now I wait to find out what to do with said materials.  Here are some pictures from Tuesday.  More things have been packed up.  My goal is to be complete done packing this week. 

I also finished the Selena series.  I do not know how much of it is accurate but I thought it was a good story.  I enjoyed learning more about her.  I do wonder how her life would be like if she hadn’t died.

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

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Weekly Run Down: Happy Mother’s Day and Appreciation Week

Happy Sunday!  Happy Mother’s Day to you, your mom, aunt, grandma, sister, etc.  Honestly, I think Mother’s Day should be every single day.  Moms are truly amazing!

This week was very similar to last week.  I had some great runs which left me feeling more confident.  Today was when my body didn’t want to cooperate and I ran half of my 3 mile run.  It was windy and chilly.  I know it is my choice to run but I just didn’t want to deal with it today.  

On Tuesday I ran 4 miles and then 4-45 second surges.  The last time I did this workout was April 20th.  Some of the paces for the splits were faster this week but also slower than the previous run two weeks ago.  That is OK. 

On Thursday I did again 5-1/3 mile intervals with the same distance in recovery.  I remember waking up exhausted in the morning and didn’t get up till 6:30am.  I knew I wouldn’t have enough time for my run so I decided to run after work.  I don’t remember why I procrastinated so long but I ended up doing my run at almost 7pm.  Maybe that contributed to my “slower” pace than the last time I did this workout (April 22nd)?  

Saturday was 6 miles again with one 90 interval/90 recovery after each mile but stopping at 6 miles.  Some splits were faster and some were slower than the previous run two weeks ago.  I am still pleased with how I did.  I’ve mentioned that I like this workout and enjoy running 6-7 miles on Saturday.

This week was Teacher Appreciation Week.  I got some great gifts from our administrators.  Last year I received a front lawn sign and I still have it!  I received a message from 3 students and one of them gave me a balloon, candy, and a plant.  But can I tell you that I didn’t get one thank you note from any parent?  Nada, zilch, nothing.  It must be because they are all fed up with me from removing their child from class and/or letting them know their child hasn’t been turning in their assignments.  😉 😜  

The District also sent a tweet acknowledging every single teacher. 

The weather has been up and down.  Last weekend was warm and sunny.  The rest of the week was cold (for May) and cloudy.  Yesterday it did warm up a little but but then got cold again.  Not sure what happened last night but I saw this today while on my run.  The tree was in the middle of the street.

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

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