Category: Tuesday Topics

Tuesday Topics: March 2023 Review

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!

March is almost over which means April is almost here.  That means Spring Break is around the corner!  One week off to relax and enjoy.  I am not going anywhere and that is OK with me.  I want to stay home.  

Let me tell you about how March went for me:

Mileage:  It wasn’t low but neither high.  As of today, I’ve run 59.62 and walked 1.87 miles.  There are still a few more days this month so I am sure those numbers will go up.  

Current Book:  I finished reading “Three Sisters”.  Wow!  Beautiful and sad book.  I cried many times while reading it.  The love among the sisters was so strong while going through a horrific time.  

I am currently reading “The Husbands”.  It is book #8 for this year.

Current Shoes: Still running in the Brooks Ghost.  I need to retire these soon.  I also have the Launch 9 and the Hyperion Tempo.  I’ve been eyeing another pair of the Ghost but will not buy them yet.  Nope, self-control.  

2023 Running Goal:  My goal this year is to run 800 miles.  It is about 67 miles per month.  Total mileage to date is 138.07.  It is low but I know I can make it up in the upcoming months.  As long as I stay healthy and injury free, I am confident I will reach my goal.

Injuries: None.  The hip is better.  It isn’t 100% better but not as bad as before.

Races:  I ran two this month – NYC Half Marathon and Shamrock Shuffle 8k.   Both went well and I did better than expected.  My running/training hasn’t been great but I am pleased with how I did.

School:  Almost less than 2 months to go.   Right now what keeps me going is knowing that I am off next week.  I think my students need a break too…from me.  

Bitmoji Image

Health:  The hot flashes continue.  It is awful!  I got some bloodwork drawn and found out that my HBa1c has increased.  That worries me because I don’t want it to get higher and be diabetic.  I’ve been eating pretty much the same (in December my HBa1c was 4.9) but do wonder how much my lack of running has caused it to increase.  I’ve been more stressed than usual and haven’t been sleeping well because of the hot flashes.

March was OK.  Hopefully, April is better.  I was supposed to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile but have decided not to make the trip to Washington DC this weekend.  There is one race I want to do next month.  I know I keep talking about it and now just have to sign up.  I may do just well just like my last two races, right?

The topic for next week – Today is National Vitamin C Day, how do you get your vitamin C?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

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Tuesday Topics: My Spring 2023 running plans

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your Spring running plans and/or race schedule?  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! 

I ran my first race of the year in NYC on Sunday.  I got back yesterday and had to go to work for parent/teacher conferences.  It was a long day for me.  Today is an Institute Day.  I have no desire to go but don’t want to take another day off.  We’ll see how it goes today.

Spring is here! That means warmer weather (hopefully) and more races.  Here are my plans for this Spring.

💐 Run the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k (3/26) and the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (4/2).  Two races in two weeks.  Woohoo!!  There is another race in April (Lakefront 10 miler and 5k) and May (Spring Trail Chase 10K) that I am eyeing.  

💐 Use the Peloton bike.  Right now it is just there in the living room collecting dust.  No bueno.  One way or another I want to fit it into my schedule.   

💐 Walk more.  I love using the run/walk method and that is what helped me get a “decent” finish time on Sunday.  I also enjoy walking for a few minutes after a run.  But a 20-30 minute daily or every other day walk sounds doable and lovely too.

💐 Stretch and foam roll.  We all know it needs to be done.  😊

💐 Be consistent with running.  I need a plan.  Not sure if I want to work with a coach or do my own thing.  While I have no plans for a marathon, I am still toying with the idea of a 50k.  My last two attempts failed but hopefully, the third one will work out.  The one I am thinking of doing is in October so there is plenty of time to get ready for it.

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

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Tuesday Topics: My running wish list

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What’s on your running wish list?  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! 

Wouldn’t a wish list for runners be lovely?  Imagine the things we would put on that list.  Let me tell you what will be on mine.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Race entries for a year.  I would sign up for many of the races in the Chicago area.  There are a few that I love and enjoy doing year after year.  Who knows, maybe I’ll run another marathon.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Travel vouchers to travel for races.  I still have a few half marathons to run in various states for my 50+1 goal.  The vouchers will come in handy!

🏃🏻‍♀️ A Peloton treadmill.  I like running outside, but sometimes I don’t do it because of the weather.  I hate the snow because I am afraid of falling.  I will settle for a non-Peloton treadmill.  I guess I can’t be too picky.

🏃🏻‍♀️ A Peloton rower.  It will be nice to have a complete set from Peloton.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Gift cards to Brooks Running, Amazon, and Running Warehouse.  With all of my races, I will need shoes, gels, recovery drinks, etc.

The topic for next week:  What are your Spring running plans and/or race schedule? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

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Tuesday Topics: Females athletes I admire

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Tomorrow is International Women’s Day.  Who are the female athletes you admire?  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! 

Every day should be Women’s Day.  Women are rockstars.  Women do it all.  I am in awe of many women that I know.  Let’s start with my mom and sisters.  My mom has 7 kids and like many mothers, did the best she could.  At age 46 she became a widow.  I was 19 then, and it wasn’t until I was in my 40s that that made sense to me.

There are many amazing women in my family.  They may not be “athletes” but I still admire them.  Some are single moms.  Some went back to school to further their education.  Some have full-time jobs and still have to go home to their kids.  <<How they do that is something I ask myself every day.  Just having a full-time job is exhausting for me.

The female athletes I admire are YOU.  Whether it is an injury, a personal issue, or a medical diagnosis, you all keep going. You find the positive in a negative situation.  You encourage and inspire others.  You cheer for everyone.  You are all busy with family, work, etc., yet still make time for running, cycling, etc.  There is no money there for you.  It is a hobby and something fun to do.

I know there are many famous athletes and I started to list a few here, but then I realized that you inspire me more than them.

The topic for next week:  What’s on your running wish list?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

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Tuesday Topics: February 2023 Review

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!

Yay February is over!  It has been a mild Winter with not too much snow but some windy days.  It has rained a couple of times but overall still a great Winter.

Just like not all runs will be great, the same thing for days/weeks/months.  February was an OK month for me but I survived.

I can now add myself to the list of Covid victims.  Yep, I finally got it.  It was very mild with a lot of coughing.  I stayed in bed for 5 days, resting and reading.  I finished one book in two days!  But after 5 days of being home, I was ready to return to work.

Let me tell you about how February went for me:

Mileage:  It was a very low mileage for me with 18.78 running miles and .98 walking miles.  I hope this is the only low month this year.  It is warming up and that motivates me to keep on running.  But that means then I will be complaining that it is too hot.  😆 😆 

Current Book:  I have finished reading 5 books and am currently reading “The Paper Place”.  My goal is to read 12 books and I am almost halfway done.

Current Shoes: Still running in the Brooks Ghost.  These are perfect because they’re NYC-themed!

2023 Running Goal:  My goal this year is to run 800 miles.  It is about 67 miles per month.  I ran way less this month but I know I can make it up in the upcoming months.  As long as I stay healthy and injury free, I am confident I will reach my goal.

Injuries: None but sometimes my hip hurts because I do not stretch as I should.  Sometimes I do wonder if it is something else.

Blog: I fell off the wagon with posting on Sundays.  That is OK because I still want to post on Tuesday and Friday consistently.    

School:  I have my good days and my bad days like everyone else.  We have 3 months left of this school year.  Next year we will have a new Reading Curriculum and I am actually looking forward to it.  Something new.  But that also means more work with this new curriculum.  I am not complaining about the curriculum.  My complaint is that not enough time is given to us to learn and implement it.

Health:  I have no complaints about my health.  I have noticed that now I am getting more hot flashes during the day and at night.  I wonder if this is because of Covid or premenopause or both.

February was OK.  Hopefully, March is better.  I am signed up for two races and am excited about them.  I will admit that I am NOT ready for my race in NYC next month.  I haven’t been training like I wanted to.  But I don’t care.  I am still going because I know I won’t have another chance to run the half marathon.  My goal isn’t to PR anyway.  I want to run the race and finish it.  

The topic for next week Tomorrow is International Women’s Day.  Who are the female athletes you admire?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

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