This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Your year in photos.   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!

This is one of my favorite posts to write.  I wrote one in 2020, 2021, and 2022.  I had fun reading those posts again and thinking about how much has changed since 2020.

Let’s recap this year.  

January:

⇒ Chose my word of the year:  Balance.  Next year I will let you know how I did.

February:

⇒ Got Covid.  Spent 5 days at home in bed resting with my cats.

March:

⇒ Ran the NYC Half Marathon.

⇒ Ran the Bank of American Shamrock Shuffle 8k.

April:

⇒ Ran the CARA Lakefront 10 Miler.

May:

⇒ Read “Choosing to Run” and loved it!

⇒ Ran the CARA Spring Trail Chase 10k.

June:

⇒ Finished the 2022-2023 school year!

July:

⇒ Read “The Longest Race” and made me love Kara Goucher even more!

August:

⇒ Began the 2022-2023 school year.

September:

⇒ Celebrated my mom’s 80th birthday with a big party.

October:

⇒ Spectated the Chicago Marathon.  It was a fun day!

November:

⇒ Ran 5.1 miles for my 51st birthday.

December:

⇒ Counting down the days till Winter Break!  Friday is my last day.

The topic for next week:  What are your goals for 2024?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Show us your year in bling!  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!

This year I ran a total of 5 races compared to 2 in 2022.  I ran one out of state, the NYC Half Marathon, and am planning on running it again next year.

Here are my races and medals:

⇒ NYC Half Marathon – It was a great race but hilly and also tough!  I know now to train for those hills.

⇒ Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle – This is one of my favorite races and I LOVE it!  For some reason I cannot find my medal.

⇒ CARA Lakefront 10 Miler – Another medal picture with beer.  You can say that I do like my beer after a race.

⇒ CARA Spring Trail Chase 10k – My first time running this race.  I enjoyed the distance and the course.  It was sunny and warm day but liked that I ran in shorts and a tank top.  No medal and I am OK with it.

⇒ Elmhurst Running 4 on the 4th – No medal and no picture.  I remember my sister went with me but cannot remember why I didn’t take any pictures.  But I did run!

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

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

▪️ ChapStick Total Hydration Hello Bordeaux 

▪️ Momofuku Noodles  and Chili Crunch

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

▪️Aoibrloy Toss Catch Ball Set

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

▪️Brooklyn Botany Lavender Essential Oil

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

▪️ZINUS 12 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress

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

▪️TOMYOU 200 Pieces Building Blocks Kids STEM Toys

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

▪️ Graphite Smencils Cylinder – HB #2 Scented Pencils

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!

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!