Zenaida Arroyo

02
Apr
2024

Tuesday Topics: My tried-and-true running gear

Tuesday Topics-229 This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your tried-and-true running accessories? 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!

• Brooks shoes. I love, love the Launch. A few years ago I added back the Ghost into my rotation. Then last year I added the Brooks Hyperion Tempo because I got them for free at a Brooks event. The Ghost shown in the photo on the left are the most comfortable ones I’ve ever worn.

• Koala Clip. I run with my phone but don’t like to hold it while running.

• Apple AirPods. The sound quality is perfect and they do not slip off. Remember when we wore earphones with a cord?

• Garmin Forerunner. I have used several Garmin watches and have liked them all. Currently, I have the 265. I love the color and I can track my walks. Perfect for my 2,024 run/walk goal!

• Sport Suds Detergent. I know there are a variety of detergents but this is my favorite to wash my running clothes.

The topic for next week – How do you plan to celebrate/watch the Boston Marathon? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

New Tuesday Topics

29
Mar
2024

Fit Five Friday: 5 things about the 2024 Shamrock Shuffle 8k

categories: Fit Five Friday

Race Recap-1 We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!

Happy Friday! I am off today for Good Friday. Next week is Spring Break! Time to relax and to take it easy.

For today’s post, I will write about the Shamrock Shuffle 8k. I ran this fun race on Sunday and am happy I ran it again.

Here are some fun things about the race:

☘️ It was my 14th year running this race. My first time was in 2006. I’ve run it every year since then except for 2009, 2012, 2013, 2020 (it was canceled), and 2021.

The photo below is from 2007. I wished I had one from 2006.

☘️ I didn’t train for this race. It didn’t matter. I still wanted to run it because it is one of my favorite races. I paid for it because I was very sore afterwards. It’s taken me a few days to feel better. Now I feel some tenderness on the top of my left foot. I don’t know if it is from the race or from my shoelaces. Today I will call to make an appointment with the podiatrist.

☘️ I knew it would be my worst time. My PR is 48:38 from 2014. All of my finish times have been less than one hour except for this year. My finish time is 1:06:51.

2024 Shamrock Shuffle 8k-5

☘️ Packet pick-up is very easy. It is easy to get to via public transportation. I drive to the train station and leave my car there. One train with a few stops, walk about half a mile, and I am at packet pick-up.

☘️ I walked a lot before and after the race. Prior to the race I walked 2.03 miles. I got there early and I walked around Buckingham Fountain to warm up. After the race, I walked 1.10 miles to get my gear bag and then to the train stop to go home.

The topic for next week – Ultimate Coffee Date with Coco and Deborah. We hope you’ll link up with us!

26
Mar
2024

Tuesday Topics: March 2024 Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

Monthly Review-March 2024 This 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 March went for me:

Mileage: So far I’ve run 8.41 and walked 3.65 miles this month. It’s been another nonproductive month of running and walking.

Run the Year 2024: I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year. I have completed 71.74 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 finished reading “The Lincoln Highway”. I loved it! I still want to get in my car and drive along the highway. Road trip? Currently, I am reading “Unsettled Ground” and so far am liking it. This is book #5 for this year.

Unsettled Ground-1

Injuries: None.

Races: On Sunday I ran the Bank of American Shamrock Shuffle 8k. I have mentioned this race a few times so you know it is one of my favorite races. The weather was decent and I finished in 1:06:51 (my worst time).

Health: I am doing OK. Depending on how my day goes, I sleep well and on other days I don’t. I don’t know if it was my trip to San Antonio or DST or both but I was very tired when I came back home. I am struggling with hot flashes and weight gain and I am not happy about it. On Monday I saw the number on the scale and it was the highest number I’ve seen on the scale for me. I was upset and then everything else went downhill for me that day. I had a horrible day at work where everything just bothered me.

School: It is going OK. We have two months to go till the end of the school year. There are a few activities taking place in April and May that I am looking forward to. We are going to Brookfield Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry. We’re also going to see (weather permitting because we are walking there) SpongeBob the Musical.

What I am looking forward to next month: Spring Break! One week to stay home and relax.

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

22
Mar
2024

Fit Five Friday: 5 fitness things I’ve love to try

categories: Fit Five Friday

Fit Five Friday-6 We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up! This week’s topic is “5 fitness things you’d love to try”. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.

Happy Friday! We are getting closer to the end of the month, which means that we are closer to Spring Break, and that means closer to the end of the school year.

For now I have pretty much everything I need. But there are a few things that I would love to try.

• BOB AND BRAD C2 Pro Massage Gun with Heat and Cold Therapy. Three people have mentioned this in their blog. I have my own massage gun but it doesn’t come with the heat and cold therapy.

BOB AND BRAD C2 Pro Massage Gun with Heat and Cold Therapy-1

• Chirp RPM | Rolling Percussive Massager. I have a love and hate relationship with foam rolling. “This innovative device seamlessly merges the therapeutic power of percussive massage and rolling massage techniques, giving you a blissfully smooth and comfortable massage that targets pain and accelerates your body’s healing process.”

Chirp RPM | Rolling Percussive Massager-1

• Perfect Pushup Elite. These will help with pushups. I ended up buying these after I began writing this post but haven’t used them…..yet.

Perfect Pushup Elite-1

• WRIST BUDDY Yoga Blocks. I don’t do yoga that often but the times that I have, doing so puts strain on my wrist. These blocks conform to the shape of your hand.

WRIST BUDDY Yoga Blocks-1

• ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set. It looks terrifying because of the points/needles but it helps with pain reduction, stress, and post-workout recovery.

ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set-1

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

19
Mar
2024

Tuesday Topics: My Spring 2024 running plans/race schedule

categories: Tuesday Topics

Tuesday Topics-233 This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your Spring running plans or race schedule? 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!

Happy Tuesday! Today is the first day of Spring. It is my 2nd favorite season – Fall is #1. Also, today will be a long day for me. I have parent/teacher conferences and need to be at school at 7pm. I have appointments with 19 set of parents and hopefully all show up.

I am excited for my upcoming races. I am bummed I missed the NYC Half Marathon on Sunday but I know it was the best decision.

Here are my plans for this Spring.

• Run the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k (3/24). This is one of my favorite races! I will admit that I am not ready for it but will run it anyway. It is only 5 miles so what can go wrong? Did I just jinx it? I know I will not set a PR since I plan to walk more than run it.

• Run the CARA Lakefront 10 Miler (4/7/). I’ve run this race in the past. Last year it was cold, windy, and rainy and at the last minute I wanted to run the 5k, but was told I “couldn’t”. I sucked it up and ran 10 miles. It wasn’t too bad once I began running but I was sore afterwards.

• Run the CARA Spring Trail Chase 10K (5/19). Last year was the first time doing it. I enjoyed it and decided to do it again this year. I remember a few of us got lost getting to the race site, but this year I know the same thing won’t happen again.

• Walk more. I need to catch up on my 2,024 goal! I made a chart showing where I should be now and I am way behind. The chart is based on walking/running 5.53 miles each day.

• Be consistent with running. I’ve been slacking the past couple of months. I need a goal and a plan. Last year I was toying with the idea of working with a coach and didn’t move forward with it. Maybe this year.

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

New Tuesday Topics