Tuesday Topics: My Winter running plans/race schedule

Tuesday Topics-219This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your Winter 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!

Winter is my least favorite season/time for running, but it still needs to get done.  I cannot complain too much about it because this Winter has been mild.  Below are my running plans this Winter.

❄️ Be consistent with running.  I am am following Hal Higdon’s plan to train for the NYC Half Marathon.  I would like to run various race distances this year again.  Last year I did all except a 5k.

❄️ Run the NYC Half Marathon and the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. I am excited to go back to NYC to run the half marathon.  I plan to be better prepared for this race, but my goals are to finish and to have fun.  The Shamrock Shuffle is one of my favorite races and am looking forward to it.

❄️ Continue/start walking again.  As if training for a half marathon wasn’t enough motivation,  I also signed up for the Run The Year Challenge.  My goal is to run and walk 2,024 miles this year.  I know, I know, I said I wasn’t going to set a goal for me.  I like this challenge because both running and walking count towards the goal.

❄️ Recover and stretch.  I have to take care of myself and my body.  It is one of my least favorite things to do but I know I have to do it.

❄️ Strength train.  The NYC Half Marathon is hilly.  Last year I did better than I expected but I know I can do better if I train for it properly and also strength train.  Plus, this will help me be a stronger runner and avoid injuries.

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

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Fit Five Friday and January 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

New Ultimate Coffee DateWelcome to the January edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I got a new domain for my blog.  I do like zenaida.net but wanted something different (the former still works and if you type that, it will direct you to the new one).  I really wanted a .com domain but it wasn’t available – it was over $2,000 to get it.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I was not picked to run the Chicago Marathon this year.  I read that 120,000 people entered the lottery.  I had mixed feelings about it.  I was relieved but at the same time upset.  I was hoping to run it this year but now am wondering if deep down I really, really wanted to run it or was it that I was inspired when I went to spectate in October.  I won’t pick another marathon nor will I apply through a charity, but if I get a bib then that will make me happy.  I plan to spectate again and that is ALWAYS fun.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that on Monday I went to an Amazon Fresh store.  Wow!  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  Not sure why since it is like a regular store.  I liked that I used a code on the Amazon app to get in and exit/pay.  I found a few things on sale and ended up buying all of the Starbucks Holiday Blend K-cups for me and my nieces.  Each box was $5.

I went to another one the next day and the experience was different.  I didn’t need a code to go in.  I had to use the self-checkout or the cashier to pay and exit.  There was a miscommunication with the price of iced coffee and the worker would not give it to for the price that was posted on the wall.  She told me that it was for another type of coffee (same brand) that was sold out but the sign said “All Varieties”.  I went to check again and took a picture of the sign to show her.  Then I showed it to her.  She had to go check again.  I was waiting for her to come back when another worker came by to ask if everything was OK.  I told her what was happening.  She then told me that any price discounts could not be done at the self-checkout and I had to go with a cashier (which the line was LONG).  She knew I was frustrated and proceeded to take care of me at Customer Service.

I know stores like Target would give me any discounts whether I pay with the cashier or a self-checkout.  I don’t understand why the same cannot be done at the Amazon Fresh store.  Overall, I like the stores.  They’re not close to my house but can see myself going again whenever I am in the area.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that today is my last day of Winter Break.  Two weeks off is just what I needed.  Another week would have been nice but oh well.  I created a few draft blog posts and wrote a few posts to be ready to be published.  I also read, watched TV, cuddled with my cats, and took it easy.  Next week I have a Teacher Institute Day on Monday so I won’t see my students until Tuesday.  I did miss them and can’t wait to see them again.

My next long break will be in April for Spring Break and then the last day of school is Thursday, May 30th.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I have unfriended a few people on Facebook.  They weren’t really “friends” but more like acquaintances.  I became friends for a reason but a few of them I’ve never met (I am sure you are asking why I became friends with them in the first place) and others I haven’t seen or talked to in years.  I have a friend that passed away a few years ago and her page is still there.  I want to unfriend her but at the same time I don’t.  There is one person that noticed I unfriended her and she sent me another friend request.  I rarely see her and don’t talk to her so I was very surprised to see another request from her.  I deleted the request.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 things you want to accomplish this year.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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Tuesday Topics: My word for 2024

Tuesday Topics-220HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Welcome to the first edition of Tuesday Topics for 2024!  Jenn and I have fun topics for this year and are excited for you to join us every week.  We will continue to have the last Tuesday of every month to be a FREE Topic.  

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What’s your word for 2024?  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!

Below are the words I’ve had in the past.

2023-Balance

2022-Patience

2021-Joy

Last year my word was “Balance”.  It wasn’t easy but I think I did well last year.

For 2024 I decided my word to be “Self-Care”.  It was hard to pick a word because there are so many great ones.  However, once I saw this word, I knew it was perfect for me.

2024 Word-1

Self-care includes everything related to staying physically healthy — including hygiene, nutrition, and seeking medical care when needed.  It’s all the steps an individual can take to manage stressors in his or her life and take care of his or her own health and well-being.

I feel like I take care of many people and tend to ignore myself.  As I teacher, I am responsible for 20+ students.  They come to me when they do not feel good, when someone bothers them, etc.  My sisters and I take care of my mom.  I take her to her doctor appointments and make sure she has what she needs.  I even have 2 cats to take care of!

Who takes care of me?  No one.  I am responsible for myself.  This year has taken a toll on me and more than once I’ve felt angry, unhappy, and resentful.  I do not want to feel like that anymore.  I am the only one that can make changes (another great word).  I also know I need to make for time for self-care.

Ideas for self-care:

  • Get regular exercise.
  • Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated.
  • Make sleep a priority.
  • Try a relaxing activity.
  • Set goals and priorities.
  • Practice gratitude.
  • Focus on positivity.
  • Stay connected.
  • Listen to music.

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

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Tuesday Topics: December 2023 Review

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your goals for 2024?  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 wrote about my goals for 2023 but also am writing this post to talk about December. 

December, the last month of 2023.  What a month and what a year!  I am currently on Winter Break.  Two weeks off which I desperately need.  I brought some work home and want to get it done this week so I don’t have to think about it next week.  But, if I don’t get to it, then oh well.  

Let me tell you about how December went for me:

Mileage:  So far I’ve run 36.98 and walked 0 miles this month.  I began training for the NYC Half Marathon.  Again, I am following one of Hal Higdon’s plans and will be running 5 days a week.

Current Book:  I love John Grisham and read “The Exchange.”  I was looking forward to it and read it in 3 days.  However, I didn’t care too much about it.  While the story was interesting, I didn’t like the ending.  I know that many times we don’t like the ending, but in this case, it left me confused and with many questions.  Now I am reading “We Are Not Like Them”.  So far so good.  I want to finish it this week.  That will leave me with reading 23 books this year (I am including one that I began reading on 12/30 but finished it in January).

2023 Running Goal:  I said goodbye to my goal to run 800 miles.  This year wasn’t my year for running.  I did the best I could and am OK with it.  As of this morning, I’ve run 493.97 miles this year.  The good news is that that number is higher than last year.

Injuries:  None.  

Races:  None.

Health:  I am doing OK.  Depending on how my day goes, I sleep well and on other days I don’t.  I did feel very tired on Saturday and Sunday.  I took a few naps while taking breaks from reading my book.

School:  Winter Break!

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

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Tuesday Topics: My goals for 2024

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  My goals for 2024.  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 can’t believe 2023 is almost over.  Thanks to everyone for linking up with us this year.  Next year Kim will no longer be hosting this linkup with me, but I hope she will join in the linkup.  My new partner is Jenn and we already have some fun topics for next year.  

Time to start thinking about next year.  Last year I wrote my goals for 2023.  I will update you on how I did and then talk about my goals for next year.

❇️  Complete 500 Peloton rides.  I have no idea how many I actually did.  I cancelled my membership a few months ago because I wasn’t making time for the bike.  Next year I am not sure if I want to start my membership again or sell the bike.

❇️  Run 800 miles.  It wasn’t the year for running.  I did a few races but then lost my motivation to run.  I got busy with work and was lazy too.

❇️  Run at least 5 races.  I did this!  I am pleased with how I did too.

❇️  Do one Peloton activity each day.  Nope.  See the first goal.

❇️  Read 12 books.  Yes!  And I read many great books this year.  Reading and watching TV is my time to unwind and relax.  There were days in which I spent hours in bed reading a book or watching TV.  When I got sick in February, I finished a book in 2 days.

2024 Goals:

➡️ Read 24 books.  

➡️ PR in a race distance.

➡️ Run a half marathon in a different state.

➡️ Don’t procrastinate (too much).

➡️ Switch retirement plan and add more money to it each month.

And that is our last Tuesday Topics of 2023.  A HUGE thank you for joining me and Kim every Tuesday to talk about running and other things not related to running.  I love this group of bloggers!  

Wishing you an (early) Happy New Year!

2024 Happy New Year

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

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