Ambassador – Zenaida Arroyo

Category: Ambassador

25
Aug
2020

Tuesday Topics: California Coast 500 Virtual Challenge Part 2

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Tuesday Topics

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the California Coast 500 Virtual Challenge as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

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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!

Back in June I wrote about the California Coast 500 Virtual Challenge. It was 3 months into the quarantine life. I was looking for something motivating and exciting to do while in quarantine and this looked like the perfect challenge!

This challenge was to run 100, 250, 400 or 500 virtual miles from LA’s Santa Monica Pier to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge along California’s idyllic Highway One. It began June 8th and ends September 7th. I signed up for 250 miles which is about 84 miles each month.

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So, as you know from Sunday’s post, I am not running. Since I began this challenge, I was on track to complete it last week. My last run was August 15 in which I had run 223.6 miles. Most likely I won’t complete the challenge. I have a doctor appointment on Friday (for my yearly exam) and I will double check with her (she told me it was OK to see her). I want to do the right thing but I am also itching to run outside.

The California Coast 500 Virtual Challenge is a fun and great virtual race. Let me tell you why:

✅ Weekly email from the race organizers. Each email came with digital badges and mini challenges to win prizes (i.e. log 24 total miles from Monday 6/29 to Sunday 7/5 or log 50 miles during Week 9 of the California Coast 500). I didn’t win but it was still fun to enter to win a prize.

✅ Motivation from my BibRave Pro friends! I am in awe of those that selected to run 500 miles and finished weeks ago. There are 6 of us on the team and my coach, Juan, and I are the only ones that close the 250 mile challenge. I am close to San Luis Obispo.

✅ Thanks to the team at PWR Lab, there was an interactive map to keep track of the mileage. It was fun seeing how far along everyone was on the route.

✅ Support from Run Local.

California Coast 500 Virtual Race-10 This was from an email I received on June 24. KK Fischer finished in about 2 weeks. Wow!

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While I am sad that I won’t complete it, I am glad I signed up for it. I was motivated to get out there and run. On the days I did not want to run, I reminded myself of this challenge and knew that every mile helped (or .10, .18, etc). I am not sure what I will do once this is over. I’m having a great training session with my coach and hope to continue, but don’t think I will sign up for virtual races or challenges.

09
Jun
2020

Tuesday Topics: California Coast 500 Virtual Challenge

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Tuesday Topics

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This week’s Tuesday Topic: Working out on vacation tips. You can write about this topic or 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!

I’m deviating from this week’s topic to write about a new challenge I am doing now. The future of races is up in the air. Who knows when we’ll race again. Right now virtual races is really all that we can do right now. I like them now. They have kept me motivated and accountable so I make sure to get out there and run!

With the California Coast 500 Virtual Challenge you challenge yourself to run 100, 250, 400 or 500 virtual miles this summer from LA’s Santa Monica Pier to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge along California’s idyllic Highway One. You get 3 months (June 8 to September 7) to complete the challenge. I signed up for 250 miles which is about 84 miles each month.

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Along the way you can maintain your motivation with custom content, mini-challenges, digital badge awards, and bespoke California swag. All participants will also receive:

√ an official California Coast 500 Race Shirt
√ one of four finisher’s medals at 100, 250, 400 and 500 miles
√ awesome content and opportunities to share where you #runlocal

Check out the medal you get after completing the challenge.

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Thanks to the team at PWR Lab, there is an interactive map for you to keep track of your goal. On a team? You’re covered as well. You’ll be able to filter the leaderboard to see those closest to you, so you can encourage each other up Highway 1. I am on the BibRave Pros Team so you can see me along with my team members.

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There are 5 in the team. Juan and I ran 3 miles yesterday so we are close together at the end.

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There is also a relay team option so you can team up with family & friends and work towards 500 miles together!

To sign up, go to https://runlocalevents.com/california/. Make sure to use “BIBRAVE10” good for 10% off.

Source: https://runlocalevents.com/california/

17
Dec
2019

Tuesday Topics: Turtle Gloves Lightweight Turtle-Flip Convertible Running Mittens Review

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Product Review, Tuesday Topics

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Turtle Gloves Lightweight Turtle-Flip Convertible Running Mittens as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

Tuesday Topics-22.jpg This week’s Tuesday Topic: How do you cool down after a run? You can write about this topic or 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!

I’m deviating from this week’s topic to write a review about the Turtle Gloves Lightweight Turtle-Flip Convertible Running Mittens. I am always looking for new running gear to stay warm during the Winter. When the opportunity came to try out these gloves, I immediately signed up.

I was sent a prototype of the new running mittens. When I received them, I was a bit disappointed because I was expecting them to be thicker. I mean, running mittens have to be thick to keep your hands warm, right? Never judge a book by its cover. After my first run I knew these gloves were perfect for those cold days of running.

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The mittens are made of polartec material. They’re also wind and water resistant. My hands never felt cold on my runs. As a matter of fact, my hands were a bit sweaty! Not a problem. I didn’t have to take my gloves off but instead just convert them to a fingerless glove. See the video below.

Two things I was not crazy about:

⇒ 1) The color. They’re an ugly and boring gray. I made a face when I saw them. Then I remembered that were a prototype and were made specifically for us to review. Definitely cannot get picky about the colors. 🙂

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⇒ They were too big. I ordered a medium and should have asked for a small. Obviously that was my fault. I used my watch on my left hand to tie the glove. The gloves need an elastic around the wrist for a more comfortable fit.

Overall, they’re great gloves. They’re thin but also wind and water resistant. They keep my hands warm which is all I ever want from a pair of running gloves.

These have not yet been released. You can still go to the website to check out the other styles that they offer. Remember, use promo code TURTLEGLOVESBR to save 15% on your order!

29
Oct
2019

Tuesday Topics: Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon Race Recap

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Race all 50 states, Race Recap, Tuesday Topics

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

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!

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On October 20th, I ran the Detroit Free Press/TCF Half Marathon. It was my 73rd half marathon. It was also state #42 in my goal to run a half marathon in each state.

I left Saturday morning and arrived in Detroit at 1:00. Once there I took an Uber to the hotel to check in and left for the expo. I stayed at the Rivertown Inn and Suites on Jefferson and Rivard. It was an OK place to stay. What I liked about it is that the expo and start line were less than a mile away.

The expo was fun with lots of vendors. I signed up for the International race so I had to show my passport in order to get my bib.

I tried on some shoes but didn’t buy any. 🙂 Although these felt more comfortable than another pair of Ghost 12 that I had but sent back.

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I bought 3 pairs of Balega socks (it was buy 3 pairs and get one free) and an R3 foot roller.

Race morning I woke up tired. My neighbors next door were loud and it took me a while to go to sleep. I got ready and made some UCAN gel for before the race and during the race. Then I went to the lobby because the clerk told me when I checked in on Saturday that there would be breakfast for the runners. I ate a waffle as big as my face with coffee. I walked with another girl to the start line while eating my UCAN. It took us about 15 minutes to get there.

One bathroom break and it was time to run. I was happy and excited. I almost skipped the race because my left foot had been bothering me so much that it hurt to walk. I blamed it on my inserts. I have two different pairs – one in my shoes for running and another in the ones for running. I switched them and hoped that I made the right decision.

The race began at 7am. It was dark. I didn’t worry about it too much and concentrated on my run. I was feeling good. The beginning of the race was in downtown Detroit. I couldn’t really see my watch but knew that I was going faster than I was supposed to. Still I kept running. I was determined to enjoy and finish the race no matter what.

Then came the incline to the Ambassador Bridge. It was long. I was beginning to feel tired. I stopped to take a few pictures because the view was gorgeous.

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Running in Canada was so much fun! Lots of spectators cheering for us. I was running in Windsor, Canada while on the left was the Detroit River and left to it was Detroit. How awesome is that?!?!

My foot began to bother me. My longest training run was 6 miles so I was beginning to feel more tired. I didn’t want to remember this race as one in which I was in pain. Instead, I wanted to remember it as the race where I ran in two different countries. I soaked it all in. The weather was perfect and I loved seeing the Canadians cheering for us. So I kept going.

My time in Canada was coming to an end as I entered the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel which is under the Detroit River. Someone warned me that it would be hot in there. It wasn’t too hot but I did warm up a little bit. Love the middle picture with both flags!

Towards the end of the tunnel is another slight incline.

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You know what I am going to say now, right? I was hurting. I felt even more tired. I wanted the race to be over. I still had about 4 miles to go. I kept going. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake in running the race. Well, at that point there wasn’t anything to do but to keep going. I am smiling in my pictures but pictures can be deceiving, right? 🙂

I ran and walked the last 4 miles. We were back downtown and I remember thinking that I was going be done soon. I could see more people lined up on the sidewalk. I could hear the announcer and knew I was close to the finish line. I kept running till I finally finished.

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I enjoyed this race and would love to do it again. And this time hopefully not be dealing with an injury. It took me a few days to recover from the race but I don’t regret running it. My quads hurt a lot. I felt like I had run a marathon. The weather was perfect, there were a lot of water stations (there were signs letting you know how far the next water station was), and the volunteers were wonderful. Every runner also gets free race photos (low resolution but still free). Oh and the best part was running in CANADA!!!!

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The swag bag had a long sleeve shirt, a pair of gloves, and a race wrap.

I am pleased with how I did. I enjoyed the race and finished it. That is all I wanted. Oh, and I got mostly positive splits. Isn’t that the way to do it? 🙂 And yes I did run with my passport and no a border patrol agent didn’t stop me to check it.

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If you are planning to do this race, I hope I convinced you to do it. Save the date as next year it will be on October 18. There is also a marathon if you want to run more than 13.1 miles.

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18
Dec
2018

2019 Running Plans

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Running, Tuesdays on the Run

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the Missoula Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

I am excited to be planning my race calendar for next year. My knee is much better. I took a week off from running and ran a few times last week. It doesn’t hurt to run but do feel some stiffness. But overall it does feel so much better.

So far here is my list:

• Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans, February 10 – I’ve done this race before and have enjoyed it a lot. However, next year I don’t know if I will make it after all. My training hasn’t been going great. I am waiting to hear back from my coach to see if I can still make it or not.

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• Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K, March 24 – This is one of my favorite races! I love the distance and the location.

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• Delaware Festival Marathon, April 28 – I am looking forward to running in a new state! Kim is the one who told me about it.

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• Missoula Half Marathon, June 30 – Another race in a new state! This race is flat, fast, and point-to-point. The course looks so pretty! Check out the video below. If you want to sign up, use code BibRave19 to save $5 off your registration fee.