Ambassador – Page 6 – Zenaida Arroyo

Category: Ambassador

14
Sep
2017

Friday Five 2.0-Run Mag Mile Race Recap

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Friday Five 2.0, Race Recap, Running

Disclaimer: I received free race entry to the Run Mag Mile 10K 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!

On Sunday I ran a 10K. And it was so much fun!

I picked up my packet after school on Friday. It took me one hour to get to Fleet Feet in Old Town and then 1 1/2 hours to get back home. Definitely not happy about it but all of that went away when I saw the hoodie in my bag. 🙂 It fits well and I love the color.

Run Mag Mile 1

The race began at 7am so I woke up early to get ready and drink coffee with my Clif Bar. Usually when there is a race downtown I drive to the train station, leave my car there, and take the train. This time I drove and parked about half a mile from the start line. Now I have a new parking spot and it it FREE!!

On my way to the start line. It was a bit chilly in the morning but then it was perfect for running. I never got hot but just felt very comfortable.

I saw Heather, a fellow Oiselle girl and BibRave Pro Ambassador. I also saw a couple of other friends before the race.

Run Mag Mile 5

Then it was time to run! Part of the course was running down Michigan Avenue. This reminded me of Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas where you also run down the strip.

Run Mag Mile 6

Run Mag Mile 7

Saw this along the course.

Run Mag Mile 8

Even though I was feeling great, I did think about switching to the 5k. Glad I didn’t.

Run Mag Mile 9

I enjoyed running along the lakefront except for the wind. Gosh, it was terrible but surprisingly I kept running and stopped for a few seconds at the turnaround point.

Run Mag Mile 10

Run Mag Mile 11

Run Mag Mile 12 Done. I checked my splits and was surprised because I ran faster than I thought I could run. It isn’t a PR but I definitely enjoyed this race. Official finish time is 1:07:09.

Run Mag Mile 13

Run Mag Mile 14

Run Mag Mile 16

Post race every runner got a box with food. The chicken sausage was delicious!

Run Mag Mile 15

Can you tell I am happy to be done?

Would I do it again? Absolutely! And here are 5 reasons.

The hoodie. I like how it looks, fits, and feels.
The medal. And it is a big one!
The food and beer. I enjoyed everything in the box. Also, I didn’t take a picture but each runner had a ticket for one drink, Revolution Brewery beer or a Moscow Mule (I picked the beer).
The course. It was never crowded. Plenty of room for everyone. The best part was running on Michigan Avenue.
FREE race photos. I love a race that provids free race photos even if many times we don’t like how we look. 🙂

I’m linking up with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for Friday 2.0.

Hoping everyone had a good week!

fridayfive

10
Sep
2017

Brilliant Reflective, my latest favorite running song, and I am still running.

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Product Review, Running, Running Gear, Weekly Recap

Disclaimer: I received Brilliant Reflective Safety Strips to try and review 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 rarely run when it is dark. During the summer it is bright as early as 5am and doesn’t get dark till about 8:30pm. The few times I run while it is dark, I wear a reflective vest and a headlamp. I was more than happy to test and review Brilliant Reflective Safety Strips. The company sent me both Iron-On and Stick-On strips.

So what exactly are these strips? They’re pieces of tape that you can stick on to your gear so that when light hits you, you are seen. They’re easy to peel and can be placed on pretty much all of your running gear such as shoes, shirts, hats. They’re available in black, red, blue, and purple so they either blend in or stand out.

My niece liked them on her shoes.

I used them in my shirt, shoes, and running hat.

I will admit that I removed them from my shoes to put on another pair and somehow one of the strips fell off during my race. However, they stayed on the shirts even after washing them.

I haven’t used the Iron-On strips but am excited to use them on my Oiselle Power Stretch Beanie and Softshell Gloves. <<Definitely not ready for cold weather as I am enjoying the cool and fall like weather we are having in Chicago.

Join us on Tuesday, September 12th as BibRave and Brilliant Reflective will be hosting a #BibChat at 8pm CST. Come by and chat with us about this great product and you’ll have a chance to win some of your own.

My latest running song is “Mi Gente”. Have you heard it? Not a big fan of the video but I do like the beat and it makes me want to dance too. 🙂

I had some great runs this week. Monday and Tuesday was 5.02 miles. Fall weather is here and that makes the runs much more enjoyable. I was pleased and surprised with my negative splits!

On Saturday I ran the Run Mag Mile 10K. It was so much fun! The weather was perfect and it was fun running down Michigan Avenue (it reminded me of RnR Las Vegas when the strip was closed for the race). I didn’t get a PR (old one is from 2010) but I ran faster than I thought I could and also had a blast. I think that definitely counts more than a PR, right? 🙂

So what did you think of the song “Mi Gente”? What is your favorite running song now?

I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap. This week’s host is Sara @ Sara Runs This Town. Please stop by her blog and show her some love!

Hoping everyone had a good week!

26
Aug
2017

Under Armour Horizon RTT shoes, back to work, and a giveaway!

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Product Review, Running, Running Gear, Teaching, Weekly Recap

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Under Armour Horizon RTT Trail Running Shoes to review 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 don’t normally run on the trail. However, when I was training for the Lake Michigan Marathon, I would do my long runs on the trail. I wanted a different place than running along the lakefront. Also, I realized that I would recover much faster when running on the trail. Plus, there is a certain smell (dirt) that comes with it. It may sound weird but it is true and I actually enjoyed it.

Last month I received a pair of Under Armour Horizon RTT trail running shoes. Under Armour reminds me of Michael Phelps (and his cool video) and running clothes. Definitely not running shoes nor trail shoes. I was still very interested to check them out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh9jAD1ofm4

The Horizon RTT comes in 5 colors. I picked marlin blue/neptune and I love the color .

Product DNA (from the UA website)

Durable PU & textile upper for breathability & reliable protection
Reinforced welded synthetic material in critical areas for increased durability
Mesh heel with dual protective welds
Molded collar foam package for added comfort
Charged Cushioning® foam puck placed under the heel for responsive comfort
Lightweight, full-length EVA midsole for optimal cushioning
High traction rubber lug outsole for dependable traction on a variety of conditions
Offset: 7mm
Weight: 9.2 oz.
Imported

While they weren’t heavy, they felt more stiff than my regular running shoes. My first run in them hurt my right foot.

A few more runs in them and the shoes feel a little bit more comfortable.

While they’re primarily trail shoes, they also did well on the road.

I also wore them to work (in my skirt). 🙂 I like that they’re wide enough for my feet.

Check out these lugs! I have a feeling these will be great to run in the snow.

Overall, I am pleased with my shoes. My only regret is not sizing up. I wear a 9.5 and remember reading some people suggesting to size up. I don’t know why I didn’t. I have been wearing thin socks and no longer run more than 5 miles in them.

Monday was my first day back at work. In the morning I worked in my room and then parents dropped off school supplies from 9-10 am. Then meetings, lunch, and another meeting in another building. Long day. Thankfully we had a break to see the eclipse. It was cloudy but did manage to see a bit of it.

Tuesday was more meetings. It went by fast. I couldn’t stay late because I had a doctor appointment for my yearly checkup. I had to step on the scale and was very surprised at the number. No, it didn’t go down but instead went down. I was tired so I didn’t really care. But now I do.

My first day with the kids was Wednesday. Some of the teachers used chalk to write messages for them. Pretty cool!

I have 24 students in my room. Wow! At the end of the day I wanted to cry. I was exhausted. My back, feet, and legs hurt. I have a rough group of kids. I remember my first year and it wasn’t that bad. These kids talk a lot and don’t know when to stop talking. They’re also distracted and looking elsewhere but me.

The next two days were rough too. Something new this year is that the kids eat breakfast in the lunchroom. They come in at 8:30am, grab breakfast (if they want), and go to the classroom. They have 15 minutes to put stuff in their locker and eat. It isn’t enough time because they like to talk which in the morning is fine but they also need to eat. In the meantime I take attendance and track who ate breakfast and who brought a lunch. The kids need to stop eating at 8:45, throw away the garbage, and clean up because at 8:50 they have a special (gym, media, art, gym, or computers).

I know the first couple of days/weeks are rough. I am ready for that. I need to remember those moments that make teaching so worth it.

Now time for a giveaway! The winner will receive a Momentum Jewelry inspire-ring. I have one and love it.

Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. This giveaway will run until September 2 at 11:59 pm. The giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be contacted via the email address associated with their Rafflecopter account and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. All entries are verified, so please be sure to complete them or a new, random winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you prefer road or trail running? Or both?

I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap. This week’s host is Teresa @ Finding Fabulous at Fifty . Please stop by her blog and show her some love!

Hoping everyone had a good week!

20
Aug
2017

Dry scalp, race discounts, and classroom setup.

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Running, Weekly Recap

I hope the term “dry scalp” didn’t make you cringe. I’ve suffered from it for years. I think part of it is my fault. I finally wised up and am not having problems with it anymore.

I was one of those people that would wash my hair EVERY SINGLE DAY. Yep, winter, spring, summer, and fall. I know, definitely not good. I used various shampoos to help relieve the itchiness and dryness but nothing helped. Someone suggested Yes to Naturals Tea Tree & Sage Oil Scalp Relief Shampoo and Conditioner and to stop washing it everyday. What? But I sweat a lot and run a lot. How can I not wash my hair? That is just GROSS!! I decided to wash my hair every other day and to just rinse my hair on the days that I don’t wash it. It’s been about 3 weeks and my scalp feels so much better.

Check out my new discounts page HERE. There are a few Rock ‘n’ Roll coming up so make sure to use code “BIBRAVE15″ to save $15 off your race entry. Want to run a Hot Chocolate race? There are also quite a few of them in various cities. When you sign up you can get a BONUS Hot Chocolate branded cap. But each city has a different code so make sure to check out my discounts page.

My room is almost done. I went back to set it up Monday-Wednesday. I had a meeting on Tuesday so could only set up for a few hours. I decided that I would finish as much as I could by Wednesday because I didn’t want to go again till Monday. I still have a few more things to do but will get it done when I go back.

Can you tell that I like pens and Ticonderoga pencils. If you have kids in school, buy those pencils for them.

I also managed to run a couple of days. Monday afternoon I came home tired and took a nap. Then I debated on whether to run or not. Glad I did! I wore my new Oiselle reflective top. For sure drivers saw me on the street!

I ran Thursday, Saturday and Sunday again on the lakefront. Total mileage for this week is 18.06.

It feels good not to have a specific running plan to follow. I have two races in September that I am excited about: Run Mag Mile on September 9 and Chicago Half Marathon/5K on September 24. Check out the sweet swag for these races!

2017 Chicago Half and 5K 1 — Source: http://www.chicagohalfmarathon.com/

Tomorrow is back to work. Summer break is definitely over. 🙂

I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap. This week’s host is Madhuri @ Ponder ‘N’ Wonder. Please stop by her blog and show her some love!

Hoping everyone had a good week!

08
Aug
2017

New shorts and shoes, a deer, and a 10k!

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

I’ve been adding posts about my Alaska trip to my running cruise page. You can find the posts HERE on the bottom of the page.

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I didn’t do much running last week. 19.46 miles to be exact.

Five miles on Monday wearing new Oiselle shorts. My favorite shorts and I have about 15 pairs.

On Wednesday I did a speed workout (1M Warm Up; 12×1 min @95% effort w/1 min jog rest; and 1M Cool Down). It was easier than expected and I was actually smiling throughout the run.

A friend of mine posted on Instagram her mileage for July and mentioned that her race was in 5 weeks. She is doing the 50k while I do the marathon. THAT COMPLETELY FREAKED ME OUT! I don’t feel ready. I don’t remember feeling like this last year and my training was MORE intense.

Saturday’s 4 mile run went well. I saw my former coach and I mentioned how I had been feeling (not motivated, no longer want to do marathon, and how I don’t want to run anymore). I told her that I had 16 miles on Sunday and was going to see how I did/felt before making a decision on whether or not to run the marathon. Well, Sunday came and I managed to run 6 miles. There is no way I would feel ready in 4 weeks. I was feeling so many emotions but the two that topped the list were FAILURE and EMBARRASSMENT. I also felt like a fool and a loser. Here I am going on and on about training for a marathon and hoping to eventually get a BQ, etc, etc., and I am already quitting. Who does that?

No marathon for me next month. I still want to run the Boston Marathon but for now will focus on strength training and swimming. I still plan to run but just for fun. I signed up to run the Run Mag Mile (10k for me) on September 9 and the Chicago Half Marathon and 5k (5k for me) on September 24.

I saw this deer on Sunday morning and it made me smile.

I got these new Brooks Launch 3.

And two pairs of the Launch 4. I know, I have a problem, and need an intervention. Help!

Sign up today to run the Run Mag Mile with me on September 9. Use code “BibRaveMM17” for a BONUS water bottle! Check out the hoodie and the 10k medal. I’ve never done this race and am looking forward to it!

Linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.