Fit Five Friday – Page 3

05
Jul
2024

Fit Five Friday: 5 things about the 2024 Elmhurst 4 on the 4th

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!

For today’s post, I will write about the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th. I ran this race yesterday and am happy I ran it again.

Here are some fun things about the race:

•I’ve been doing this race since 2013. It was cancelled in 2020 and I skipped it in 2021. More than 10 years of running this race. It is a fun race – there aren’t that many races that are 4 miles.

• 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 am in week 2 of marathon training and actually felt OK during my run. I did better than I thought I would do.

• I didn’t pay attention to pace. I ran by feel and walked when I wanted to walk. I got positive splits and my last two miles were the same pace.

• Packet pick-up is on race day. I love it when races have this option. I know sometimes it isn’t easy to get to packet pickup. I got my bib and shirt and used the port-a-potty one last time before I lined up for the race.

• It made me feel good. I had no goal except to have fun and that is what I did. I was tired at the end but I felt good afterwards finishing a race.

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

05
Jul
2024

Fit Five Friday and July 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the July 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 Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs 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 finally signed up to run the Fargo Half Marathon. It will be on May 31, 2025. However, I’ve been wanting to run the Bank of America Half Marathon and next year the race will be on June 1st. I haven’t made any travel arrangements but am thinking of running the half in Fargo, coming back that same day, and running the other half the next day. Crazy idea?

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you July 4th is a special day for me because it was the day my family and I emigrated from Mexico in 1978. I am grateful for my parents and for everything this country has given me. However, this year I was not feeling very patriotic. I am not going to go in detail but I think you have an idea of what I am referring to.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I ran my 2nd race yesterday. It was warm and humid but I still enjoyed it. This is my second week of training for the Chicago Marathon. Prior to that I wasn’t consistent with my running. I did better than I expected. My finish time was a few seconds worse that last year’s time and that is OK.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am enjoying again my Peloton classes. Last year in June is when I had taken my last class. The new seat is a lifesaver. I am not sore as I was with the other seat. I took an ABBA themed class and LOVED it. I am excited and looking forward to more fun classes.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that on Tuesday I went to the podiatrist. She gave me a bunch of exercises to strengthen the plantar. She also recommended a night splint, custom orthotics, and to do pilates. Whew! It was a lot but I need this injury to go away.

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

21
Jun
2024

Fit Five Friday: 5 favorite moments from January-June 2024

categories: Fit Five Friday

Fit Five Friday-12 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! Today is my second week of Summer School. One more week to go! It is an interesting group. My first week was rough because of the personalities of two girls. One disagrees with pretty much everything I say or or doesn’t want to do. Another one talks back and questions everything I say and do. What shocked me the most is when she answered back with “Why is it a problem that I moved?” It is Summer School and it is supposed to be fun and stress free.

Here are a couple of my favorite moments from the first half of the year.

• Last day of school. It was a wild year with the extra 30 minutes in the day and a new Reading curriculum. I was exhausted and a few times angry. There was a lot of work to do but not enough time. We didn’t receive any training for the new curriculum and I spent HOURS and HOURS going through the program to learn as much as I could about it. I think it paid off!

• Finding out I was picked to run the Chicago Marathon. I entered the lottery but didn’t get picked. A friend of mine ran the NYC Marathon last year through Team TCS Teachers. I submitted an application along with a short essay not expecting to be picked. Imagine my surprise when I saw the email letting me know I was selected to be on the team.

• Running the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. It is one of my favorite races and the unofficial start of the running season in Chicago. I hadn’t been running consistently but I didn’t care. I still wanted to run the race anyway. I didn’t do that great (my worst time in that distance) but I didn’t care either.

• When I got a refund from my dentist. I was shocked when I found out how much I had to pay for a new night guard. But I needed it so I paid for it. I was told my insurance didn’t cover it. Now I wonder if they actually checked. Well, about a week later I received a message from the receptionist telling me that my insurance would in fact cover it and I will receive a check for a refund. It wasn’t for the full amount but pretty close to it.

• Receiving my assignment letter. This letter lets me know where I will be working during the following school year. For the past 10 years, I’ve been in the same school and in the same grade, but two years ago I was moved to a different school (the school was closed). The letter I received this year said that I would be in the same school, in the same grade, and in the same classroom. However, that can all change, but I hope not. I told my Principal that I want to stay in the same school until I retire.

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

07
Jun
2024

Fit Five Friday and June 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the June 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 Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs 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 found out I snore while sleeping. This is new to me. I realized a few months ago and my sister confirmed it. Nothing wrong with it but just surprised.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I will be running the Chicago Marathon in October. I was picked to be on the Team TCS Teacher. While I am happy about it, I was actually surprised when I got the email. The last time I ran a marathon was in 2016. My #1 goal is to finish but am wondering if I can get a PR (5:12:59 from 2016).

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that when I found out I was picked to run the Chicago Marathon, I downloaded an 18-week Hal Higdon training plan. I printed it and added the week dates to it. I was ready to start training next week. Then I saw a post from Mary Johnson on Instagram for a group training program for the marathon. I have worked with her before and signed up for the program. I won’t be working with her, but am excited to work with a coach.

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you ever saw the show “Desperate Housewives”. I remember watching a few episodes but was never a fan. Now I am watching it on Hulu and I am hooked. It is a funny show but sometimes some of the characters get on my nerves. I think Susan is the most annoying one.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you Summer Break is off to a good start. It was nice to not have to work but it felt weird on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday not having the routine of going to work. I am on the School Leadership Team and we had a meeting yesterday and have another one today so I’ve had to go to school. However, no students!

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

24
May
2024

Fit Five Friday: Tips for your first marathon

categories: Fit Five Friday

Fit Five Friday-11 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!

I ran my first marathon in 2006. Since then I’ve run 7 more marathons. Throughout the years I’ve learned a couple of things here and there about training and running a marathon.

• Have fun. Running a marathon is one big party. Take in everything that the crowd offers – from fruit, water, candy, and maybe the alcoholic drinks. Just kidding. Maybe.

• Be prepared for anything. I prepare as best as I can but race day doesn’t always go as we expect it to go. Things such as weather, feeling nervous, bathroom issues, etc. happen.

• Don’t stress too much about the weather. There isn’t much we can do about the weather except to be ready for it. I will always remember the hot weather at the 2007 Chicago Marathon. It was so hot that the race was cancelled.

• Rest and recover. Training for a marathon is a lot on the body. The body needs to recover. We need to sleep and rest to continue to run/train for the marathon.

• Do the long runs. I remember Bart Yasso saying this one time I went to hear him speak a few weeks before the Chicago Marathon. He said that if you are going to skip/miss a run, don’t skip the long run.