Tuesday Topics – Zenaida Arroyo

27
May
2025

Tuesday Topics: May 2025 in Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

Happy Tuesday! 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 how May went for me:

Mileage: I ran the first half of the month and then stopped. I am not sure why, but I hope this is temporary. This month I ran 14.43 and walked 2.82 miles. It was less than last month, but there are still a few more days this month to catch up.

Run the Year 2025: I signed up to run and walk 2,025 miles this year. I don’t know how many miles I’ve completed and won’t check for a few months. I know the number is really low. I will check once I’ve been running and walking consistently.

Current Book: I finished reading “The Unhoneymooners” and am currently reading “The Midnight Library”. I enjoyed the former book and am enjoying the latter book. Reading this book has me thinking about what my life would be if I had made different choices in my life.

Injuries: None. Sometimes I do feel some pain/stiffness in the hip area.

Races: None. However, this month I signed up for the 4 on the 4th race in July. I am excited about it.

Health: For the most part I am feeling OK. The weight goes up and down. I have been feeling more tired these past couple of days. Is catching up on sleep really a thing?

School: I am finally done with school! Hallelujah!!

What I am looking forward to next month: To relax. To catch up on my reading. To continue and maybe finish organizing my house. I love saying that- my house.

The topic for next week – How will you celebrate Global Running Day? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

29
Apr
2025

Tuesday Topics: April 2025 in Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

Happy Tuesday! 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 how April went for me:

Mileage: I started running again! Prior to this, my last run was on January 2nd. I didn’t feel like running in the snow/cold weather, so I didn’t. While it is Spring here, we still have our chilly days now, but at least it isn’t cold anymore. This month I ran 15.77 and walked 5.27 miles. It isn’t much, but I am slowly getting back to it.

Run the Year 2025: I signed up to run and walk 2,025 miles this year. I don’t know how many miles I’ve completed and won’t check for a few months. I know the number is really low. I will check once I’ve been running and walking consistently.

Current Book: I finished reading “What the Fireflies Knew” and am currently reading “The School for Good Mothers”. The latter book – WOW! I am not a mother and the things I am reading in the book make me scratch my head.

Injuries: None. However, I was a little stiff when I started running again. I am doing run/walk intervals.

Races: None.

Health: For the most part I am feeling OK. I’ve lost a couple of pounds, but still have a way to go.

I had some blood work done through Inside Tracker. I was worried about my HbA1c, but it came back normal. Cholesterol levels (LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides) are high, but they’re a little lower than from the last time I was tested in December. Baby steps.

School: It is the same song here. I am counting down till the last day of school! We have 18 days to go

What I am looking forward to next month: The last day of school!

The topic for next week – Mother’s Day gift guide (mom, sister, friend, etc). Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

22
Apr
2025

Tuesday Topics: Five Tuesday Prompts, Part 4

categories: Prompts, Tuesday Topics

Happy Tuesday! Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics. Remember to link up with us! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Don’t forget to come back for later linkers!

Here is another post with some interesting prompts in the Jetpack app. Ready?

• If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why? I would like to be the School Superintendent. There are many days that I do not understand the decisions he makes. I know it isn’t an easy job, but I think it will help me understand his decision-making.

• Where would you go on a shopping spree? Menards and Marshalls! They’ve been my favorite stores since January. I know I didn’t mention this before, but the reason I haven’t unpacked all of my boxes is because I am doing some renovations in the basement and there is no room for the boxes. The renovation is about 80% done. Anyway, right now almost all of my purchases have come from both stores. I’ve had to buy almost everything new since a lot of stuff I had before was already old.

• If you could have something named after you, what would it be? A school. Though sometimes I wonder if it will be a cool name for a school. My name not common and hard to pronounce.

• What are you most worried about for the future? I know there are bigger problems out there right now, but I will be selfish and think about me right now. I worry about what is going to happen to me when I am older and cannot take care of myself. As you know, my sisters and I take care of my mom. It is a lot of work – mostly mental.

• If you could host a dinner and anyone you invite was sure to come, who would you invite? I would invite Barack and Michelle Obama, Des Linden and Kara Goucher. The first two might not come, but if I promise them a delicious home-cooked Mexican meal, then hopefully they would come.

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

15
Apr
2025

Tuesday Topics: Running in the rain

categories: Tuesday Topics

Happy Tuesday! Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics. Remember to link up with us! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Don’t forget to come back for later linkers!

I have a love/hate relationship with running in the rain. I don’t mind it when it is hot and the rain cools me down. However, on a cold day, I don’t want anything else cold touching my body.

I have skipped a run just because it was raining. Add in lightning and thunder and for sure I will skip it too.

For those runs in the rain, I make sure to wear the following.

• Waterproof or water resistant jacket. I have several and a few that are insulated.

• Moisture-wicking clothes. I learned the hard way to never wear cotton on a run.

• Hat with a brim. I need to see where I am going so this hat protects from eyes from the rain.

• Gloves. To keep my hands warm.

• Anti-chafing balm. I chafed so bad when I ran the RnR Nashville Half Marathon. It rained throughout the entire race. I didn’t realize I had chafed until I was in the shower.

The topic for next week – Are spring allergies affecting your running? How are you dealing with it? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

08
Apr
2025

Tuesday Topics: The Boston Marathon is no longer on my running bucket list

categories: Tuesday Topics

Happy Tuesday! Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics. Remember to link up with us! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Don’t forget to come back for later linkers!

The Boston Marathon! I cannot wait to watch it on TV. I was supposed to be in Boston to spectate it, but I will no longer do that. One day. One day, right?

I have a better chance of spectating it than to actually run it. For a few years the Boston Marathon was on my bucket list. I clearly remember a few days before I ran my first marathon in 2006, I told a coworker that I wanted to BQ before I turned 40. I was 33 years old. I had no idea what I was talking about. I didn’t know that a BQ and actually running the marathon were two different things. My coworker smiled. She also knew I had no idea what I was talking about.

I went back through previous posts and found one where I began training to train to train to train for a BQ. This was in April of 2017. At that time I needed 3 hours and 55 minutes for a BQ. Now I need 3 hours and 50 minutes.

The race was still on my bucket list. I wrote about it in several posts. But now I wonder if I really wanted to run the race or was it because it was everyone’s dream to run the Boston Marathon?

I know I will never qualify. I am not a fast runner and don’t see myself getting faster as I get older. Below are the times for the 2026 marathon. Even if I qualify, there is no guarantee that I will actually run the Boston Marathon.

I thought about going the charity route, but the thought of asking money doesn’t sound appealing. I did that a few times for the Chicago Marathon and I don’t want to do it again.

A few years ago there was a program for teachers to apply. I did and wasn’t picked. I know there are other programs offered by brands that pick runners, but I know I won’t get picked.

So, the Boston Marathon is no longer on my running bucket list. Heck, running a marathon is no longer on my list either. 🙂 I am OK with that decision. I want to focus on smaller races. I was going to say to also get a PR, but I don’t want to pressure myself. I want to enjoy my runs and my races. I still have a few more states to run in to finish my quest of running a half marathon in every state.

For now I will enjoy Marathon Monday and watch it from the comfort of my home or school.

The topic for next week – Rain Date: Give your tips for running in those April showers. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Category: Tuesday Topics