HAPPY 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.

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!

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!

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! 

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Your year in photos.   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!

This is one of my favorite posts to write.  I wrote one in 2020, 2021, and 2022.  I had fun reading those posts again and thinking about how much has changed since 2020.

Let’s recap this year.  

January:

⇒ Chose my word of the year:  Balance.  Next year I will let you know how I did.

February:

⇒ Got Covid.  Spent 5 days at home in bed resting with my cats.

March:

⇒ Ran the NYC Half Marathon.

⇒ Ran the Bank of American Shamrock Shuffle 8k.

April:

⇒ Ran the CARA Lakefront 10 Miler.

May:

⇒ Read “Choosing to Run” and loved it!

⇒ Ran the CARA Spring Trail Chase 10k.

June:

⇒ Finished the 2022-2023 school year!

July:

⇒ Read “The Longest Race” and made me love Kara Goucher even more!

August:

⇒ Began the 2022-2023 school year.

September:

⇒ Celebrated my mom’s 80th birthday with a big party.

October:

⇒ Spectated the Chicago Marathon.  It was a fun day!

November:

⇒ Ran 5.1 miles for my 51st birthday.

December:

⇒ Counting down the days till Winter Break!  Friday is my last day.

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

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Show us your year in bling!  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!

This year I ran a total of 5 races compared to 2 in 2022.  I ran one out of state, the NYC Half Marathon, and am planning on running it again next year.

Here are my races and medals:

⇒ NYC Half Marathon – It was a great race but hilly and also tough!  I know now to train for those hills.

⇒ Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle – This is one of my favorite races and I LOVE it!  For some reason I cannot find my medal.

⇒ CARA Lakefront 10 Miler – Another medal picture with beer.  You can say that I do like my beer after a race.

⇒ CARA Spring Trail Chase 10k – My first time running this race.  I enjoyed the distance and the course.  It was sunny and warm day but liked that I ran in shorts and a tank top.  No medal and I am OK with it.

⇒ Elmhurst Running 4 on the 4th – No medal and no picture.  I remember my sister went with me but cannot remember why I didn’t take any pictures.  But I did run!

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