This week’s Tuesday Topic:  My six favorites of 2022.  You can write about this 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! 

2022 was quite a year!  It meant back to the classroom with students and going to work in a new school.  There were also some wonderful things that took place.  Here are some of my favorites.

 Favorite Day:  My birthday!  I turned 50 and am still fifty and fabulous.  😊 I wasn’t going to do anything to celebrate but then I decided why not.  I will not turn 50 again.

 Favorite race atmosphere:  I didn’t run the Chicago Marathon but I had so much fun being a spectator.  Ha, it is much more fun than running it.

 Favorite Cat Photo:  Between my two cats, I don’t have a favorite.  I love them both.  Lola is definitely more cuddly and follows me around like a kid.  Mateo is the one in the picture.  It was sometime last year that he began sleeping next to me.  This was during one of my naps and he got comfortable with me.  ❤️ ❤️

 Favorite Race:  I ran two races, Shamrock Shuffle 8k and 4 on the 4th of July, and I loved both of them.  I hadn’t run a race since February 2020.

 Favorite Purchase:  My Noxgear lamp!  It is bright and I love it.  The left photo is high, the middle is low, and the right is no light.

 Favorite Book:  I didn’t keep track of all of the books I read but “Mary Jane” is one of my favorites.  It is funny and somehow gave me a good feeling while reading it.  I loved Mary Jane but loved Izzy even more.  She is an adorable little girl.  Now I am using Goodreads to keep track of the books I read.

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

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  It’s Valentine’s Day. Share why you love running.  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! 

Happy Valentine’s Day!  While I won’t be out there celebrating with a significant other, I will spend it at home with my cats whom I love very much and they both love me too.

Now let’s talk about running.  What’s not to love about running?  Let me tell you what I love about running.

❤️ The gear.  I have lots of tops and bottoms to run in all 4 seasons.  Let’s not forget the running shoes.  I went through a phase in which I had boxes and boxes of shoes but now I have calmed down. 

❤️ Meeting up with friends.  I run alone in the morning but I love seeing and meeting up with friends at races.

❤️ Traveling.  I’ve traveled to over 40 states to run a half marathon.  I still need to travel to South Carolina, Kansas, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, New Mexico, and Hawaii.  The two states I’ve traveled the most to are Florida and California because of the RunDisney races.  In November, I would like to run again in Florida for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  When I ran it a few years ago, it rained the WHOLE time and I was miserable.

❤️ Feels good.  Sometimes I do get tired from running but many times it feels good.  I love running in the morning because I know I am doing something good for myself and my body. 

❤️ Support and encouragement.  As I’ve mentioned before, I do run alone.  But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have any running friends.  We may not all live in the same state, but we are there for each other.  They’re the best! 

Topic for next week – Your six favorites of 2022. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Things I saw on my last run.  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 didn’t run last week because of the weather.  I didn’t want to deal with it.  So this post is based on a run and walk I did this morning.  I ran for 20 minutes (walked more towards the end) and then walked for 13 minutes.  Below is what I saw.

I live very close to Midway Airport.  Every time I see an airplane, I wonder where it is coming from or where it is traveling to.  Makes me more excited about my trips this year.

I am not religious but I know many Mexicans love the Virgin Mary.  The statue is inside a glass cage with color-changing lights.

The stillness of the morning.  I love being outside and alone during this time.  Sometimes I think and sometimes I enjoy listening to Matty.  The photo includes the train (Orange Line) which goes downtown and then goes around a loop to go to the airport.

I love how festive they get for each holiday.  It is hard to see but they have red and white lights/arches for Valentine’s Day.

I didn’t see Mateo outside but I saw him as soon as I came home.  It looks like I interrupted his sleep.

Not very exciting right?  🤣 🤣

Topic for next week – It’s Valentine’s Day. Share why you love running. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are you looking forward to this year?  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! 

A new year and a new word.  I am definitely looking forward to this year.  These past couple of years have been interesting; hopefully, things will pick up and become more exciting.

Here are a few things I am looking forward to this year:

❇️ Travel.  My last trip was in February 2020 to run the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon.  This year I am planning a trip to NYC and Washington, DC.  I am hoping too to travel to Mexico with my mom.  Once I get more information about a Summer program I did last year, then I will book our flights.  The plan is to stay there for 2-3 weeks.

❇️ Read more books.  Not because of my goal, but because I like to read.

❇️ Running more races.  Thinking about it makes me more excited.  I would like to run a race in all distances except the marathon.  Hopefully, when I finish my race in Washington, DC, I can start working again with a coach.  I would love to PR in one or two race distances.  

❇️ Doing more fun things.  It is all about balance.  I’ve been staying in touch with friends via text every day.  I know ideally, it will be best to meet in person but it isn’t always possible.  At least we are having some good conversations and laughs.  Anyway, going back to doing more fun things, I love musicals and would like to see 1 or 2 this year.  Chicago is a great city with many things to see and do.  This Summer I  would like to drive downtown or take the train to sightsee or just hang out.

❇️ The end of the school year.  Is it too early to think about it?  I do like my job.  Teaching is fun.  I enjoy my students, but everything else makes it so hard.  We give so many assessments and it is just ridiculous.  Our students are still behind (we do not need an assessment to tell us that) and that time could be better used for teaching.

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