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!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What’s your plan to achieve your 2023 goals?  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!

In December I wrote about my 2023 goals.  Let me tell you how I plan to achieve these goals. 

 Complete 500 Peloton rides.  To date, I’ve done 359 classes.  I need 141 additional classes which is about 12 classes per month.  It can be done.

 Run 800 miles.  It was tempting to make this number again 1,200 or 1,000, but who am I kidding?  I want to be a bit more realistic.  800 miles is about 67 per month.  I am starting slowly and hopefully can soon ramp up the mileage.  I know someone that has a goal of 2,023 miles, but it includes running and walking.  That is tempting too!

 Run at least 5 races.  I am signed up for two but have been eyeing a couple more: 4 on the 4th of July, Lakefront 10 Miler, and Soldier Field 10 Mile.  I also need to start looking into my goal of running a half marathon in each state.  I have 8 more to go: South Carolina, Kansas, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota,  Idaho, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

 Do one Peloton activity each day.  Many of you know this but there are many Peloton classes.  On the days I don’t run, I take either a walking or meditation class.  I know I can do more.  Once I figure out a schedule, I will add cycling, strength training, and stretching classes.  

 Read 12 books.  One book a month.  I am on book 2 and we are halfway through the month.  If you need book suggestions, definitely check out Wendy’s book reviews.  I’ve loved all of the ones I’ve read, some more than others.  

Topic for next week – What are you looking forward to this year?  Feel free to write about this topic or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your Winter running plans and/or race schedule?  You can write about this topic or feel free to 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! 

❄️ Be consistent with running.  I am following Hal Higdon: Half Marathon Novice 2 Plan.  I run 4 days a week and I like it.  I do think I could have done his Intermediate 1 Plan but decided to play it safe.  I’ll see how I am feeling after week 6 and then see if I want to move up to the other plan.

❄️ Continue to use the Peloton bike.  I guess I should clarify and say begin instead of continue.  I haven’t taken a bike class this year.  

❄️ Run the NYC Half Marathon, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, and the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile. So technically they do not take place in the Winter but I am adding them here anyway.

❄️ Continue walking.  It isn’t so bad.  I am liking them more than I thought I would.  Did you know that I’ve done a few times the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk?  Yep, I walked for 3 days to raise money for breast cancer.  This was before I became a runner.

❄️ Stretch and foam roll.  I will admit that I am not doing it as often as I should, but I am starting little by little.  I bought a thick exercise mat at Aldi’s and have been using it to foam roll.  It hurts but also feels good.  I have noticed a difference in my plantar fasciitis, it isn’t as painful as before.

Topic for next week – What’s your plan to achieve your 2023 goals?  Feel free to write about this topic or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Welcome to the first edition of Tuesday Topics for 2023!  Kim and I have more 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:  Your word for 2023.  You can write about this topic or feel free to 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! 

Below are the words I’ve had in the past.  I thought I had more than two, but I must and never wrote about them.

2022-Patience

2021-Joy

Last year my word was “Patience”.  It wasn’t easy but I did well last year.  I am working on a post about it and will have it ready by the end of January.

For 2023 I decided my word to be “Balance”.  It was hard to pick a word.  I thought about happy, smile, and enjoy.  I want to be happier.  I want to smile more.  I want to enjoy more things in life.  Then I realized that I could be happier, smile more, and enjoy more things in life if I can find a balance in my life.

Something that I definitely need to do is to stop spending so much time working.  It leaves me exhausted and frustrated.  I care about my students but no matter how much I do, it will never be enough.  I can only do so much. 

There have been times when I wouldn’t go for a run in the morning because I was doing stuff for school.  I need to do more fun stuff (travel, meet with friends, go to the movies, etc.).  While I know work is important, it shouldn’t consume my life.

I found these suggestions to help me find and keep my balance:

• Build healthy self-esteem
• Receive as well as receive
• Create positive parenting and family relationships
• Make friends who count
• Figure out your priorities
• Get involved
• Learn to manage stress effectively
• Cope with changes that affect you
• Deal with your emotions
• Have a spirituality to call your own

Here’s to 2023 and to find a balance!

Topic for next week – What are your Winter running plans and/or race schedule?  Feel free to write about this topic or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!