This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Favorite recovery tools.  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!

Runners have a basket or baskets full of recovery tools.  We need them.  These tools help us feel better and recover faster.  Below are the ones I have on hand.

➡️ Massage Gun Deep Tissue Percussion Muscle Massager–I’ve had mine for three years now.  I’ve used it on my mom and my coworkers.  Lola even likes it!  It is easy to use, quiet, cordless, and rechargeable.

➡️ R3 foot roller-This hurts but helps with plantar fasciitis.

➡️ Ryson Foot Roller Massage Ball for Relief Plantar Fasciitis–Another tool for plantar fasciitis.

➡️ HoMedics® Therapist Select Foot & Calf Massager-This was gifted to my mom by two of my sisters.  I use it more than than she does.  I love it!

What I really want are Compression Recovery Boots.  But I think that with what I already have should be enough.

Topic for next week – Free Topic.  Feel free to write about any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Tips for Dealing with Running Burnout.  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!

I am deviating from today’s topic to write about this past weekend.  Sunday was the Chicago Marathon.  No, I didn’t run was I was spectating in Pilsen.  I had a blast and almost got me motivated to run it again.

The weekend began with a fun event with Alison Désir on Friday.  She was in town promoting her book “Running While Black“.  There was a fun run and a panel discussion with two other runners.  As much as I enjoyed listening to them, I was a little disappointed that Alison did not talk about her or her book.

There were treats for everyone – water, coffee, and snacks.  I tried Nemi cactus sticks and found them to be really good.

I did not run but did try on again a pair of the Brooks Hyperion Tempo.  And just for trying them on I was entered into a raffle to win a $300 head to toe Brooks outfit or one of Alison’s books.  Bummer but I didn’t win.

Every person that attended got a bag.

Sunday was Marathon Day!  I did a quick run in the morning, showered, and got ready.  Pilsen is my favorite place to spectate.  When I got there the wheelchair participants had already begun to pass by.  I knew the runners would be next.

First came the elite men.  I am always in awe of their form.

Then came the elite women and other elite runners followed by everyone else.  I was rooting for Emily Sisson and was pleased she set a record for an American woman.  I really wanted her to win 1st place.

Some fun entertainment.

I saw many friends but missed a few of them as well.  I thought the tracking app did a good job of letting spectators know the location of the runners.

I saw Erica past mile 19 and Renée at the mile marker.

I love this photo of Emily along with the other women that have set a record for an American woman.

Overall it was a fun day and I was tired by the time I got home.  I know, I know, not as tired as the runners.

Topic for next week – Favorite Recovery Tools. Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  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!

These past few weeks went by too fast.  It was busy with work and family activities.  My oldest sister was in town for my mother’s birthday and she stayed with me so that was fun.  No, I am not being sarcastic.  I hadn’t see her in about a year and it is always nice to see her.  I know my mom was happy too.

Let me update you a bit with some life updates.

🔷 I have not been running.  My last run was on Sunday morning.  Prior to that my last run was on 9/18.  Getting up to run doesn’t sound too exciting right now.  I know I need to snap out of this funk and get moving.  I also know a race goal will get me excited.  However, Winter will be here soon and, well, you know how I feel about Winter running.

🔷 Last week was very hectic.  I had a meeting on Monday, Open House on Tuesday, and half day on Wednesday (but with meetings until 4pm).  For Open House only 3 parents showed up for my sessions and then 3 more at 7:30.  I was done with my sessions but was there to talk and answer questions.  Was I disappointed with the numbers?  Yep.  The meeting on Wednesday put me in a bad mood.  As a dual language teacher I feel like we are always doing more work than GE teachers.  I am already overwhelmed with the new things that are being implemented for Reading (one would be teaching foundational skills in English and in Spanish) but now I need to do bridging in Math.  What exactly is it?  “The Bridge is the instructional moment in teaching dual language when teachers bring the two languages together, guiding students to engage in contrastive analysis of the two languages and transfer the academic content they have learned in one language to the other language.”  

🔷 These hot flashes are a pain in the you know what.  It is weird how I can go months without them and then boom they show up.  This year I’ve experienced them within the last 2 months.  

🔷 My doctor prescribed a sleeping pill.  She thought the reason I was tired was because I wasn’t sleeping enough.  I go to bed between 9-930pm.  Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.  Most nights I’ve been able to go back to sleep but sometimes I stay away for about an hour before sleeping again.

🔷 I reactivated my Fitbit account.  The main reason is to track my sleep.  I don’t care too much about the number of steps I take during the day.  Well, I am curious.  Yesterday I walked over 8,000 steps, but I don’t think I will wear my watch everyday.  

🔷 My classroom is almost done.  I just need to finish my English classroom library (Spanish is done but it took me about 5 months to finish it) and organize my supply closet.  I am getting evaluated/observed this year and the main things are done.  No one will see the closet and the bins already have books in them. 😀

🔷 I haven’t been reading like I would like to.  Right now I am reading “Landslide”.  However, my favorite Chicago and NY shows are back on TV.  Thanks to a great offer from Peacock I can watch the shows after they’re shown on TV.  I am a T-Mobile customer and got a free 1-year subscription to Paramount+ Premium and can watch many CBS shows there.  Anyone remember “Bull”?  My sister and I were fans but then I stopped watching it.  I also like “NCIS” and stopped watching it about 2 years ago.  

Any recommendations to track sleep?  Honestly, I really do not want to wear the Fitbit watch.

Topic for next week – Today is World Animal Day.  What animals have you seen out on your run?  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Today is Positive Thinking Day. What quotes of affirmations do you use to get through a hard run?  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!

We all love positive affirmations.  There are so many out there but there are a few that I love and use at work, home, on a run, etc.

This one always makes me laugh!

Topic for next week – Share your Fall 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:  What’s on your Fall bucket list?  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!

Fall.  My favorite season.  I love the color of the leaves.  And I love the cooler weather.  I can be in shorts, jeans, etc., and a jacket and be comfortable.  However, Fall means Winter is around the corner and that I do dislike.  Oh well.  I will enjoy it as long as I can.

I was looking at my Spring bucket list and realized that I will include some of those items on this list.  Nothing wrong with it, right?

🍁 Leave work stuff at work and leave at 3pm.  Back to school is a lot of work and exhausting.  I need to find a balance between work and my personal life.  I start work at 8:30am but usually get there between 7-7:30am so there is really no need for me to stay late.  Many times I do too much – more than I should and then I resent it.

🍁 Continue to use the Peloton bike.  I am not training for a race but running here and there so I might as well use the bike.  Still working on taking all of Camila’s classes.  She has 206 classes and I’ve taken 91 leaving me with 115 more to go.  I am leaving the 45 minute classes till the end.  Those intimidate me.

🍁 Read more books.  With the extra time that I will have from not staying late at work nor working at home, I can do this.  I’ve been going through Wendy’s books from her reviews and am almost finished with the books she reviewed last August.  I am really amazed at the amount of books she reads on a monthly basis.  As much as I love reading, unfortunately I haven’t made time for it.  Pleased to say that I’ve read 7 books this year.  Currently I am reading “Landslide” and have already put on hold 3 more books.

🍁 Have fun! I plan to do more things with family and friends.  Yes, that involves food and laughing!  

🍁 Of course a .  And that is all I will say about it.  😀

Topic for next week – Today is Positive Thinking Day. What quotes of affirmations do you use to get through a hard run?  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!