This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Interview your favorite blogger.  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!

My running coach is Juan J. Arrieta.  I’ve known him for a few years (we met when I was a BibRave Pro) and have been working with him for over a year.  I took a few weeks off last month because I was feeling tired and not motivated to run.  Now we are working together again as I train for a 50k.  

I enjoy working with him and love his workouts.  I love how he motivates and encourages me.  He also knows the right words to say when I have a great and a bad run.  For this post I decided to ask him a few questions so that you can all get to know him. 

What made you decide to start running?  I was looking for ways to develop my endurance and stamina to do better as a racquetball player, and someone recommended running could help me do that. Before long, I had switched entirely to running and stopped playing racquetball altogether!

What was your first race?  My first race ever was a charity 5k, the Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity.

What was your best or worst race?  My worst race was probably one of the most important ones in my growth as a runner; it was the College Station Marathon. I didn’t train or prepare properly for it, physically or mentally, and also did a lot of things wrong in terms of nutrition, pacing, etc.  I feel my best race so far has been the Glass City Half Marathon this past year in which I did the complete opposite of what I did in College Station.  It resulted not just in a personal best time, but also in pure enjoyment from beginning to end. It was an unforgettable day for me, one that I will treasure forever. 

What’s on your Winter/Spring bucket list?  Next year in winter I want to go to Hawaii and run the Honolulu Marathon; it is definitely a bucket race for me. 

If you could go on a run with any celebrity, who would you go with?  I feel it’d be Will Smith, not just because I believe he is a great actor, but I also admire him as a human being and feel that he’d have a lot of life lessons he’d share that I could learn from.  

If you could run anywhere in the world, where would you run?  Japan.  I’d love to get into the Tokyo Marathon one day and run it, but if I can’t, I’d still love to visit and run a few times there.

How do you stay motivated to run?  Running is now part of my everyday life and will continue to be until the day I die. It is simply part of who I am. It helps me keep things in balance in addition to being great for my health, both physically and mentally.  I also know that even on the days in which I may be tired or not feeling up to it, there are several positives that come from being disciplined and staying consistent, so that helps me stay motivated throughout the year.

What are you training for now?  Right now I’m training for the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon as well.

Five words to describe yourself.  Friendly, learner, passionate, driven, and caring.

You recently moved to San Antonio, what do you like about running there?  I love how well-developed the running trails are here and all the options we have all over the city, as well as the variety in the terrain they all offer. They serve as an excellent training ground and environment to be around.

What is your favorite and least favorite part about being a running coach?  My favorite aspect of being a coach is connecting with each and every athlete I work with, listening to them, and sharing the various things I’ve learned over the years in a way that helps them reach their goals.  My least favorite part is not being able to meet in-person more with those I coach. There are many things that are difficult to evaluate, convey, and understand through online, digital, and phone communications.

What are some of your running pet peeves?  Can’t think of any at the moment.

Is there a popular race you never want to run?  Ha! I don’t think I would ever do something like the Western States 100 even though it is extremely popular with a lot of people.  I admire those who compete in it, but that is just something which I never see myself doing.

Make sure to follow Juan on Instagram and Twitter!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  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!

I do not have any races coming up so I’m deviating from this week’s topic.  Well, sort of since my topic is still Fall related.  🍂 🍂 🍂

I am excited about Fall!  I LOVE Fall!  Can you tell?  Let me tell you what my plans are for this Fall.

🍂 Run in shorts and long sleeve.  Yep, it is still warm enough for shorts but cool enough for a long sleeve top.  Sometimes I wear compression socks.  I am not ready for tights.  Those belong in the colder weather/Winter.

🍂 Enjoy Thanksgiving.  I am grateful every day for everything I have.  I am lucky and fortunate to be in good health, have a job, and a place to live.  However, Thanksgiving to me is “just” another day.  I look forward to my days off and spending time with family.

🍂 Train for a 50k.  Yikes!  I guess now I will be doing it.  I am nervous and excited about it.  I already told my coach.  And now I will need to train to train for my 50k.  

🍂 Buy a house.  I have to add it here again and hopefully it will happen.  I know everyone keeps telling me to be patient and that the perfect one will show up.    

🍂 Stop staying late at work.  There is always work to do and I will never catch up.  Sometimes I feel like I do more than I should.  I am feeling better about work because I have my routine set up with my students.  I feel like I know what I am doing and that is making the day go smoother.  <<It’s been challenging to learn and implement two new curriculums this year.

Any fun plans this Fall?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Your favorite Twitter running accounts to follow.  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 know it isn’t a Runfessions post but I will admit that I am not a big user of Twitter.  Mainly it is because I don’t know how to use it.  Does that even make sense?  I mean I can post, and read comments, etc., but when I start reading replies (not from my posts but others) is when sometimes I get lost. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

I remember I opened my account after a book club meeting where one of the girls wanted us to follow Paulo Coelho.  I just checked my profile and I’ve been a member since February 2012.  I might have to unfollow everyone and start over.  But before I do that let me share a few that I have enjoyed following on Twitter.

@jorgeramosnews – I am a fan of his show on Sunday morning and his podcast.

Dwayne Johnson – He is my celebrity crush.  Do I need another reason?  🙂

Oiselle – 99.9% of my running are from Oiselle.  I wear the tops, shorts, and tights.  I have clothes for all 4 seasons.  Some of the items are not cheap but sometimes I buy them when they’re on sale.

Cats of Instagram – You know I have to follow a cats account.

I realize it isn’t a very exciting list.  I may need a crash course on how to best use it.

By the way, I need someone to show me how to add the Twitter tweet box in my posts.  Kim already told me how but I cannot get it to work.  I am sure it is something fast and easy to do just like it was to fix this 500 Internal Server Error message I got last night.  Help!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Your favorite Instagram running accounts to follow.  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 don’t love Instagram but I like it.  I like that one can post a picture and people like and/or comment on it.  There is nothing political or hate involved there.  Well, at least I haven’t seen it yet.

I know the topic is running accounts but I am going to write about some of my favorite ones that are not running related.  

Sweet on my house – I like seeing the different DIY home projects Angie does.  She explains in detail what she is working on and makes it fun.  While I don’t think I would do what she does (I am lazy), I would definitely hire her to do some projects for me.

Learning in Wonderland – Maribel is a teacher like me.  I follow her because she has great resources in TpT.  I have purchased many of them to use in my classroom.  I love learning about new ideas, tips, and best products to use in my room.  Thanks for her I bought a great paper cutter and The Happy Planner.  << I am obsessed with it.

Kim Hides the Rocks – Kim loves to paint rocks and hides them for others to find.  She also has tutorials so others can follow along and create their own rocks.  As you know I am not a fan of Reels but hers I do like.  They’re funny!  Another reason I like this account is because I love seeing her cats.  Even the cats have made some Reels!!

Memories by Meyers – There is something satisfying about watching someone write in a pretty and fancy handwriting.  No?  Just me?  Jenna makes it look so easy.  She has an Etsy shop where you can order some workbooks on how to improve your penmanship, learn a new printing style, or learn hand lettering.  I’ve been wanting to learn how to write fancier so these sound like the perfect products to buy.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Your tips for beginner runners.  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!

Dear runner,

So you just started running?  Good for you!  I am proud of you.  Running is fun.  Running is a hobby.  You don’t have to love running but liking it is good enough.  When you start to “hate” it then that is when you probably need to take a break from it.  That’s OK.  It happens to many of us.  Here are some of my tips.  I hope you find them useful.

➡️ Invest in good shoes.  I know shoes are expensive but they’re worth it.

➡️ Running should be fun.  Remember that it is a hobby.  Unless you are training to win a race and money, then it is more than a hobby.

➡️ Listen to your body.  Feeling tired and need a day off?  Go for it.  Do not feel guilty about taking a rest day.

➡️ Walking is OK.  Don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t or make you feel less of a runner for walking.

➡️ A mile is a mile no matter the pace.  Whether you finish it in 15 minutes, 7 minutes, or 9 minutes, make sure to celebrate it.

➡️ You can run a half marathon or a marathon if you want.  It will take time and commitment but it can be done.  I started running in 2005 and ran my first marathon the following year.

➡️ Remember that you are a runner.  Whenever you’re in doubt, remember these wise words from Bart Yasso: “I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.”