This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  What do you do the night before a race or a long 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!

It was a busy weekend for me.  I am late in reading and commenting posts from Friday and Sunday, but I promise I will catch up this week.  😬

I’ve been over a year since my last race.  I am hoping either in the Summer or Fall I can do a race.  So far I’ve been having some great workouts and I hope that translates to another PR.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a night before a race.  Let’s see if I remember what I would do on those nights.  

➡️ Have a good dinner.  I could eat pretty much anything and be OK the next morning.  Yes, to spicy food, but not too much of it anyway.  Sometimes I have a beer too.  

➡️ Get my gear ready.  I don’t want to forget anything in the morning so I make sure to have everything that I will need for my race laid out on the sofa or next to me on the extra bed.  Items include sports bra, shorts/tights, top(s), socks, body glide, watch, gels, watch, credit card, room key, and ID.  

➡️ Set up the coffee maker.  I need to have coffee in the morning.  Sometimes the hotel doesn’t have coffee in the lobby or there is no coffee shop nearby so room coffee it is.  I know it isn’t the best but it is better than nothing.  The best has been where there was a Keurig in the room.  I remember during some of the RunDisney races, there was NO coffee maker in the room and the dining room wasn’t open.  I know, terrible.  I was able to get some later on before lining up for the race.

➡️ Set my alarm.  I remember having to use the room clock for my alarm.  Does anyone remember also having to call the front desk for a wake up call?  Now thanks to my iPhone I set the alarm there and go to sleep.

➡️ Use the bathroom again.  And then maybe again.  Being nervous always make me go to the bathroom multiple times.  

As for a long run, it is pretty much the same.  What I don’t do is set my alarm.  My cats wake me up.  

What about you?  What do you do the night before a race or a long run?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Do you listen to podcasts while running?  List some of your favorite ones.  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 have mentioned before that I am not a fan of podcasts.  I prefer to listen to music while running.  Give me some Spanish songs and 80s and 90s fun music and I am happy.  I tried listening to the audiobook “A Promised Land” and just could not get into it while running.  I even tried listening to it while driving but got distracted.  Yeah, not good while driving.  😬

One day Darlene told me about a podcast with Matty Maggiacomo.  He is one of my favorite Peloton instructors.  You bet I listened to it on my way to work.  I enjoyed it a lot and it was not distracting at all.  I found myself laughing and wishing that one day I could meet him.

I am still not listening to podcasts while running, but instead listen to them in the evening and sometimes in the car.  Here is what is on my list.

🎧 The Michelle Obama Podcast – What is not to like about her?  I have read her book and watched her documentary on Netflix.  She is the type of person I would love to sit down and talk while enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

🎧 Contrapoder, con Jorge Ramos – He is a well known and respected Mexican journalist.  My mom and I watch his show (Al Punto con Jorge Ramos) every Sunday morning.  Each episode covers the latest news and many controversial topics.  There is something about his voice.  I like it.  I also like that they’re in Spanish so my mother can listen to it.

Do you listen to podcasts?  What else should I add to my list?

Hello there!  Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Thank you to everyone for joining me and Kim every Tuesday.  This week’s Tuesday Topic is: What is your favorite time of the year to 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!

Did you guess by the image my favorite season for running?  Yep, it is Fall.  I love it when I can run in shorts and a tank, short sleeve, or long sleeve top.  I hate having to wear so many layers during the Winter.  I remember a few years ago it was 80 degrees in February.  You bet I ran in shorts.

I also like running in the Fall because I love seeing the different color leaves on the trees and on the ground. 

I also enjoy running in the morning too.  One of the reasons is because I get to see the sunrise.  Even if there is no sunrise I like running in the morning when it is still dark (not so much in the Winter).  It is just me alone outside while listening to music or just thinking about what’s happening, what I have to do, etc.   I find it to be peaceful and relaxing.  

After Fall, I also enjoy running in the Spring and Summer.  Winter is my least favorite one because of the weather.  However, over the years I have learned that the right gear will make running in the Winter more bearable.  In the Spring I like to see the flowers.  The warmth of the sun feels really good too.  Summer is great when I am out early and beat the hot and humid weather.  Summer running is also great when running along the lakefront and feeling that wonderful cool breeze.  And of course there is those beautiful views!

I know I complain about the weather.  But no matter what, I am happy, grateful and thankful that I can run year round.  Whether it is hot and humid, raining, snow on the ground, windy, or freezing, I am out there running even if “just” one mile.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Do you set a weekly goal?  Monthly?  Yearly?  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!

Hello there!  How is everyone doing today?  Today is day 2 of Spring Break.  Yesterday was glorious…loving Spring Break.  I will write more about it in Sunday’s post.  For now let’s talk about goals.  I have daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.  I am happy to say that this is the first time I’ve actually written them down.  🙂

Yearly
➡️ At the beginning of the year, I set my goal to run 1,200 miles.  As you know, February was not a good month for me due to the weather (34.26 miles).  March has been better (74.71 miles) but still my mileage is not what I wanted it to be.  That is OK.  I might have to change that yearly goal.  Maybe 1,000 miles?

Monthly
➡️ In order to meet my goal of running 1,200 miles this year, my monthly goal is 100 miles.  I may need to adjust it.

➡️ Buy coffee 4-5 days per month.  I have both a coffee maker and a Keurig so there is really no reason for me to stop at Starbucks of Dunkin Donuts for a coffee.  I do like their coffee though but know it is expensive.  

Weekly
➡️ No specific mileage but just do the workouts assigned by my coach.  I do my best but sometimes a run doesn’t happen or is cut short due to the weather or not feeling it.

➡️ Do 2-3 bike classes on the Peloton.  I mean that is the reason I bought the bike.

➡️ Take my lunch to work 4 days a week and order out one day.  I work hard.  I treat myself.  Sometimes I even have leftovers and that is dinner for me.  

Daily
➡️ Not bring any work to do at home.  Sometimes I don’t get to finish all of my work and I end up finishing it over the weekend.  I remember a few years ago I would bring work home almost every day.  Now it is just maybe an hour or two to finish my lesson plans.

➡️ Leave work at 3pm.  We do have a staff meeting on Wednesday and on those days I leave at 4pm.  

➡️ Drink 8 cups of water.  I have a 32 oz water bottle that I take to work.  I like to finish it before leaving work.  Then at home I refill it again and try to finish it before I go to bed.  There are days when I don’t finish the bottle and there are days when I refill it 3 or 4 times.  Balance, right?

How about you?  Do yo make daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Is there a popular race you never want to 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!

My last race was the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon last year.  I am not sure if I will run any races this year, but hopefully in the Fall I can race again.  While I am itching to run a race, there are a few races that I would never want to run.  Does that make me boring?  🙂

🚫 The Barkley Marathons – “The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race held in Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee. If runners complete 60 miles this is known as a “fun run.” The full course is about 100 miles. The race is limited to a 60-hour period, and takes place in late March or early April of each year.”  100 miles?  No thanks.

🚫 The Color Run – “The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5K on the Planet, is a unique event that celebrates healthiness, happiness, and individuality.  Now the largest running series in the world, The Color Run has been experienced by over 8 million runners worldwide in 50+ countries.”  I know these are fun races but they’re not for me.  I want a finish time.  I want to do better than my previous race.  I want a PR.  And if I don’t get one then I will keep on trying.    

🚫 Cupid’s Undie Run – Run in just my underwear?  A big NO! 🤣 🤣

🚫 Races that cost an arm and leg to get there – Well, honestly I cannot say that I will never run them.  I’ve done one in MT because there aren’t that many races in MT and I had to run it for my Race in the 50 States goal.  I paid more than $500 for my flight.  The hotel was either $200 or $300 and it wasn’t even close to the start line.  It was a great course but honestly don’t think it was worth all of the money I paid.  I have a few more states (WY, SD, ND, and ID) to run that will probably cost the same so I need to suck it up. 🙂

What about you?  Are any of these races on your list too?