This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Share your best running views from around the world.  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!

Last month I shared with you my some of my running views.  Today I will share with you some of my best running views from around the world.  

🌎 Mexico 

🌎 Ecuador 

🌎 Peru

This was a walking trek to Machu Picchu but still gorgeous views for running.

🌎 Alaska

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Your six favorites of 2020.  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!

Oh, 2020.  We will never stop talking about it.  It wasn’t all that bad.  Here are some of my six favorite things of 2020.

⭐ Favorite Day.  It was September 9th.  That day we celebrated my mother’s birthday.  A few weeks ago she had tested positive for Covid.  She got tested again and on the 8th her results came back negative.  Happy she was able to celebrate another birthday.

⭐ Favorite Group Run.  We did not run together but we all ran at the same time in different locations.  It was a HOT day too in Chicago!

⭐ Favorite Cat Photo.  This was hard to pick.  I have so many photos of them but chose this one because they’re both being nice to each other and enjoying life in the balcony.  I love my balcony.  As you know last year my mother and I spent hours there since we couldn’t go anywhere.  I felt bad for her because at least I could go outside to run and to the store for errands but not her.  She only left the house to go back and forth to my sister’s condo and my apartment.

⭐ Favorite Run.  For 9 weeks I trained for a 5k.  I had many great and not so great runs.  Then in December everything came together.  My coach had picked the date for this race but I did it before.  I was out for a run and I was feeling good.  The weather was perfect too and I went for it.  

⭐ Favorite Purchase.  I love Picky Bars but this Drizzle is AMAZING.  It can be eaten with apples, oatmeal, yogurt, bread, etc.  I have eaten it straight from the jar too.   If you can interested in joining the Picky Club, click on this link to get $10 off.

⭐ Favorite Thing I Found while Decluttering.  Can you find me in this magazine?  The photo is from when I ran my first marathon, The Chicago Marathon, in 2006.  I remember submitting it but didn’t think it would be selected for the magazine.  It was published in “Chicago Athlete” in March 2007.

This was another fun topic.  It was great going through my photos and remembering that not everything in 2020 was horrible.  One of the most difficult things was finding ways to make eLearning/Remote Learning work.  Months later I think I figured it out.  40 kids in my classroom?  Sure, why not?  Haha, JK.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  What did you learn about yourself during the pandemic?  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!

Last year was a shock.  Sometimes I think about the things I did last year during January and February and then to think that everything changed in March.  

These past couple of months were an eye opener.  It was hard but I tried to stay positive and make the best of it.  Here are a few things I learned during this time:

😷 The importance of family.  A bunch of us would get together on a regular basis.  We would gather around the kitchen table to talk, eat, and drink.  Then in March we couldn’t do that anymore.  We had a few Zooms calls but it still wasn’t the same.  Now we text each other all of the time.  We check in on one another.  We make each other laugh.  If anyone needs anything, we are there to help that person.

😷 My mother is a strong woman.  I know I have mentioned it before but she is a tough person.  I loved listening to stories of when she was growing up in Mexico.  I also love listening to how life was when she emigrated from Mexico.  She and my dad worked long and hard hours to give their 7 children everything they could not do in Mexico.  My mother and I would spend hours on the balcony talking and listening to music.  Now it is my turn to take care of her and give her everything she needs.

😷 Life is short.  I think this applies even without a pandemic.  We really don’t know what is going to happen.  Treat yourself to that extra cup of coffee.  Enjoy that piece of cake.  Buy yourself those shoes.  I had a hard time justifying buying a new car but then I realized that I work hard and deserve to treat myself to it.  Now I love my car!

😷 Patience.  As a 2nd grade teacher I already am a patient person.  During remote learning I had to be even more patient with my students.  I struggled a lot because I knew they were struggling and going through a lot but so was I.  Many times I had to put a smile and pretend that things were OK.  Running and crying is what helped me get through some really rough moments.

😷 Everyone was going through the same thing.  It was so easy to feel sorry for myself thinking that no one would understand.  That was not true.  Everyone was struggling.  Many were even in worse situations.  Many people were getting sick.  Many were dying.  Many also lost their jobs.

😷 I really am a lucky person.  I did not get sick and I did not lose my job.  I am still standing and moving forward.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  What was your favorite book you read last year?  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 love to read.  I find it so relaxing to sit down on the sofa or anywhere comfortable and read a book.  Add a glass of wine and it is much better.  :-). Reading takes me to a new place.  Reading transports me to the place where the story takes place.  It is a whole new world for me. 

Thanks to Wendy for posting the books she has read.  I go through it and then pick a few to place a hold at the library.  Others I have read based on other people’s recommendation as well.

I don’t have a favorite book that I read last year.  I read a few interesting books and it was hard to pick one.  I wished I could say that I read more books since I did have more time last year.  I didn’t.  I also watched a lot of TV last year.  Thanks Netflix!  Also, none of the books I read were running or fitness related but I do have one on my list to read this year.

Unorthodox – Wow!  I enjoyed everything about it and learned about Hasidic Jewish traditions.  I also enjoyed the Netflix series.  It was a perfect thing to do during the beginning of quarantine.

Truths I Never Told You – I could not put this book down.  I knew it was a very different way of living in the 50s and 60s but to read about (illegal) abortion made me feel sad and angry.

Ghosted – I was not too crazy about this book.  I only finished it because I wanted to see how it ended.  Rosie Walsh meets the perfect man.  Somehow he then starts to avoid her.  Ha, I thought he was just a jerk.  He wasn’t.  There is a family tragedy that took place years ago and it involves both families. 

Darling Rose Red – This was another I could not put down.  At one point I remember it was late and dark and I was still outside in the balcony reading.  It was twisted but yet interesting.  I had never heard of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and this book is an example of it.  Cannot imagine how this could be happening out there.

Books I am writing to get from the library are:

The Silent Patient

Win at All Costs

The Vanishing Half

The Promised Land (I have the audiobook and started listening to it but keep getting distracted).

Welcome to the first edition of Tuesday Topics for 2021.  Kim and I have lots of fun topics for this year.  We are excited for you to join us every week.  

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Your word for 2021.  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!

There are so many words and it was hard to pick one.  I thought about everything that happened in 2020.  I thought about what I was looking forward to in 2021.  I then decided my word to be “Joy”.  Then I realized that I had picked the same word a few years ago.  But, I feel like this word will mean so much more this year.

Why this word?  I know many bad and great things happen in 2020.  I struggled a lot in my personal and professional life.  I tried to be positive but many times it was hard.  However, there were many times that that is what got me through.  I had to find joy in things around me.  It probably sounds corny but honestly I had no choice.  I mean, there were times when I cried and was angry, but then felt better afterwards.  I had to move forward.

Where will I find joy?  This is not in any specific order and not everything is on this list.  

My health.

My students.

My running.

Spending more time with my mom.

My friends.

My coworkers.

My cats.

My iMac.

My Brooks shoes.

My Oiselle long roga shorts.

My MAC patentpolish lip pencil in Ruby.

Cooking with my mom.

My new car.

My running playlist.

Making apple martinis.

My pens and highlighters.

Working with my coach.

My blogger friends.

My family.