This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  How did you get back on the fitness wagon?  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 is tough to be motivated at a time when there are no races.  There have been a few but not to the extend of how it was before.  During the first couple of months of the year I was not motivated to run or workout.  In late April I got a coach and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made this year.  To me now is the perfect time to get fit and train for next year.  

Here are some tips that have helped me get back into a fitness routine:

Set goals

I have a few goals for next year.  Well, my goals were for this year but, well, we know what happened.  I am seeing many improvements in my running and it gets me excited for when we start racing again.  Many times I feel like it is too good to be true.

Rely on support from others

YOU all inspire me.  We’re all going through a rough time right now but yet I know I can count on you for support and guidance.  Your posts make me smile and let me know that things will be OK.  We will get through all of this.  I love reading about your tips, new workout classes, and new gear to try out. <<I trust you more than any other influencer out there.  🙂

Make it fun

I’ve always made a point by saying that running should be fun.  NO pressure.  It is not our job, just a hobby.  Right now for me it is a way to start off the day.  I enjoy the solitude and the silence to clear my head.  Also, it doesn’t have to be just running.  I love reading about Kim’s Orangetheory workouts, Deborah’s Peloton classes, Darlene’s trail walking, and Wendy’s Crossfit/strength workouts, etc.  The common theme is that they’re all making it fun.

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!

I know October is not over yet.  We still have a few more days left.  Things are going well in the running department and I am trying to stay positive and taking it day by day in the work department.

It’s been 7 months since everything changed in this world.  Still cannot believe it’s been that long.  Two more months and 2020 will be over.  Will next year be the same?  Or maybe a little better?  I guess we’ll have to wait and see. 

Mileage:  As of this morning I’ve run 87.54 miles.  For sure I will make it to 100 this month.   July has been my highest with 103.54 miles.  It looks like I will pass that amount and it makes me excited.

My highest mileage ever was 186.27 miles in July 2016.  Crazy, huh?

Highest Mileage Week:  24.57.  It was this past week and it took me 4:58:47 hours.  

Current Challenge:  None.  Anything good out there?  I am doing a running streak.  Today is day #60.  So far so good.

Current Book:  None but I need to pick up “Truths I Never Told You” from the library.  I also have requested the following books:

In the Dream House
Once I was You
Notorious RBG
The Vanishing Half
The Lies That Bind
Saving Ruby King

I know I can get these faster as an e-book but seriously the last thing I want to do after being on the computer for a few hours is stare at another gadget to read.  I want to sit down with my book and a glass of wine.

Current Song:  Wind of Change.  I don’t listen to it while running.  For some reason it relaxes me so I play it during breaks throughout the day.

Current Shoes:  Brooks Ghost 20th x Ghost 12.  I have way too many pairs (currently 6 pairs in boxes).  My plan is to replace my shoes every 3 months which is about 300+ miles per pair.  

Favorite new item:  Spiral Hair Ties.  I love that they prevent tangling and hair damage.

What am I looking forward to next month?  My birthday!  Actually, there are few of us that link up here and/or on Sunday that also have a November birthday.  Time to celebrate!  I am also looking forward to a few days off for Thanksgiving.  I know things will be different but hanging out with my siblings will be a great time.

How often do you replace your running shoes?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  If you could run anywhere in the world, where would you 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!

This is a FUN topic!  I cannot wait till it is “safe” to travel again.  My last trip was in late February to Atlanta to run the Atlanta Half Marathon.  Hard to believe that was almost 8 months ago.

Let’s see, if I could run anywhere in the world, where would I run?

Hawaii-I’ve always wanted to vacation there too.  I was planning to run the Kona Half Marathon this year.  I almost signed up for it.  Glad I didn’t because, well, it was cancelled.

Greece-Everything there looks so beautiful.  It is on my bucket list of places to travel.  Why not run there too?  

New York-Maybe one day I will run the NYC Marathon?  I’ve heard great things about this race.  Everyone that has run it highly recommends it.  Yesterday I did a Peloton 45 minute NYC Marathon Simulation Run and it was exciting to listen to Robin describe the course.  There were a few times I stopped because I was actually envisioning myself running the race and was savoring the moment.  

Paris-Another place I’ve been wanting to visit to see the Eiffel Tower.  I know there are other things to see but that is the first place I want to visit.

Africa-I want to run with elephants, zebras, and giraffes.  I know it cannot be done but in a way that sounds like fun.  Have I told you my favorite Disney movie is “The Lion King”?  

Italy-I’ve been there once during a cruise but did not run there at all.  Time to go back there!  I would probably eat all of the wonderful food there too.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is What are your thoughts about rest days?  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 haven’t taken any rest days from running since August 29.  Today is day #46.  Let’s see how long I can continue this streak.  I feel good.  The weather has been fantastic and I am enjoying running in this weather.

My coach has me running 5-6 days a week and no more than 30 miles a week.  On the days he does not schedule a workout, I run for 20 minutes.  The pace is very slow and easy and it is never more than 2 miles.  

Some benefits of rest days include:

✓ Allows your muscles to recover.

✓ Reduces the chance of injury.

✓ Helps you sleep better.

There was a time when I would look forward to my rest days.  I would rest on my rest days, like really rest meaning that I would not do anything.  My body wanted that rest day.  I even looked forward to that day when I wouldn’t “have” to run.  I am the type of person that can spend all day on the sofa watching TV or reading a book and only getting up to get something to eat and use the bathroom.

However, a rest day doesn’t mean you don’t do anything.  You can still do some kind of light activity.  You can walk, swim, do yoga, or do an easy bike class.  

Me?  I take it easy on those rest days and even walk if I want to.  No pressure.  Again, the weather has been great and I am enjoying it.  Who knows how it will be during the Winter.  

Everyone trains and recovers different.  We do not train the same way and expect the same results.  It is the same thing with rest days.  Everyone’s body does not need the same amount of rest days.  You know your body and what is best for YOU!  

This week’s Tuesday Topic is Brag Time: Share some of your most popular running related blog posts.  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!

Well this is an interesting topic.  I never check my stats.  My blog is small.  I post mainly to talk about my training and my adventures as a teacher.  😀 I don’t have a lot of followers but do have my loyal readers that read my posts every week.  Thank you. 

Here are a few of my most popular posts:

✸ Weekly Run Down: Week #1 of training for a 5k and new shoes.  Not sure why this is popular.  Maybe because it is a new post?

✸ Goodbye November and Hello December!  It was a November monthly recap with the previous “Tuesdays on the Run” linkup.  Made me smile when I saw that.  

✸ Tuesday Topics: My Winter weather running tips and a birthday giveaway!  I wrote about my Winter running tips.  Surely it had nothing to do with the $47 gift card that was offered, right?  

✸ Tuesday Topics: I walked 610,966 steps in the StepBet Challenge!  That was a fun challenge!  I don’t wear a FitBit anymore and wear my Garmin only for running but would like to do a similar challenge.

✸ Weekly Run Down: A fall and taking a break.  I was excited and looking forward to run after recovering from a cold.  Then I fell.  I am still traumatized from that fall.

✸ Goodbye September and Hello October!  Another monthly recap with the Tuesday on the Run linkup.

✸ Weekly Run Down: End of the month and 335 miles.  A weekly linkup hosted by Kim and Deborah.  Love the support that is provided by everyone in the linkup.  ♥️

✸ Tuesday Topics: 2019 Missoula Half Marathon Race Recap.  A trip to MT to run a half marathon.  Many people raved about this race and I was excited to run there.  I liked the course but not the travel experience.  I prefer traveling to big cities.

✸ Tuesday Topics: 2019 Shamrock Shuffle Race Recap.  One of my favorite races in Chicago.  I miss this race.  Hopefully I can run it next year.

✸ Weekly Run Down: The Olympic Marathon Trials Edition.  A fun weekend spectating The Olympic Marathon Trials.  The next day I ran the Atlanta Half Marathon.  It was a tough course but the weekend itself was amazing.

✸ Weekly Run Down: Banned from Brooksrunning and summer break.  You all know my LOVE for Brooks shoes.  Apparently I order too many and then return them more than they would have liked.  Now I am not allowed to order from their site anymore.  Maybe that is why I wasn’t picked to be on the Run Happy Team either?  🤣 🤔 That is OK since I like ordering from Running Warehouse and Zappos.

I used Google Analytics for this information.  Did I do it right?  Is that what you use to check your stats too?