Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  This is an updated post from September 2019.  

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  How to taper for a race before going crazy?  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!

Honestly, I don’t mind the taper.  While some people get taper crazy, I actually look forward to it and love it.  

What exactly is tapering before a race?  Basically it means to take a break from running so your muscles could rest and recover.  By doing this you will be able to be rested enough and have a successful race.  Tapering usually starts 2-3 weeks before your race.  Most tapers are done for a marathon but can also be done for half marathon.

During taper I may run a few days but more importantly make time to rest and sleep.  When I trained using the Hansons Marathon, I was not used to running 6 days a week and was constantly tired.  I welcomed with open arms when it came time to taper.

So what can you do when you have more time and energy in the weeks before your half marathon or marathon?

🏃🏽‍♀️ Sleep.  Your body needs it.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Think about your goals.  What are your A, B, and C goals?

🏃🏽‍♀️ Make a gear check list/bag and check it twice.  Write it down so you have everything ready for race day.  The last thing you want to happen is to arrive at your race and find out you forgot your gels, sunglasses, or socks.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Finalize your fuel and hydration.  Will you be bringing your own or use what is provided on the course?

🏃🏽‍♀️ Reflect on your training.  You worked hard in the weeks/months prior to your race.  Perhaps you wrote about it in a blog or journal.  Reading about it will get you more excited knowing you went through weeks of long runs, waking up early, and dealing with the hot/cold weather.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Eat better/healthy.  While it is tempting to eat all of the food, it isnt’ a good idea.  Drink plenty of water and eat meals that have good carbohydrate to help store fuel for race day.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Read a book.  Grab a glass of water, sit on the sofa, and relax with your book.  Or a movie will be ideal too.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Meet up with friends.  Many of them probably haven’t seen you for weeks since you’ve been training hard for your race.  Use that time to catch up with them, laugh, and to have a good time.

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics! 

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  How do you fit your workout on a busy day?  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!

Currently I am on Summer Break.  It’s been two weeks since the end of Summer School.  This week I have a few professional development courses (all online) that will be taking up most of the day.  There is still no word on our back to school plan.  I have a feeling it will all be remote learning and I want to know for sure so I can start making my virtual classroom in Google Slides.

How cool is this?  All I need now is an individual Bitmoji of each teacher.  

Anyway, back to today’s topic.  During remote learning my schedule was different from when I was in the classroom.  I was still busy (mostly learning how to do remote teaching) but at the end of the workday I was mentally exhausted.  I knew that I would have no motivation to run after work.  So I continued running in the morning.  

✔️ Running in the morning made me feel better.

✔️ Running in the morning gave me time to think.  

✔️ Running in the morning got my workout out of the way. 

I got it done by waking up early.  I didn’t have to wake up that early since I didn’t have a commute to school and all I had to do was change into a decent looking top and sweatpants.  

I realize that not everyone has that option.  There are other ways to fit in a workout on a busy day. 

➡️  Run/walk home or to your workplace.  A few years ago I did the AVON 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer.  At that time I was working downtown so I would walk home from work to “train”.  

➡️  Do your workout at work.  Set an alarm to remind you every hour to get up and walk.  You can even walk up and down the stairs.  Add in some wall or “real” pushups too.  🙂

➡️  Run or walk during lunch.  

➡️  Schedule your workout in your calendar.  It is equally important as a doctor appointment or a work meeting.

➡️  Get the family involved.  Take a walk after dinner.  Take the kids on the stroller to the park or go for a run.

➡️  Run/walk to do your errands.

I thought that by working from home I would have a lot more time to workout.  I was correct.  I did have the time but sadly did not put in the effort.  I was eating more (the fridge was so close) and not walking like I was doing before (in the classroom I was constantly walking).  I paid the price.  Most of my pants don’t fit anymore.  With the possibility of going back to remote learning in Fall, I know I cannot do this anymore.  I can use this time to figure out what I am going to do.  🙂

Remember, something is better than nothing.  The main thing is to get your body moving.  Anything else you would add to the list?

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics! 

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your favorite running views/places?  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 live and run in Chicago.  There are so many places to run in the city, but yet I haven’t really ventured out that much.  I like to keep it easy and simple.  There are a few times where I will drive to a different location but haven’t done so in the past couple of months because of Covid.  Now I am just comfortable with my routine.  Maybe next year I will get out there.

In no specific order I am going to list a few of my favorite places:

✔️ The Lakefront.  From one end to the other it is 18 miles.  I’ve run 18 miles a few times while training with CARA for the Chicago Marathon.  The actual program is 20 miles so 2 miles are added somewhere at the start (and maybe the end).  I used to go there more often but then stopped since I started running more by my house.  Then it was closed and it recently opened up again a few weeks ago.  Plus the views are great!

✔️ By my house.  So easy and convenient.  I’ve been doing the same route for a few years but sometimes I go the opposite direction for some variety.  My usual route can take me to Midway Airport which is about 1.5 miles from my house.  This is perfect for a warm-up.  Running around the airport is about 3.25-3.5 miles.  There is an area that is closed off so you either have to turn around or use the side streets which would then take you away from the airport.  Still it is a great place for running where you’ll get 3 or 6 miles or uninterrupted running (no stop lights).  I like to see the planes and think about there the people are coming from or going to.  

✔️ The Morton Arboretum.  It is located in Lisle, IL and it take me about 45 minutes to get there.  You need to be a member in order to get in.  The first time I was there was last year during a field trip during summer school.  I think I purchased a membership a few months later.  I enjoy going there but hate to drive that long.  I know, I know.  It should not be an excuse.  I like that it is very different from my normal route but it has HILLS.  Wow!  

✔️ Waterfall Glen.  It is located in Darien and it is about 30 minutes from my house.  I don’t think it is as hilly as the Arboretum but there are some hills.  I love going there during the Fall or after it rains.  There is a dirt smell that I like.  It is weird but I find that smell very comforting.

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  Thank you to everyone that links up with us.  I want you to know that I do read everyone’s post and also leave a comment.  Sometimes I do it on Tuesday, or Wednesday, etc., and as late as Saturday.  It is the same for Sunday’s posts.  A little late but I do get it done.  🙂

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Your 2020 mid year review.  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!

As many people have mentioned, this year is NOT going how we expected it to go.  It is a good thing we are halfway through the year because, frankly, I am just plain tired of how it is going.  I am trying to stay positive, but sometimes it is just hard to do.

So let’s review on how 2020 is going so far.  I remember on December 31st being excited about the new year (I also had a cold).  2020 sounded so cool!  What could go wrong?

January-February

✳️ I was training for the Atlanta Publix Half Marathon.  I was looking forward to the race as it would be state #43 for me.  Plus, the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials was taking place the day before.

✳️ I got sick and once I felt better, I went out for a run and I fell.  That brought a fear of running outside and I had to do my training on the treadmill.

✳️ Made plans to race in Kansas and then go to Boston to spectate the Boston Marathon.

✳️ Ran 20.50 miles in January.

✳️ On Super Bowl Sunday my cousins and I got together to watch the game, eat, and have a great time.  It was so much fun and that would be the last time we would get together.  

✳️ Ran 37.05 miles in February.

March-April

✳️ Spectated the Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta.  A very exciting day!

✳️ Ran the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon.  A very hilly and tough course!

✳️ Due to COVID-19 I cancelled my trip to Mexico.  My mom and I were excited and looking forward to this trip.  🙁

✳️ March 13 was my last day in the classroom.  My kids went home with packets of work to do along with instructions on how to log in Google Classroom.  I had NO idea that would be the last day I would see my students.

✳️ Stressed out and working overtime to figure out how to do Remote Learning.  Working from home is not easy.  I had no idea how to do it.  Learned to make a schedule and stick to it.  

✳️ Ran 35.10 miles in March.

✳️ The rest of my races were cancelled (Shamrock Shuffle, Garmin Oz Half Marathon, and Fargo Half Marathon). 

✳️ Signed up for the Un-Canceled Project.  I didn’t do all of the races but I was able to get out and run.

✳️ The Governor announced that schools would be closed till April 30th.  Excited to know there was a chance we would be going back to school but deep down inside I knew that was not going to happen.

✳️ The Governor announced that schools were closed for the rest of the year. 

✳️ My uncle, my mom’s brother, passed away due to Covid.

✳️ Ran 41.16 miles in April.

May-June

✳️ Began working with a new coach.  I was in and out of a funky mood and reached out to my friend, Juan, to help me get out of it.  🙂  Have been working with him since then and am loving my workouts!

✳️ Still no races so I signed up for the Un-Canceled Project 2.

✳️ Signed up for a RunBet Challenge and won.  🙂

✳️ Signed up for The Great Run Across Illinois with Marcia.  The goal was to run 210 miles (105 each).

✳️ Signed up for the California Coast 500 Virtual Challenge.  The goal is to run 250 miles by Labor Day.

✳️ Ran 72.05 miles in May.

✳️ School ended.  Had a week off and began Summer School.  

✳️ The Chicago Lakefront is open for running.  I’ve been there twice on a Saturday.

✳️ Ran 84.91 miles in June.  Highest mileage to date.