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.

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics! 

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 cannot believe today is the last day of June.  Even more I cannot believe we are almost halfway through the year. In a way I am glad.  This year has not been going well…at all.  It does make me wonder how the rest of the year will go.  I have not done a monthly review in a long time so here is one for June.

Miles Ran:  84.91.  I did 22 runs this month for a total of 17 hours, 21 minutes, and 27 seconds.  So far this has been my highest month and I hope the next few months I can get to at least 100 miles.

Highest Mileage Week:  23.33.  I am slowly building up my mileage.  I am really impressed with those that run 40-50 miles each week.  I usually run 5 days a week but last week was the first time in a few months where I ran 6 days.  

Shoes: I started the month running on the Brooks Levitate 1 that I purchased last year.  This month I am wearing the Brooks Launch 5.  They’re very comfortable and so far one of my favorites of the Launch.  I don’t want to check and see how many new pairs I have in boxes.  🙂

Races Planned/Completed:  0/0.  No races at all this year (at least I don’t think there will be races for the rest of the year).  I remember at one point I was planning to go to Hawaii for the Kona Half Marathon which was supposed to take place on the 21st. 

Current Challenge:  I’ve been doing Deborah’s Run Bet Challenge and the California Virtual 500.  The goal is to run 250 miles by Labor Day.  So far I’ve run 61 miles.  I am the last one.  🙂

Current Book:  Right now I am reading two books.  I started reading “Darling Rose Gold” which I heard about in Wendy’s blog post.  Then a friend of mine hosted a Zoom book club gathering to read “Fruit of the Drunken Tree”.  So far both are good.  

Next Race(s):  At this point I have no idea.  My goal of running a half marathon in each state is on hold.  The last half marathon I did was in GA and it was state #43.  I am so close.

Current Excitement:  I have two weeks left for summer school.  I’ve mentioned before that it is going well.  I am looking forward to Summer break and hopefully do something fun.  I would like to travel but we’ll see how that goes.

I finished decluttering my closet.  Next is the kitchen, my bedroom, the living room, and the office/cats’ room.

What am I looking forward to next month?  Run more miles and finish reading my books.  I am watching “Madam Secretary” on Netflix but will put that on hold to read.  I’ve put in my application for a pre-approval to buy a house so hopefully next month I can start looking again and find something that I like. 

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What is your training philosophy?  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 am no expert nor a running coach, but over the years I have learned a few things here and there thanks to my wonderful blogger friends.  As a teacher, I know that learning is power.  🙂

My training philosophy is to to have fun.  I’ve said it before and I will say it again but running is a hobby and not my job.  Yes it should be taken seriously but not to a point that our life depends on it.  Will we be happy?  Yes.  Will we be disappointed?  Yes.  Life still goes on.  Something else I keep in mind are:

♥ Easy runs means run slow.  It took me a while to figure it out.  I am not a “fast” runner but I still look forward to my easy runs.  They have helped me recover much faster and stay injury free.  

♥ Never compare yourself to others.  I used to do that and it would drive me CRAZY.  Everyone is different so there is no point in saying that someone is “better” than you.

♥ Be proud of the work you put in.  Whether it is one mile or 10 miles, pat yourself on the back.  Running is not easy and should never be taken for granted.

♥ The only person you are competing with is yourself.  So what if you are running 12 minute or 8 minute miles.  No one will look down on you or make fun of you.  A mile is still a mile.

♥ Not all runs/races will go like they’re supposed to.  That one also took me a while to figure out.  I would be so hard on myself if I didn’t always hit the time or the required paces.  So what if my intervals are supposed to be done at ABC pace and I do them at XYZ pace?  I will still be proud of how I did!

♥ Trust the process.  I rely on a running coach to tell me what to do.  Yes, I can follow a plan, but sometimes I want someone else to do it for me.