Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Remember to link up with us!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Don’t forget to come back for later linkers! 

I like running outside and on the treadmill.  I know many people don’t like the treadmill.  In fact, many people HATE it and call it the dreamill.

Here are a few reasons why I like running outside:

• I love running outside because I can leave the house and get some fresh air.

• Sometimes I like running when it is dark because it makes me feel safe and alone in my own world.  I know it sounds weird but this way I tend to not think about all of the things going on in this world and just focus on ME.

• I like checking out the neighborhood.  It makes me happy to see some of the cats.  It makes me sad too because I wonder why they are out there.

• When I run in the neighborhood, I look for any houses that are for sale.  I also like to pick a house and imagine me living there.  Silly?  Maybe.

• I get my vitamin D.  

I haven’t run on the treadmill in years but here is what helped me get through treadmill running:

• Listen to fun music.   I have a variety of Spanish and English music and various playlists.  Depending on how I was feeling is the music I would pick.

• Watch TV.  Sometimes music gets on my nerves so I prefer to watch TV.  I’ve watched whatever is playing on the television or a show on my iPad.

• Change incline and pace.  I did my runs at 0% incline but made sure to change the pace.  I would set a timer for 1:30/2:00 minutes or 3:00/4:00 minutes and then change the pace (I would have 3 different paces) at the sound of the buzzer.  Or I would change it after each song.  This would make the run a bit more exciting and made the time go by faster.

• Break up the run into parts.  I never did a run without stopping.  Who wants to run 10 miles without stopping?  Not me.  For a run of that distance, I would run 2.5 miles, take a quick break, and run again 2.5 miles.  Then I would use the bathroom and/or get more water and repeat for the rest of the 5 miles.  Something similar could be done for 12, 14, or 16 miles.  The key is to not think of it as a LONG run of 12, 14, 16 miles but instead as short and quick runs with breaks in between. 

• Reward myself.   For me it would be a coffee, food, beer, or a new piece of gear.  Of course I wouldn’t do this for every single run but mainly on days when I had ZERO desire to run and needed some motivation.

The topic for next week – What are your favorite recovery aids?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Remember to link up with us!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Don’t forget to come back for later linkers!

Running in the Summer is not my favorite.  I dislike the hot weather but I do like running in shorts and tanks or short sleeve tops.  But I have no choice this Summer.  I am training for the Chicago Marathon!

Here are some Summer running tips that work for me. 

• Start early.  It is already warm at 6am.  I get up at 5 and then check email, read blog posts, while I drink my coffee.  Then I use the bathroom and get ready to head out.  I’ve told myself that I need to wake up earlier or drink fast my coffee and save the reading for later.

• Hydrate.  I make sure to drink water every day.  Sometimes I will freeze some water in my handheld and then add more the next day.  I have cold water to cool me during my run.

• Wear a hat or visor.  A hat helps keep me cool and blocks the sun from my eyes. 

• Use sunscreen.  I want to protect my skin to prevent sunburns, wrinkles, and even skin cancer. 

• Take it easy and listen to my body.  Running in the heat will make you run slower.  During the hot weather I’ve also had to take more walk breaks.  Nothing wrong with that. 

The topic for next week – Treadmill vs. Outside running.  Let’s talk about it.  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Happy Tuesday!  Thank you for joining me and Jenn for another edition of Tuesday Topics.  Remember to link up with us!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Don’t forget to come back for later linkers!

In December I wrote my goals for this year.  Since we are halfway through the year, let me update you on how it is going.

• Read 24 books.  I am reading book #11.  

• PR in a race distance.  I’ve only run 1 race and skipped 3.  I am running a 4 mile race on Thursday and doubt I will PR.  I am running the Chicago Marathon in October and hoping to get a PR.

• Run a half marathon in a different state.  If I do run in a different state, it will probably be after the Chicago Marathon.  

• Don’t procrastinate (too much).  I am doing OK.  Sometimes I don’t think about it too much and just do it.  Other times someone else will “remind” me to do it.  One day my mom wanted me to clean the balcony and I told her that I was tired and that I would do it tomorrow.  She told me that I was going to be tired tomorrow as well.  She was right.  I got up and did it.

• Switch retirement plan and add more money to it each month.  I haven’t done this yet.  There are many options to choose from but I will do it.  I did open another life insurance policy.

So let’s review how 2024 is going so far.  

January-February

• Picked my word for 2024…Self-Care.

• Purchased my new domain for my blog.  I like it!

• Ran and walked 43.20 miles in January.

• Ran and walked 16.61 miles in February.

March-April

• Went to San Antonio for my aunt’s 90th birthday.  It was a lot of prep work for school but I had a good time in San Antonio.

• Ran the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k.

• Ran and walked 15.65 miles in March.

• Ran and walked 33.17 miles in April.

May-June

• Ran and walked 36.20 miles in May.

• The 2023-2024 school year ended.  I had 5 days off and began teaching Summer School.  

• Ran and walked 49.01 miles in June.  It is the highest mileage to date.

• Finished reading 10 books.

• Summer School ended.

I truly cannot believe that we are halfway through 2024.  Let’s see how the rest of the year goes for me.

The topic for next week – How do you get through Summer running?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your Summer running plans or race schedule?  You can write about this topic or post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

While it isn’t officially Summer here but it it feels like Summer.  This week we will have temperature in the 90s.  Thank goodness for AC!  I really don’t want to be outside in this weather.

This is what I have planned for this Summer – running and non running.

• Run the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th.  It is one of my favorite races and I cannot wait. This year the race will be on Thursday.  

• Train for the Chicago Marathon.  I signed up to train with a group.  The training will start on June 24th.  I am not a big fan of Summer running, but I know that it is the best time for me to train for a marathon.  I am off during the Summer and it is easier for me to rest and nap after my runs.  I do struggle when I go back to work because then I am tired from spending so much time setting up my room.  

• Walking more.  I haven’t been consistent with my walks.  I want to do a short walk after each run; longer if it is a longer run.  I still have that goal to run/walk 2,014 miles this year.

• Continue to relax.  Everyone has a different way to relax.  I like to read and watch TV.  My goal this year is to read 24 books.  I am reading my 10th book but need to read more to catch up.  

• Work on some school projects.   I know I shouldn’t be working on school stuff in the Summer, but I want to get a head start so that I am not doing this during the school year.  There aren’t a lot of Spanish resources and many times I have to translate them.  Now is the perfect time to do these things.

What I would love to do is create a few projects and sell them on Teachers Pay Teacher.   It will be a great way to earn some additional money.

Next week is a FREE topic.  Feel free to write about any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!