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!

Many of you know that I am a teacher.  This is my 15th year of teaching.  I am exhausted.  You also know that I like my job.  I don’t love it but I don’t hate it.  I do have my days when I hate being a dual language teacher, but that is a conversation for another day.

My plan is to retire in 10-12 years.  If I could, I would retire now.  Since I can’t do it now, I have to suck it up!  🤣 🤣 

So what is my plan while I wait for retirement?

• Save money in a 403(b) account.  I have been saving since my first year of teaching but don’t have enough for now.  I am looking into opening another account.  At the moment I cannot remember the name of it but it is an account similar to a 403(b).

• Continue to teach.  I already made a career change and don’t want to make another one.  So I will continue to make a difference in students’ lives.

• Work as a math interventionist.  It isn’t a career change.  I will still be working with students but in smaller groups.  I will work with only those students that need the extra help in Math.  The plan is to do this the last 4-5 years before I retire.  I want to spend my last couple of years “stress-free” and not have to deal with lesson plans, grades, or a classroom.

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

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What does your typical race morning look like?  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!

Race morning is an exciting time!  I also find myself being nervous.  Here is what I do before my race.

• Drink coffee and eat some kind of bar.  I’ve mentioned before that sometimes I don’t eat anything prior to running but I will always eat something before a race.

• Use the bathroom.  The coffee helps with this process.

• Get dressed.  It helps to have everything laid out the night before.

• Check my bag to make sure I have everything I need.  Then I check it again before I leave.

• Drive to the race location.  I like to leave with plenty of time.  I hate feeling rushed.  

• Use the bathroom again.  I may use it again depending on how much more I have to wait for the race to start.

• Check gear bag and tell myself to have a good time.

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

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Do you have a favorite race you run every year?  Tell us about it.  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!

There are two races that I try to run every year:

• Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k.  Last week I mentioned that this year was my 14th year running this race.  This race is unofficially the beginning of racing season.  I love the distance – there aren’t that many races of that distance.  It is one big party afterwards.  I will confess that the past couple of years I haven’t participated in the afterparty.  The reason is that I am usually tired and very cold afterwards.  I do not want to stick around in the cold weather.  My PR is 48:38 from 2014.

• Elmhurst 4 on the 4th of July.  I can’t remember how I found out about this race.  Besides a different race I did in 2008, this is the only one I’ve done that is 4 miles.  My first time running this race was in 2013.  I’ve run it every year since then except for 2020 (we all know why) and 2021.  My PR is 39:39 from 2014.  July 4th is a very special day for me because it was the day I emigrated to this country with my family.  We’ve been here since 1978.  

Did you watch the Boston Marathon yesterday?  I was still at home when it started so I was able to watch the beginning.  We then left for my mom’s doctor appointment.  Then we were in the parking lot when the men finished and then on the way home when the women finished.  🙂 No matter what, I will always root for Des!

The topic for next week – What does your typical race morning looks like?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!