Welcome to the November edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am not a big fan of Halloween but I get into it because of my students.  Most of them dressed up and 4 stayed at home because they do not celebrate Halloween.  In my lesson plans, I had that we would do work in the morning and then spend the last 2 hours doing fun activities.  Nope, the whole day was full of fun activities.  A few said that it was a fun day.  Mission accomplished!  But I went home even more exhausted.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you I saw this figure early one morning.  It was dark and it FREAKED ME OUT.  

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that it doesn’t bother me that I am losing my Starbucks stars.  I don’t go there often so I knew it would be a matter of time.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I signed up for a few more half marathons next year.  I am already going to Fargo, ND at the end of May.  I will be running in Myrtle Beach (SC) on March 1st, Albuquerque (NM) on April 5th, and Olathe (KS) on April 26th.  I will be crossing off 4 states from my 50 states +1 list.  That leaves me with 3 more to go (Wyoming, South Dakota, and Idaho).  Yay!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I had plans to go to Boston in April to spectate the Boston Marathon.  I waited too long.  The tickets that are available are either not convenient or too expensive.  So since I am not going anymore, I am now able to go to Kansas for a half marathon.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 reasons to run a turkey trot.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Welcome to the October edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I bit the lululemon bullet and bought a few things for me.  I’ve only owned one lululemon item and now own more.  What did I buy?  I bought a few of the Organic Cotton Straight-Hem Crewneck T-Shirt.  They’re not cheap.  It know it is a basic tee but I like how it feels and the fit.  I also bought another purse.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I began running again and it feels good.  I am doing run/walk intervals and the runs are going well.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am happy for the new seasons of my favorite shows.  I love watching Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Law and Order: SVU, and Law and Order: Organized Crime.  

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that some of my sisters and I are planning a trip with my mom to NY in May.  We talked about this while in Minnesota this Summer.  Southwest opened up their window for flights so you know I am already looking for flights.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that last we had a staff meeting and we had to walk around to chat with another teacher and say one positive thing (school, personal, etc).  I didn’t get up but instead put my head down and said that I had NOTHING.  I heard a teacher say something about retirement.  Then I picked my head up and said that each day at work brings me closer to retirement.  I made a joke and said that I had 9,000 days to go.  Not really, it is less than 2,000 work days and less than 5,000 calendar days.  I can do this!

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 fitness goals to accomplish by the end of the year.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Welcome to the September edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I do not like how dark it is in the morning.  I know I’ve mentioned how I enjoy running in the dark, but I am not running anymore.  Well, at least not like before.  I want some sunshine.  It is 5:30am right now and it is still dark outside.

The photo below is from a few years ago

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that these weeks have flown by.  Progress grades are due next week.  How?  I am still working through some kinks with my students.  It is stressing me out that I need to enter these grades for school.  I am also very tired.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that even though I will not my meet my goal of running/walking 2,024 miles this year, I signed up again for next year.  Crazy?  I need a goal or some motivation.  Marathons are out of the equation but I want to focus on half marathons.  Next year I am running the Fargo Half Marathon in South Dakota and need a few more states to run in.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I may not be running everyday, but I have been either walking or running or BOTH since June 28th.  I may have “cheated” a few times in logging in a quarter mile or even less, but it is still a walk.  It counts!

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you saw the video of when my school was featured on TV.  I wasn’t planning to be at school that early (7am) but am glad I made it happen.  I am on the left side next to a woman with a pink shirt.  You can see me for a few seconds because then I moved to the front to take a picture.  

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 things you’ll never do as a runner.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Welcome to the August edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am looking forward to the new school year.  I know, I know.  Soon I will be complaining about the school year.  This year there are three 2nd grade teachers (last year there were 5) and I will be the only dual language teacher for my grade.  It sucks because I will be “alone” but I can use it as an excuse when extra work needs to be done and I have no one else to work with.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you I am getting nervous and anxious about the Chicago Marathon.  I am OK with the runs doing the week.  The long runs are what scare me.  They’re long and exhausting.  I am doing 13 this weekend.  The last time I ran this long was in March 2023.  I know I can do it, I’ve run marathons before, but still they make me nervous.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I got the test results from my blood work.  My A1C is fine but my proteins levels are low.  Interesting that this has never been an issue.  I knew I wasn’t getting enough protein but I didn’t realize that my levels were that low.  More protein for me!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I had no one to take care of my cats during my trip to Minnesota.  The few times I’ve been out of town, my sister has taken care of them.  This time she went with us.  I left my cats at the PetsHotel at Petsmart.  It was one of the most difficult things to do but I had no choice.  My cats weren’t eating for the first few days and were not adjusting well.  I went straight to pick them up on the way home from Minnesota.  I’m not sure who was more happy – me or them.

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you shop at Marshalls and/or Ross.  I’ve bought a few kitchen items but that’s it.  A few weeks ago I went to Ross but cannot remember why I looked in the shoe department.  Imagine my surprise when I found a pair of the Brooks Launch in my size for $50.  I then looked in several other stores and have purchased 2 more pairs of the Launch and one pair of the Ghost.  I’ve gone back and have bought a few tops for work and 3 pairs of work shoes.  I am a fan of those stores!

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 training tips for running or fitness.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Welcome to the July edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!  

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I finally signed up to run the Fargo Half Marathon.  It will be on May 31, 2025.  However, I’ve been wanting to run the Bank of America Half Marathon and next year the race will be on June 1st.  I haven’t made any travel arrangements but am thinking of running the half in Fargo, coming back that same day, and running the other half the next day.  Crazy idea?

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you July 4th is a special day for me because it was the day my family and I emigrated from Mexico in 1978.  I am grateful for my parents and for everything this country has given me.  However, this year I was not feeling very patriotic.  I am not going to go in detail but I think you have an idea of what I am referring to.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I ran my 2nd race yesterday.  It was warm and humid but I still enjoyed it.  This is my second week of training for the Chicago Marathon.  Prior to that I wasn’t consistent with my running.  I did better than I expected.  My finish time was a few seconds worse that last year’s time and that is OK.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am enjoying again my Peloton classes.  Last year in June is when I had taken my last class.  The new seat is a lifesaver.  I am not sore as I was with the other seat.  I took an ABBA themed class and LOVED it.  I am excited and looking forward to more fun classes.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that on Tuesday I went to the podiatrist.  She gave me a bunch of exercises to strengthen the plantar.  She also recommended a night splint, custom orthotics, and to do pilates.  Whew!  It was a lot but I need this injury to go away.  

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 fitness goals for the last half of the year.  Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like.  We hope you’ll link up with us!