Well, even with the weather, I managed to run 34.26 miles this month.  I’m on day #184 of my running streak.  There were days when I did want to quit.  But I didn’t.  Nothing wrong with wanting to quit either.  I knew that if I could run on the coldest day and the day with the most snow, then I could survive the rest of the days.  And I did.  

Monday morning there was so much sleet and I decided to run after work.  I went to throw out the garbage and it was so slippery.  The view after work was much better!  I just noticed it is the same picture from above.  🙂

The next day was better but there was a patch of ice that I somehow missed while running but saw it as I was walking.  Glad I did not fall.  However, I was not so lucky on Friday.  I did a 20 minute Peloton run and was walking home.  I was feeling good because it was sunny and the snow was melting.  Remember, I was walking.  Then in slow motion I saw myself falling again.  Luckily, I did not land on my face like last time.  I only scraped my knee.  Someone saw me and helped me get up.  It was not a bad fall which I am grateful.  However, I was more pissed and annoyed that I fell again and on ice.  Did I tell you that I was walking?  I had been very careful this month.  It seems like I fall once a year.  Is it safe to say that I am done for the year?

I am excited to start working with my coach again.  This month was a no-no because of the weather.  Michelle asked me if I will return to the 10k training.  I hadn’t given it much thought until she asked me.  I think I will skip the 10k and go straight to a half marathon.  Maybe by the time I am ready, I will be able to run a live race.  He already posted my runs on Final Surge.  Most are easy runs and I am happy about it.

This week I took 6 classes with Cody.  Love him!  Just out of curiosity I checked to see how many classes I have not taken with him.  Recently I found out about that new feature.  It is a lot but I am not planning to take all of them.  For now I have bookmarked the 15, 20, and 30 minute classes.  Not ready for 45 minutes.  Oh and I picked classes with 80s, 90s, and 90s pop music.

So that is for February.  I already ripped out the page from my calendar and ready for a new month!

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

What a week!  Even with no school on Monday and half day on Wednesday, I was EXHAUSTED on Friday.  I came home from school and took a nap.

Are you all tired of seeing all of my snow pictures?  I will stop at the end of the month.  It is supposed to warm up this week and hopefully most or all of the snow will melt.  🙂

I renewed my Peloton membership and got on my bike again!  I told Kim about this class and if you have not taken it, please do.  It is one of the best ones (or THE best one) I’ve taken so far.  This is one class I will definitely take again.

I checked my profile and the last time I was on the bike was in August when I was in quarantine.  Then I used the app mostly for running.  Then I got bored with it and paused my membership.  Cody is always fun but I also like Robin. 

I had been away for so long that now I had to name my bike?  Is that something new?  I don’t remember having to do it when I first got the bike.

So here in Chicago after a snowstorm, some people like to clean up an area in front of their house and claim it as their parking spot.  I don’t think I’ve ever had to do it.  The last time we had a major storm in 2011, I parked in the garage, so there was no need for it.  This time I actually went out and shoveled and claimed an area.  Well, someone decided to take my spot anyway.  Didn’t they see the items I had left?  Luckily, I found parking in front of that car.  The next day my neighbor took my spot because someone else had taken her spot.  ¡Caramba!  Hopefully soon this will not be an issue anymore.

An agreement was finally reached with the Union and the School District.  There is a Board Meeting tomorrow in which all agreements will be officially signed.  Here are the main things that were decided: Teachers will return to work on March 15 (meaning all teachers will report to their school building on said date) but we also have the option to work from home until March 15.  Hybrid students will return on March 22nd.  Those teachers that defied the initial order to go back to the building and as a result disciplinary actions were taken against them, all of those disciplinary actions will be rescinded.  Looks like those that stayed home are laughing at me!

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

What a week!  More snow and more cold weather.  I know Winter is associated with cold weather and snow, but this is just awful.  Even in other parts of the country is colder than normal.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

This morning I woke up with a headache.  I usually get them when I don’t get enough sleep or when I am hungry.  Sometimes I get one if I don’t wear my mouth night guard.  I never eat before running but felt a little hungry this morning so I drank coffee and ate a cinnamon bagel.  Then after my run and shower, I ate again.  I still have a slight headache and am still feeling hungry.  I took a Tylenol and will finish reading blog posts from Friday.  I am so behind.  

The most exciting thing this week was taking my mother to the hospital for her first vaccine.  While I appreciate that there was a vaccine for her, I wished it would have been more convenient for those that need to go there.  It was quite a walk to get to the vaccination room (not sure what to call it).  Luckily someone took her in a wheelchair but on the way back she had to walk.  Now, I don’t mind it, but a 70 year old woman should not have to walk that much.  Well, enough ranting about it because as I mentioned earlier, I am happy she can get a vaccine since I know others cannot get it.  We go back on March 1st for her second vaccine and I go March 2nd (I am going to a different location).  

On Tuesday I went to Trader Joe’s to pick up a few bottles of wine for a virtual wine tasting.  I didn’t realize there were so many options!!  Wow, and the price was decent.  I ended up buying 5 bottles and so far have opened 2.  The red one is really good.

Nothing exciting with school except that the District and School Union have not come to an agreement about this whole going back to school thing.  They’ve had to get the courts involved.  They’re like two big and stubborn babies.  We all want what is best for the students and the teachers.  Someone has to give in.  It’s been one month since teachers have been back in the school building BUT not everyone is doing that.  They are working from home.  Do you know how it makes me feel?  I am going in.  I am dealing with the weather and traffic.  Others are working from the comfort of their own home.  Instead of uniting all teachers, it is dividing us and creating a feeling of annoyance and resentment.  The next court date is sometime this week so you know I will keep you posted.

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

What a week!  Not much running this week.  I know there are no rules for an “official” run streak but I am aiming for at least one mile.  I don’t venture out too far since it is only a mile and there is still snow and ice out there. I am happy that the school does a good job of cleaning the snow on the sidewalk.

There was still a lot of snow Sunday evening.  We were notified that on Monday teachers could work from home.  My car was covered in snow.  Later than evening I went outside to clean it off and to move it to an area with less snow.

I have no idea how I found the motivation to head out in this cold weather.  But once I was out there it was that bad.  Well, it could have been that I wasn’t out there that long anyway.  I saw a beautiful sunrise on Thursday.  I stopped and stared at it for a few moments.  I felt alone (in a good way) and smiled knowing that things will be better.  Ha, we got more snow that afternoon.

Sunday morning was the coldest day this week for running.  My mother told me not to run.  She then realized I wasn’t going to listen to her so she then told me to be careful. 

This is the forecast for the next 10 days.  It will be warming up!  🙂

And just for fun!

I know that on Friday I mentioned that I was feeling fine after the vaccine.  However, these past few days I have noticed that I am more hungry than usual.  It cannot be because I am running a lot because I am not.  It has to be the vaccine, right?  A few of my coworkers have mentioned that they noticed it too.

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

Sigh, I this weather is really messing up my training.  I runfessed in Friday’s post that I don’t feel like I am getting any good workouts this month.  I was reminded that it is Winter.  It is cold.  I should be glad to be out there.  Those points are so true.  The good news is I finished the month with 64.55 miles and 156 days in my run streak.

We got snow on Monday evening.  Luckily Tuesday I worked from home.  I also ran 2 miles.  I live close to an elementary school and the workers had cleaned up the sidewalk and it was perfect for running.  

The rest of the week were easy miles around the school again.  There was still ice on the sidewalk and I took it easy but still did not want to run more than one mile.  

More snow on Saturday.  It may look pretty but it makes it difficult to run or walk.  This morning I went out but could not run 1 mile (I mostly walked).  But you bet I still counted today as part of my run streak.

Who knows now how long it will take for the snow to melt.  For now that means lots of easy runs.  Once the wether improves then I can start again or resume training for a 10k.

On a positive note and a perfect way to end this month is that I got an email from my school district and I signed up to get the first vaccine on Tuesday.  Yay!  My mother will be going next Monday.  I am trying to get an appointment for her on the same day that I will get mine.  But if that doesn’t work out then we are still both set to get the vaccine.

To start off the new month tomorrow.  I have deleted all of my emails from my work inbox.  I has so many and it was driving me crazy.  We used to use Outlook and one of the features I loved about it is that I was able to create folders and move emails to the folders.  With Gmail I can create labels but the emails are still in my inbox.  

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.