Zenaida Arroyo

01
Feb
2018

Random Thoughts Thursday 5

Random Thoughts Thursday

How is your week going so far? Can you believe that I got sick again?!? Yes, Sunday night I started sneezing again and also had watery eyes. I didn’t feel as horrible as last week but did feel tired on Monday. It didn’t last long because by Tuesday I was better. Can’t believe January is over. Let me tell you now about my random thoughts.

• How hard is it to make a good cup of coffee? I have a Keurig and love it. However, those pods are not cheap. I also have a coffee maker and bought Casi Cielo whole beans from Starbucks (haven’t done the math to figure out if that is indeed cheaper than the pods). The barista was nice enough to grind it for me. I have made coffee on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and it isn’t good. I don’t know if it is the coffee maker or the water. For sure it isn’t the coffee. Now that I think about it, it can’t be the water because it is the same water that I use for my Keurig and that coffee always comes out good! Seriously, how hard can it be?

• I am training for a marathon in April but am already thinking of one in the fall. I would love to run the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28th. Lottery opens in March and hopefully I get in. I think that in my previous life I lived in DC because I love it there so much.

• My gas bill is out of control. I cannot believe how much it has gone up. I live in a 3 bedroom apartment but I don’t think it is big. My sister and I keep the thermostat at 67 degrees all of the time. I looked at my bills from last winter and I paid around $50-$60 a month. My November bill was $106, December bill was $162, and January bill was $222. I know it has been colder than last year but find it hard to believe that it is that much more.

• Fitness Challenges. Do you participate in them? I have tried. I am not very good at sticking with them. I’ve tried the kettlebell swings, planks, squats, and burpees challenges and have never completed them. At the beginning of January I started the planks challenge. I started with 20 seconds on January 1st and ended with 5:00 minutes on January 30th. I remember feeling proud when I got to 1:30. It did get harder and I had to alternate between the standard plank (high plank) and the forearm plank (low plank) but I am happy to say that I completed the challenge. I will confess that I missed one day. Only one day so that is definitely a win, right? I also did 100 kettle swings each day. On January 21 I began the wall push ups challenge. I like that one because I cannot do regular push ups. 🙂 Today I will start the Supermans, Squats, and Twists Challenge that is being put together by Rachel who blogs at Running on Happy. I’ve never done Supermans or Twists so we’ll see how that will go.

What are some of your random thoughts today?

28
Jan
2018

Illinois Marathon Training Recap, Week 9

categories: Illinois Marathon, Marathon Training, Running, Weekly Recap

Illinois Marathon-2

Week #9, January 22-28

M OFF
T Ran 3.76 miles
W Did not run
TH Ran 2.52 miles
F Ran 3.81 miles
S Ran 8.98 miles
S OFF

Tuesday’s run was done early in the morning. The temperature was in the low 30s but it didn’t feel too cold. There was some snow coming down so I was extra careful to as not to fall.

My students were coughing and sneezing early in the week and I ended up with a cold. On Wednesday I was feeling horrible and couldn’t wait to get home. Once home I kept taking medicine with Emergen-C and went to bed early. I missed my quality session workout but did one on Saturday.

I ordered a new headlamp (Black Diamond Storm) from Amazon and received it on Wednesday. I got a chance to use it during Thursday’s run. It is bright and I love it!

I had plans after school on Friday so I did my run in the morning. A 5am wake up call to get this done. I felt great! It was in the high 30s and I did get warm on this run.

Illinois Marathon-73

I was a bit nervous about my quality session run on Saturday. I had to do a 5 mile warmup, 2 x 10 minute intervals @10:45 pace with 3 minutes recovery then 1 x 5 minute interval @10:02 pace and then a 15 minute cooldown. I was afraid that I wasn’t going to hit the paces. It was sunny and a perfect day for a run. I hit all of my paces! I was so happy (and almost cried) when I saw my stats (10:34; 10:35; 9:47). I’ve never done a 5 mile warmup and was actually kind of bored with it but I simply took my time and enjoyed the warm weather. Oh, and I noticed this at the end of my workout but my run ended at 8.98 miles. If I would have seen this before, I would have kept on running to make it out to an even 9 miles.

Another great week of marathon training. My run on Saturday gave me a MAJOR confidence boost and that was exactly was I needed during this marathon training. I cannot believe that the Illinois Marathon is in 3 months!!

Total mileage for the week: 19.08
Total mileage for this training cycle: 158.36
Total mileage for the year: 79.57

Here’s how training has gone so far:
• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8

How was YOUR week? Have you been doing your runs inside or outside?

Link back to the host and let’s support other bloggers linking up as they train for a marathon, half marathon, or any other event.

An InLinkz Link-up

26
Jan
2018

Friday Five 2.0-5 New to Me Things That I Like

categories: Ambassador, BibRave Pro, Friday Five 2.0, Running, Running Gear

How is it that it is almost February? January is definitely going by fast. We’ve had our share of very cold but also mild days in Chicago. I am definitely looking forward to warmer days. Then I will probably be complaining that it is too HOT! That is why fall is my favorite season for running.

I always get excited when I read about something in a blog/Facebook/Internet/etc that someone else likes and recommends. Recently, I’ve learned about some new items (to me) that I like and have been using for running or everyday use.

1. Lily Trotter Socks. These compression socks are easy to put on and come in fun colors. They have the right amount of compression and are also comfortable. I’ve been wearing them on my runs and also to recover from my workouts. My legs feel great!

2. Detach. As a BibRave Ambassador, I have the opportunity to try out this product. Detach is is a coconut water-based drink with only a subtle coconut flavor, improved electrolyte balance, low glycemic energy & a micro-protein blend to help you have a great workout. The drinks are certified paleo, low GI and gluten free. I like that it isn’t sweet, with a very light flavor, but not artificial or overpowering. I’ve used it on a long run (100 minutes) and never felt thirsty. I actually found it to be refreshing and it was just what I needed on that run.

3. Smartwool Socks. I love the Women’s PhD® Run Ultra Light Micro Socks. They’re thin, they have enough cushion, protect against blisters, and feel comfortable. I can wear them for a few days without washing and they don’t smell. 🙂 However, these are not long enough and do not cover my ankles when running in tights during the winter. When wearing tights, I use the crew socks. They are just as comfortable as the micro socks and my ankles stay warm. I also have a pair of the Light Elite and these have more cushion and also keep my feet extra warm during the cold winter days. I was afraid that with the extra cushion my shoes would feel tight but that isn’t the case.

4. Black Diamond Storm Headlamp. Depending on how I feel or what I have going on after work, I do my runs in the morning or after school. I have a Nathan headlamp that I thought I lost but then found in my car. Someone recommended this lamp and I love it. It has 350 lumens of power, three-color RGB night vision and improved peripheral lighting for close-range tasks. I haven’t figured out all of those features but I just know that it is bright!

5. Orgain Organic Protein Powder. A few friends recommended this to me. This is plant based with 21 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and no added sugar. I love the Creamy Chocolate Fudge but the Vanilla Bean is delicious. They both have a clean taste and is never too sweet. I make a shake in the morning for breakfast and it keeps me full till lunch (I drink it around 7am when I get to school and eat lunch at 11:35am). Another great thing about it is that with this protein powder you have proteins from grains (brown rice), seeds (hemp, chia) and legumes (pea) and is also gluten-free, soy-free and non-gmo. I purchased mine on Amazon but I know they’re also available at Target and Costco.

Have you tried any of these products? Any products you like that you can recommend to me?

I’m linking up with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for Friday 2.0.

25
Jan
2018

Random Thoughts Thursday 4

categories: Random Thoughts Thursday

Random Thoughts Thursday

How is your week going so far? A few of my students were coughing and sneezing on Monday and Tuesday and I also ended up sick. Wednesday was tough even though it was half day at school. We had meetings after school and wished I would have gone home. Oh well, enough complaining and let me tell you about my Thursday thoughts.

• I love running in the Brooks Launch 4. I have 3 pairs in rotation and 10 new pairs in boxes. I knew there were 2 pairs in stock at Running Warehouse and meant to buy them. I got distracted and forgot. On Wednesday I checked and my size was no longer available. Dang! I was kind of upset but also relieved. I guess I kept buying more and more pairs, not only because I love them, but because they were available and on sale.

• Isn’t it time to put away Christmas decorations? I’ve run by a few houses that still have decorations. It is almost February. Time to go, right?

• lululemon 40|80 Challenge. This year I was very excited to sign up. I missed it last year and there were GREAT prizes for those that completed the challenge. I didn’t complete 80 kilometers but did finish with 63. I ended up in 35,482th place. The prize was a 25% discount to any lululemon item. At first I was upset about it (I wanted a free shirt or shorts like last year) but then realized that while I didn’t get exactly what I wanted, I ended up “winning” because this challenge actually motivated me not only to run but to do it outside. It wasn’t easy because there were some very cold days that I wondered why I wasn’t on the treadmill. 🙂

• Jumanji. During Winter Break I saw the new Jumanji movie. It was actually pretty good and funny. I love Dwayne Johnson! Then I wanted to see the first one with Robin Williams. It wasn’t on Netflix nor Amazon Prime. My sister borrowed it from a friend and we saw it this past weekend. Great movie too! But I guess any movie with Robin Williams is a great movie.

What are some of your random thoughts today?

23
Jan
2018

Shoes, shoes and more shoes!

categories: Brooks Running, Race Recap, Running, Tuesdays on the Run

It’s no secret that I am a fan of Brooks running shoes. In the past I’ve worn the Ghost, Ravenna, Adrenaline, Pure Flow, Pure Connect, and Pure Cadence.

Lately my all time favorite is the Launch. I remember my first pair of the Launch 2. They hurt my feet and I sent them back. Months later I decided to give them another chance. Cannot remember the reason. I mean, they hurt my feet so why would I try them again? I am very glad I did because those were GREAT. I was upset when they weren’t available anymore. Then the Launch 3 came out and they felt different. I trained one summer in them and then sent them back to Brooks (they have a wonderful 90 day return policy). They just didn’t feel as good as the Launch 2. Then the 4 came out and they are just as good as the 2.

They are so good that I am stocking up. I have 3 pairs in rotation and have 10 new pairs in boxes. They’re still on sale at Running Warehouse and I am tempted to get more pairs. That’s how much I love them! I know the Launch 5 is available but I am going to wait a few months before trying them out.

I don’t just own running shoes. 🙂 I teach 2nd grade and am on my feet all day long so I need comfortable shoes. Last summer I invested in a pair of Tieks by Gavrieli ballet flat. I’ve been wearing them almost everyday and like them a lot. They’re comfortable but I am not too crazy about the price (the cheapest is $175 and the most expensive is $265).

Each pair comes neatly packed in a blue box with a cute bow. Tieks are sold in whole sizes only. Tieks typically suggests going down if you’re a half size unless you have a wide foot or sometimes size up. I’m an 8.5 but I have wide feet but ordered an 8 and a 9. Included in the box is a black pouch to store your Tieks and a small tote bag. There was also a handwritten personalized note which I loved.

I tried both pairs and kept the size 9. I love that they have FREE shipping. And if you want to return or exchange them, they also have free return shipping.

You’re probably wondering if they’re worth the price. For me they are. I’ve worn shoes from Aerosoles and Naturalizer but after a while my feet hurt. Plus, they don’t last long. I will admit that when I first started wearing them, when I went back to work in August, my feet did hurt. I thought about sending them back. I couldn’t so I kept wearing them and after a few more days they were comfortable enough to wear all day. Now, I am very pleased and happy with them.

I know they’re expensive but the next pair I want to get is the Chestnut. Black and brown are shoe colors that go with pretty much every outfit. But check how pretty the red, purple, and blue shoes!!

What is your favorite brand of running shoes? How many pairs do you have?

Linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.