Zenaida Arroyo

07
Jun
2024

Fit Five Friday and June 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the June 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 found out I snore while sleeping. This is new to me. I realized a few months ago and my sister confirmed it. Nothing wrong with it but just surprised.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I will be running the Chicago Marathon in October. I was picked to be on the Team TCS Teacher. While I am happy about it, I was actually surprised when I got the email. The last time I ran a marathon was in 2016. My #1 goal is to finish but am wondering if I can get a PR (5:12:59 from 2016).

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that when I found out I was picked to run the Chicago Marathon, I downloaded an 18-week Hal Higdon training plan. I printed it and added the week dates to it. I was ready to start training next week. Then I saw a post from Mary Johnson on Instagram for a group training program for the marathon. I have worked with her before and signed up for the program. I won’t be working with her, but am excited to work with a coach.

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you ever saw the show “Desperate Housewives”. I remember watching a few episodes but was never a fan. Now I am watching it on Hulu and I am hooked. It is a funny show but sometimes some of the characters get on my nerves. I think Susan is the most annoying one.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you Summer Break is off to a good start. It was nice to not have to work but it felt weird on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday not having the routine of going to work. I am on the School Leadership Team and we had a meeting yesterday and have another one today so I’ve had to go to school. However, no students!

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

28
May
2024

Tuesday Topics: May 2024 Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

Monthly Review-May 2024 This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. Feel free to 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!

Let me tell you about how May went for me:

Mileage: To date I’ve run 30.89 and walked 5.31 miles. I ran everyday for 34 days. Then one Sunday I skipped my race because I felt very tired. I meant to run later that day but it was too hot for me. I still haven’t run since then.

Run the Year 2024: I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year. So far I have completed 144.65 miles (per the RTE Tracker). I laughed when I saw the mileage because I have a LONG WAY to go. But I am determined to not give up. I will achieve my goal.

Current Book: I finished reading “Doctors and Friends” and am currently reading “The Bad Muslim Discount”.

Injuries: None. My knees don’t hurt anymore and the pain with plantar fasciitis comes and goes. It isn’t as painful as before so I am happy about that.

Races: None.

Health: I am doing OK. I am still dealing struggling with hot flashes. The number is still on the high side. My shorts and pants still feel tight. I love wearing jeans to work but haven’t been wearing them because they’re too tight and I don’t want to buy new ones. I am wearing black pants with an elastic waist to be more comfortable.

School: The last day of school is Friday. It was supposed to be Thursday but we used one snow day in January so we have to make it up.

What I am looking forward to next month: I start Summer School on the 10th and finish on the 28th. Then the real Summer Break starts. Unfortunately this year we start the school year a bit earlier. Many teachers are not happy about it for various reasons. It doesn’t bother me because I don’t have kids and don’t have to plan back to school stuff for them.

The topic for next week: How will you celebrate Global Running Day tomorrow? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

24
May
2024

Fit Five Friday: Tips for your first marathon

categories: Fit Five Friday

Fit Five Friday-11 We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!

I ran my first marathon in 2006. Since then I’ve run 7 more marathons. Throughout the years I’ve learned a couple of things here and there about training and running a marathon.

• Have fun. Running a marathon is one big party. Take in everything that the crowd offers – from fruit, water, candy, and maybe the alcoholic drinks. Just kidding. Maybe.

• Be prepared for anything. I prepare as best as I can but race day doesn’t always go as we expect it to go. Things such as weather, feeling nervous, bathroom issues, etc. happen.

• Don’t stress too much about the weather. There isn’t much we can do about the weather except to be ready for it. I will always remember the hot weather at the 2007 Chicago Marathon. It was so hot that the race was cancelled.

• Rest and recover. Training for a marathon is a lot on the body. The body needs to recover. We need to sleep and rest to continue to run/train for the marathon.

• Do the long runs. I remember Bart Yasso saying this one time I went to hear him speak a few weeks before the Chicago Marathon. He said that if you are going to skip/miss a run, don’t skip the long run.

The topic for next week – Runfessions with Marcia. We hope you’ll link up with us!

New Fit Five Friday

21
May
2024

Tuesday Topics: My career plan

categories: Tuesday Topics

Tuesday Topics-237 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!

New Tuesday Topics

03
May
2024

Fit Five Friday and May 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the May 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 already making plans to spectate the Boston Marathon in 2025. My niece goes to school in Boston and has offered me a place to stay. The date is April 21. It is perfect because I am off on Friday for Good Friday and can leave Thursday after work or Friday morning.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am planning to go to Minnesota in July. My nephew got married in March in Mexico but I wasn’t able to go. His wife is from Minnesota and her family is planning a wedding celebration. I feel terrible that I missed the wedding in Mexico but now plan to make it to this celebration.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I submitted an application for Team TCS Teachers. If I get picked, I get an entry to run the Chicago Marathon (1st choice) or the NYC Marathon (2nd choice). Cross your fingers and toes so that I get picked!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I come home tired with no desire to do anything. I only want to read and cuddle with my cats. I know this is the usual around this time but this year hit me hard. I like my job but there are days that I hate being a dual language teacher. It is more work than a regular teacher and I don’t get paid more for doing that job.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that today we receive our assignment letter. This letter states our job for the following school year. However, there is no guarantee that that is the job I will have next year. The District is known for moving teachers to a different job during the Summer, a few days before the start of the school year, and halfway through the school year.

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 ways to celebrate the mother runner in your life. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like. We hope you’ll link up with us!