Zenaida Arroyo

08
Apr
2025

Tuesday Topics: The Boston Marathon is no longer on my running bucket list

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!

The Boston Marathon! I cannot wait to watch it on TV. I was supposed to be in Boston to spectate it, but I will no longer do that. One day. One day, right?

I have a better chance of spectating it than to actually run it. For a few years the Boston Marathon was on my bucket list. I clearly remember a few days before I ran my first marathon in 2006, I told a coworker that I wanted to BQ before I turned 40. I was 33 years old. I had no idea what I was talking about. I didn’t know that a BQ and actually running the marathon were two different things. My coworker smiled. She also knew I had no idea what I was talking about.

I went back through previous posts and found one where I began training to train to train to train for a BQ. This was in April of 2017. At that time I needed 3 hours and 55 minutes for a BQ. Now I need 3 hours and 50 minutes.

The race was still on my bucket list. I wrote about it in several posts. But now I wonder if I really wanted to run the race or was it because it was everyone’s dream to run the Boston Marathon?

I know I will never qualify. I am not a fast runner and don’t see myself getting faster as I get older. Below are the times for the 2026 marathon. Even if I qualify, there is no guarantee that I will actually run the Boston Marathon.

I thought about going the charity route, but the thought of asking money doesn’t sound appealing. I did that a few times for the Chicago Marathon and I don’t want to do it again.

A few years ago there was a program for teachers to apply. I did and wasn’t picked. I know there are other programs offered by brands that pick runners, but I know I won’t get picked.

So, the Boston Marathon is no longer on my running bucket list. Heck, running a marathon is no longer on my list either. 🙂 I am OK with that decision. I want to focus on smaller races. I was going to say to also get a PR, but I don’t want to pressure myself. I want to enjoy my runs and my races. I still have a few more states to run in to finish my quest of running a half marathon in every state.

For now I will enjoy Marathon Monday and watch it from the comfort of my home or school.

The topic for next week – Rain Date: Give your tips for running in those April showers. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

04
Apr
2025

Fit Five Friday and April 2025 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday

Welcome to the April 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!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you today is my last week of Spring Break. I go back to work on Monday and then it will be 7 weeks left of school. Pretty amazing. This week is just what I needed to unwind and relax. I watched TV, finished reading a book and started another one. I also took care of a few things in the house. I haven’t finished unpacking and that is OK. Though sometimes I do get stressed when people come over and they see my mess.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I haven’t run since January when I made a big deal about starting the new year with a run and my goal of running/walking 2,025 miles. I seriously lost my motivation afterwards. The weather didn’t help. I closed on my house in January and while I didn’t move right away, I bought some things for it and had a few things done before moving in. The weather didn’t help as I didn’t want to run in the cold weather. Then I moved and still no running. Maybe tomorrow?

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that since I haven’t been running, I haven’t raced either. Remember last year how excited I was about the races I signed up to run in various states? Ugh! I try not to think about it because that is money down the drain. I did manage to defer the race in Myrtle Beach, but not the ones in New Mexico and Kansas. I don’t think I will manage to run in Fargo, ND at the end of May.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that now that I am a homeowner and have to make a mortgage payment, I cringe when I see how much money exactly goes towards the principal. Unfortunately, I bought my house when the interest was high and hopefully I can refinance to lower my payment. What I am doing is whatever extra money I make from my extracurricular activities at school, I send it to the bank towards the principal. Any extra money will help.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I plan to be more consistent with posting on my blog. Thanks to my blogging friends for continuing to post and keeping up with the linkups.

I hope April is a wonderful month for everyone!

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 Things You Look Forward To In Your Favorite Running Shoe. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like. We hope you’ll link up with us!

25
Mar
2025

Tuesday Topics: Let’s catch up!

categories: Tuesday Topics

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!

Hello there! It’s been over a month since my last post. I want to tell you so many things but I am not sure where to start. Grab your favorite drink and let’s chat. I just finished drinking a bottle of beer and might have another one. Today was one of those days. Rough day.

• I finally moved! OMG! I didn’t realize I had so much stuff. I had boxes and boxes full of stuff. I even threw away a bunch of stuff too. I hired movers and I am glad I did. They moved everything for me. I was sick when this happened and almost canceled the move. I am glad I didn’t. I still haven’t finished unpacking. I am about 90% done.

• Next week is Spring Break. I will use the time to finish organizing my things. I also plan to rest and to take it easy.

• My cats are adjusting to the new space. I left my cats in the apartment when I left with the movers because they were hiding. I knew I had to go back for them. Mateo hid in the car and wouldn’t come out. Lola was fine but Mateo was being difficult. I managed to get him out of the car and into the house.

• Owning a house scares me. The bills are higher than living in an apartment. My first gas bill was a few hundred dollars and I wasn’t even living there! I closed on the house on January 17th and moved in at the beginning of March. I had the heat on (not too high) because it was still cold and I didn’t want the pipes to freeze. I received another gas bill and while it isn’t high like the first one, it is still high. I also have to pay a water bill. I received my first one and was shocked to see how it was.

What if something breaks (i.e. sump pump, water heater, etc)? Before when I had trouble in the apartment, my landlord would fix it. Now I don’t have that option. Now I need to figure it out.

• Owning a home is still a rewarding feeling. Now I can say “my house” and mean it. I can do whatever I want here. I can be as loud as I want to. I can decorate however I want. Even though it is a scary feeling (see note above), the good feeling outweighs the scary feeling.

The topic for next week – April Fools-share your favorite fitness pranks! Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

21
Feb
2025

Fit Five Friday: Five Friday Prompts, Part 2

categories: Fit Five Friday, Prompts

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!

This is a previous post from October 2024.

Today I am using the prompts from the Jetpack app.

• What countries do you want to visit? I want to travel all over the world but here are my top 5: Mexico, Greece, Egypt, Italy, and France. If I could retire right now and have extra money, I would travel. I would also pay for a friend to accompany me. I know I am a grown woman but traveling alone doesn’t sound fun.

• Have you ever had surgery? What for? I’ve never had surgery. I am lucky. I hope I never need to have surgery.

• What would you change about modern society? Technology. I like technology and how it has simplified many things. However, at the same time, it has made it worse for us. As much as I hated it, I thank remote learning for now being able to work from home whenever it is required. However, technology can also backfire in a school setting. My students have a Chromebook that they use in the classroom and home. Because of technology, many students are on their Chromebook and do not have basic motor skills (use a pencil, cut with scissors, etc). They also are not doing fun stuff like coloring. Sometimes technology doesn’t let kids be kids.

•What do you love about where you live? I think by now it is how comfortable and familiar I am with everything around me. I am familiar with the routes going to and coming home from work. My neighbors to my left and right are awesome. During the Winter, they sometimes use their snow blower to clean up the snow. I still want to move because I want more space, but at the same time it scares me.

• What does your ideal home look like? I’ve always been fascinated with Georgian homes. I want a big bedroom with my own bathroom. Right now I have a small bedroom and one bathroom in the apartment. I also want a room for my Peloton bike, and eventually get a treadmill and a rower. My home will also have a dining room so my family can get together to eat and talk. Let’s not forget a cat room for Lola and Mateo!

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

11
Feb
2025

Tuesday Topics: Five Tuesday Prompts, Part 3

categories: Prompts, Tuesday Topics

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!

Here is another post with some interesting prompts in the Jetpack app. Ready?

• Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car). Years ago a friend and I went to NY. Somehow we ended up at the Coach store and purchased a bag/purse. I don’t remember why I thought I needed it. I think I spent close to $500 for it. I still have it but have no need for it, but don’t want to get rid of it either.

• If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with the extra time? Right now I would use the extra time to train for my race and pack/declutter to move. Just thinking about the packing stresses me out. I told my sister that I will need to tackle one room at a time so that it isn’t overwhelming. But the extra time would help too.

• Is your life today what you pictured a year ago? Yes and no. I finally bought a house and last year I was still looking for one. I am still at my job, taking care of my elderly mother, and living with my sister.

• What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life? Personally, this isn’t something I wouldn’t want to do. The thought of living over 80, 90, or 100 doesn’t sound appealing to me. Maybe if I didn’t have any health issues it might be something I would like to do. But then I remember where this country is headed and it brings me back to reality.

• What do you complain about the most? My job. I try not to because it doesn’t help me and it makes me more unhappy, but I cannot help it. If I didn’t have to work, I would travel around the world, and volunteer at a school. I know teachers could use the extra help. I would also read. I have a long list of books that I want to read.

The topic for next week – How to fall in love or fall back in love with running. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!