Zenaida Arroyo

14
Mar
2023

Tuesday Topics: My running wish list

This week’s Tuesday Topic: What’s on your running wish list? You can write about this topic or post any running-related blog post. Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

Wouldn’t a wish list for runners be lovely? Imagine the things we would put on that list. Let me tell you what will be on mine.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Race entries for a year. I would sign up for many of the races in the Chicago area. There are a few that I love and enjoy doing year after year. Who knows, maybe I’ll run another marathon.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Travel vouchers to travel for races. I still have a few half marathons to run in various states for my 50+1 goal. The vouchers will come in handy!

🏃🏻‍♀️ A Peloton treadmill. I like running outside, but sometimes I don’t do it because of the weather. I hate the snow because I am afraid of falling. I will settle for a non-Peloton treadmill. I guess I can’t be too picky.

🏃🏻‍♀️ A Peloton rower. It will be nice to have a complete set from Peloton.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Gift cards to Brooks Running, Amazon, and Running Warehouse. With all of my races, I will need shoes, gels, recovery drinks, etc.

The topic for next week: What are your Spring running plans and/or race schedule? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

10
Mar
2023

Fit Five Friday: 5 Spring cleaning tips for your fitness gear

categories: Fit Five Friday

This week’s Fit Five Friday topic: 5 spring cleaning tips for your fitness gear. You can write about this topic or any fitness-related post. We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida so be sure to link up with us.

The word “Spring” gets me all excited. While it isn’t my favorite season, I do like it more than Winter. Spring gets us closer to Summer and then Fall. Yes, Fall is my favorite.

Fitness gear isn’t cheap. Well, it depends on what you buy and whether you pay the full or the sale price. I usually do the latter unless there is something I really, really like then I will pay the full price. No matter what, we want to take care of it so that it can last a long time. Below are a couple of Spring cleaning tips I do for my gear.

🧺 Invest in a good detergent specifically for fitness gear. I have tried a few brands over the years, but my favorite is “Sport Suds”. I use it each time I wash my running gear. A little goes a long way. I have been using it for years and my clothes do not smell like they used to before. I am a heavy sweater and my clothes would stink a lot.

🧺 Check if the clothes still fit, has holes, or are too dingy. I know I just said that fitness gear could be expensive, but why still wear something that is very old with holes or doesn’t fit anymore? Invest in something new. You might get lucky and get a good price! Now will also be a good time to invest in new sports bars.

🧺 Replace your running shoes. They need to be replaced every 300–500 miles. I replace mine every 300 miles. I track the mileage using the Garmin Connect app. Once they’re no longer usable for running, I use them for work.

🧺 Clean your Garmin device. I do this more than once a year. Of course, Spring is the perfect time to do this. I hand wash the strap. I also deep clean the actual watch as if I am performing surgery. OK, not really but you get the idea. 😃

🧺 Clean your treadmill, bike, weights, and any other fitness equipment you own. Right now the only fitness equipment in the living room is the Peloton bike. Though at this moment it is collecting dust. I need to get my act together. I will, I will. I wipe off the sweat after each workout, but I need to wipe off that dust and clean it from top to bottom and from left to right.

The topic for next week: 5 fitness superstitions. We hope you will link up.

07
Mar
2023

Tuesday Topics: Females athletes I admire

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Tomorrow is International Women’s Day. Who are the female athletes you admire? You can write about this topic or post any running-related blog post. Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

Every day should be Women’s Day. Women are rockstars. Women do it all. I am in awe of many women that I know. Let’s start with my mom and sisters. My mom has 7 kids and like many mothers, did the best she could. At age 46 she became a widow. I was 19 then, and it wasn’t until I was in my 40s that that made sense to me.

There are many amazing women in my family. They may not be “athletes” but I still admire them. Some are single moms. Some went back to school to further their education. Some have full-time jobs and still have to go home to their kids. <<How they do that is something I ask myself every day. Just having a full-time job is exhausting for me.

The female athletes I admire are YOU. Whether it is an injury, a personal issue, or a medical diagnosis, you all keep going. You find the positive in a negative situation. You encourage and inspire others. You cheer for everyone. You are all busy with family, work, etc., yet still make time for running, cycling, etc. There is no money there for you. It is a hobby and something fun to do.

I know there are many famous athletes and I started to list a few here, but then I realized that you inspire me more than them.

The topic for next week: What’s on your running wish list? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

03
Mar
2023

Fit Five Friday and March 2023 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the March 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! Let’s get started, shall we?

I am glad February is over. It did go by quickly. While it was a mild temperature-wise month for us, it is now March, and some warmer weather. But first Mother Nature decided to drop us a Winter storm that will start today in the afternoon. I am crossing my fingers and toes that the meteorologist got it all wrong and we won’t get any snow at all.

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

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that just like I had a good experience with Amazon last month, I also had a good experience with Running Warehouse. I ordered two shirts and they supposedly were delivered. I remember that that day someone else’s package was on the front steps and so I took it to the correct house. Nothing from Running Warehouse. I reached out to them and after a few email conversations with them and UPS, another package with the two shirts were sent to me. I am pretty sure the original package was delivered to the wrong house, but whoever received it decided to keep it.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that there are a few houses that I like but not one that I would buy right now. Last year I told my landlord that I know he wants me to move and that I am looking for a house. He told me that he understands and that there is no rush for me to leave. He also mentioned how expensive the houses cost. I was relieved. The houses on my list are ready for me to view and hopefully buy just in case he gives me a notice that I need to move. Is my plan the best plan? Probably not, but I don’t think there is another option for me. I do wish the interest rates weren’t ridiculously high.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I am inspired by Erica’s run streak. She just finished 3 years and still going! I did a one-year run streak a few years ago. However, just when I “start” one, something comes up and then I don’t run that day. I guess that is the universe telling me not to do it. Right?

If we were having coffee…
Last month I received an email from Twitter telling me that I’ve been a member for 11 years. Let me tell you that I am not sure how I feel about Twitter. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t. Other times I wonder if I am using it correctly. A few months ago I was into it and enjoyed reading the conversations but now I am tired of it. Too many politics and many people being downright mean and rude. Who has time for that? I haven’t deactivated my account but did remove the app from my phone.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that a friend tagged me on a Facebook photo from CARA promoting one of their upcoming races to take place next month. I remember that race a few years ago. It is a nice photo (I love black and white photos) and I look happy in it. However, right away my eyes went to the stomach area and I was horrified. Ugh! I know, I know, I shouldn’t feel that way but I couldn’t help it.

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

28
Feb
2023

Tuesday Topics: February 2023 Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. Feel free to post any running-related blog post. Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

Yay February is over! It has been a mild Winter with not too much snow but some windy days. It has rained a couple of times but overall still a great Winter.

Just like not all runs will be great, the same thing for days/weeks/months. February was an OK month for me but I survived.

I can now add myself to the list of Covid victims. Yep, I finally got it. It was very mild with a lot of coughing. I stayed in bed for 5 days, resting and reading. I finished one book in two days! But after 5 days of being home, I was ready to return to work.

Let me tell you about how February went for me:

Mileage: It was a very low mileage for me with 18.78 running miles and .98 walking miles. I hope this is the only low month this year. It is warming up and that motivates me to keep on running. But that means then I will be complaining that it is too hot. 😆 😆

Current Book: I have finished reading 5 books and am currently reading “The Paper Place”. My goal is to read 12 books and I am almost halfway done.

Current Shoes: Still running in the Brooks Ghost. These are perfect because they’re NYC-themed!

2023 Running Goal: My goal this year is to run 800 miles. It is about 67 miles per month. I ran way less this month but I know I can make it up in the upcoming months. As long as I stay healthy and injury free, I am confident I will reach my goal.

Injuries: None but sometimes my hip hurts because I do not stretch as I should. Sometimes I do wonder if it is something else.

Blog: I fell off the wagon with posting on Sundays. That is OK because I still want to post on Tuesday and Friday consistently.

School: I have my good days and my bad days like everyone else. We have 3 months left of this school year. Next year we will have a new Reading Curriculum and I am actually looking forward to it. Something new. But that also means more work with this new curriculum. I am not complaining about the curriculum. My complaint is that not enough time is given to us to learn and implement it.

Health: I have no complaints about my health. I have noticed that now I am getting more hot flashes during the day and at night. I wonder if this is because of Covid or premenopause or both.

February was OK. Hopefully, March is better. I am signed up for two races and am excited about them. I will admit that I am NOT ready for my race in NYC next month. I haven’t been training like I wanted to. But I don’t care. I am still going because I know I won’t have another chance to run the half marathon. My goal isn’t to PR anyway. I want to run the race and finish it.

The topic for next week – Tomorrow is International Women’s Day. Who are the female athletes you admire? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics