Tuesday Topics: 2022 Chicago Marathon Weekend

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Tips for Dealing with Running Burnout.  You can write about this topic or 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!

I am deviating from today’s topic to write about this past weekend.  Sunday was the Chicago Marathon.  No, I didn’t run was I was spectating in Pilsen.  I had a blast and almost got me motivated to run it again.

The weekend began with a fun event with Alison Désir on Friday.  She was in town promoting her book “Running While Black“.  There was a fun run and a panel discussion with two other runners.  As much as I enjoyed listening to them, I was a little disappointed that Alison did not talk about her or her book.

There were treats for everyone – water, coffee, and snacks.  I tried Nemi cactus sticks and found them to be really good.

I did not run but did try on again a pair of the Brooks Hyperion Tempo.  And just for trying them on I was entered into a raffle to win a $300 head to toe Brooks outfit or one of Alison’s books.  Bummer but I didn’t win.

Every person that attended got a bag.

Sunday was Marathon Day!  I did a quick run in the morning, showered, and got ready.  Pilsen is my favorite place to spectate.  When I got there the wheelchair participants had already begun to pass by.  I knew the runners would be next.

First came the elite men.  I am always in awe of their form.

Then came the elite women and other elite runners followed by everyone else.  I was rooting for Emily Sisson and was pleased she set a record for an American woman.  I really wanted her to win 1st place.

Some fun entertainment.

I saw many friends but missed a few of them as well.  I thought the tracking app did a good job of letting spectators know the location of the runners.

I saw Erica past mile 19 and Renée at the mile marker.

I love this photo of Emily along with the other women that have set a record for an American woman.

Overall it was a fun day and I was tired by the time I got home.  I know, I know, not as tired as the runners.

Topic for next week – Favorite Recovery Tools. Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

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Fit Five Friday and October 2022 Ultimate Coffee Date


Wow, how is it already October?  I feel like September went by slow and fast at the same time.  I was very busy with work which made the days go fast but it still felt like a long month.  I know it is already October but I feel like I’ve been in school more than 7 weeks.  On a positive note, I’m starting off the weekend with a little catch-up over the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah.  So grab a mug of your favorite beverage and let’s chat for a bit!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I cannot wait to spectate the Chicago Marathon on Sunday!  It is definitely one of my favorite days!!

 If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that we have a new teacher contract.  There were many great new things and perks added to it.  There is a salary increase.  However, an extra 30 minutes will be added to the school day beginning in August 2023.  I am not really crazy about it but we knew that one day the state was going to require us to extend the day.  Another great thing is that we can wear jeans and gym shoes as long as we wear them with spirit wear (school shirt). 

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I think I am a good driver.  I rarely speed and always stop at the stop signs.  One day I was driving to work and was waiting in the left lane for the light to change so I could turn left.  The light changed and I began to turn.  Then I saw a young boy/teenager about to cross the street.  It was too late for me to stop and let him go.  Then I looked up my mirror and saw that the car behind me had stopped to let him go.  I then wondered if I should have stopped too but I realized that I had the signal to turn.  Plus, the boy should learn how to cross the street!  😆

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you have recommendations for comfortable shoes.  I love wearing jeans and gym shoes.  However, there are days when I want to look nicer.  You know I love my Tieks.  However, I am STILL dealing with plantar fasciitis (I don’t know why since I am rarely running) and my feet hurt when I wear them.  Yesterday morning I ordered two pairs of Allbirds Women’s Tree Breezers (wasn’t sure about size) so we’ll see how those work out.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that the later sunrise makes me sad.  I am not liking how dark it is at 6am.  I know I’ve said before that I enjoy running in the dark.  I haven’t been running much anyway so there is nothing pleasant about the darkness.  🤣 🤣

Thanks for linking up with us again this week!  We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites!  Join hosts My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugsand Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday!  Please add your link below.  I am also linking up with Running with Perseverance and Confessions of a Mother Runner for the Ultimate Coffee Date.

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Tuesday Topics: Life Updates

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!

These past few weeks went by too fast.  It was busy with work and family activities.  My oldest sister was in town for my mother’s birthday and she stayed with me so that was fun.  No, I am not being sarcastic.  I hadn’t see her in about a year and it is always nice to see her.  I know my mom was happy too.

Let me update you a bit with some life updates.

🔷 I have not been running.  My last run was on Sunday morning.  Prior to that my last run was on 9/18.  Getting up to run doesn’t sound too exciting right now.  I know I need to snap out of this funk and get moving.  I also know a race goal will get me excited.  However, Winter will be here soon and, well, you know how I feel about Winter running.

🔷 Last week was very hectic.  I had a meeting on Monday, Open House on Tuesday, and half day on Wednesday (but with meetings until 4pm).  For Open House only 3 parents showed up for my sessions and then 3 more at 7:30.  I was done with my sessions but was there to talk and answer questions.  Was I disappointed with the numbers?  Yep.  The meeting on Wednesday put me in a bad mood.  As a dual language teacher I feel like we are always doing more work than GE teachers.  I am already overwhelmed with the new things that are being implemented for Reading (one would be teaching foundational skills in English and in Spanish) but now I need to do bridging in Math.  What exactly is it?  “The Bridge is the instructional moment in teaching dual language when teachers bring the two languages together, guiding students to engage in contrastive analysis of the two languages and transfer the academic content they have learned in one language to the other language.”  

🔷 These hot flashes are a pain in the you know what.  It is weird how I can go months without them and then boom they show up.  This year I’ve experienced them within the last 2 months.  

🔷 My doctor prescribed a sleeping pill.  She thought the reason I was tired was because I wasn’t sleeping enough.  I go to bed between 9-930pm.  Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.  Most nights I’ve been able to go back to sleep but sometimes I stay away for about an hour before sleeping again.

🔷 I reactivated my Fitbit account.  The main reason is to track my sleep.  I don’t care too much about the number of steps I take during the day.  Well, I am curious.  Yesterday I walked over 8,000 steps, but I don’t think I will wear my watch everyday.  

🔷 My classroom is almost done.  I just need to finish my English classroom library (Spanish is done but it took me about 5 months to finish it) and organize my supply closet.  I am getting evaluated/observed this year and the main things are done.  No one will see the closet and the bins already have books in them. 😀

🔷 I haven’t been reading like I would like to.  Right now I am reading “Landslide”.  However, my favorite Chicago and NY shows are back on TV.  Thanks to a great offer from Peacock I can watch the shows after they’re shown on TV.  I am a T-Mobile customer and got a free 1-year subscription to Paramount+ Premium and can watch many CBS shows there.  Anyone remember “Bull”?  My sister and I were fans but then I stopped watching it.  I also like “NCIS” and stopped watching it about 2 years ago.  

Any recommendations to track sleep?  Honestly, I really do not want to wear the Fitbit watch.

Topic for next week – Today is World Animal Day.  What animals have you seen out on your run?  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

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Tuesday Topics: My favorite positive affirmations

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Today is Positive Thinking Day. What quotes of affirmations do you use to get through a hard run?  You can write about this topic or 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!

We all love positive affirmations.  There are so many out there but there are a few that I love and use at work, home, on a run, etc.

This one always makes me laugh!

Topic for next week – Share your Fall Race Schedule.  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

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Fit Five Friday: Belated Coffee Date

I know it isn’t our coffee date today but I missed it last Friday so I thought I would do it today.  It will be short and sweet.

☕ Over coffee I’d tell you that today is my mom’s birthday.  She is 79 years old.  My oldest sister flew in from Mexico yesterday.  The plan was to make mole today (one of my mom’s favorite) but we ended up making it yesterday.  From start to finish it took us almost 3 hours to make it.  Mole tastes better the day after so I am sure today it will be even more delicious today.

☕ Over coffee I’d tell you that last week I went to the doctor.  I told her about how tired these past couple of months.  She ordered bloodwork to check ferritin, hemoglobin along with a a complete blood work.  The results are normal.  Ferritin is at 17 and higher than it was in June (it was 10) and iron is at 67.  She thinks my fatigue is due to lack of sleep and wants me to track/monitor it.  I do not agree with it.  I’ve had the same doctor for about 15 years but a part of me thinks I should go to someone else.  Thoughts?

Over coffee I’d tell you that taking a day off is nice.  More days is even better.  However, the amount of planning it takes sometimes isn’t worth it (but I know many times it is necessary just in case).  It took me a couple of hours to do a sub tub (5 days worth of emergency plans).  I was off yesterday to pick up my sister from the airport and to take my mom twice to the doctor and it took me about 2 hours to do my plans for just one day.  Now I need another day off!

☕ Over coffee I’d tell you that I know I have mentioned that I like running in the dark.  I like the solitude and feeling like I am in my own world.  However, these past few days I have been afraid to run in the dark.  It isn’t complete dark since I run along a major street until it is light outside, but it still scares me.  

☕ Over coffee I’d tell you that I have not read linkups nor comments from Tuesday’s post.  I try to read and respond no later than Wednesday, but this week it was one thing after another.  And I hate that my classroom is still not finished.  I still have boxes full of books and random things here and there.  I jokingly told the custodian that it will be ready by the time I will have to move back to my old building.  We still do not know if it will be teared down or remodeled but either way it will be about 3-5 years before it will be ready again.

Thanks for linking up with us again this week!  We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites!  Join hosts My First 5K and MoreRunning With AttitudeRun Laugh Eat PieRuns with Pugsand Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday!  Please add your link below.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter