Zenaida Arroyo

04
Mar
2022

Fit Five Friday and March 2022 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Wow, it is already March and being excited is an understatement. March means Spring, warmer weather, and Spring Break. I am so happy that it’s Friday and that I am off on Monday for Casimir Pulaski Day! 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 as much as I like my car, I do miss my old one. I miss it mainly because of the cassette and CD player. Yep, my old car was from 2006. I listen to the radio on my way to work and sometimes I get bored and tired of the radio broadcasters and the commercials. I have 3 stations that I like and end up switching amongst the 3 of them. I also listen to Pandora and Amazon Music but now want to listen to my CDs and cassettes. Should I just get rid of them? For now they’re in a shoe box in my car.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that our District is now mask optional. While it is refreshing and liberating not to wear a mask all of the time, I am still being careful. I do take it off while teaching since I am not too close to my students and put it back on when they are close to me. I find it easier to teach and talk. I also think my students like to see my facial expressions (mostly when I smile at them).

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I’ve heard so much about Inside Tracker that I finally purchased one of their plans. I got a discount code from a former coach but when I went online to purchase it, the company had a special going on that day. Every plan was 28% off. You bet I took advantage of that discount and saved almost $50. Yesterday I made an appointment for Monday for the lab work. Looking forward to seeing my results. Has anyone else used Inside Tracker before?

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that while it feels good to run again, it was also hard. I went one month without running. It is weird how last year I was running everyday no matter the weather conditions. There was snow, ice, and freezing weather and I was out there. I thought about starting another running streak but already missed yesterday. I slept in for a little bit and then I was too cold to run after work. I didn’t realize how tired I was and ended up taking a nap after dinner. I have a race coming up in two weeks. Part of me wishes I hadn’t signed up but another part is also happy because I get to run a race again. It’s been two years since my last one. Let’s hope it isn’t too cold that day.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that my one challenging student has had 2 good days and 2 bad days this week. On the bad days the parents had to come in to talk to him and the assistant principal. I was a nervous wreck on those two days. I want to only think about and remember the good days. I also had some concerns with another student and got a chance to talk to mom yesterday. I also talked to the student in front of mom. I reminded him that I care about him and that I want to help him. I also told him that he needs to talk to me and not shut me out. He is a sweet and amazing kid. I know that not every child can open up and talk about their feelings to an adult, but I am trying. I know these past two years has been hard on people, but I think that it has been TWICE as hard on children. Teaching is rewarding. It is the non teaching aspects that takes the joy out of it.

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 More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and 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.

01
Mar
2022

Tuesday Topics: 5 words to describe me

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: 5 words to describe yourself. 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!

My words from last year’s post are: Introverted, Proactive, Independent, Hardworking, and Beautiful

For some reason it was hard this year to come up with five words. After doing a lot of thinking, the words I came up with this year are:

Bilingual
Definitely and proud of it! I am grateful for the opportunity to speak, read, and write in two languages. I remember in college knowing that it was important but it wasn’t till I became a teacher that it made more of an impact. Having this experience and knowledge allows me to help other students become bilingual too. I could be trilingual since I do communicate with my cats. Does that count?

Emotional
I feel lots of feelings. Various things make me happy, sad, angry, etc. But aren’t we all emotional? I have cried while reading “The Giving Tree”.

Dependable
I get the work done. That could also be a bad thing because then I spend hours getting the work done. But no matter what it is, my coworkers know that they can depend on me to get it done. I know my family also depends on me for taking my mother to various doctor appointments (and she has quite a few).

Responsible
I may not have my own children but as a teacher I am responsible for 21 students. They’re with me for about 6 hours each day. That’s huge deal! I also responsible for my 2 fur babies. Also, I do as much as I can to make sure my mother has what she needs. She is getting older and requires more assistance.

Strong
Saved the best for last!

Topic for next week – Would you rather do a short or long run? Feel free to write about this or any running related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

25
Feb
2022

Fit Five Friday and February 2022 Runfessions

categories: Fit Five Friday, Runfessions

So far this month has been emotionally exhausting. I am struggling with one of my students. When I think we’ve made progress, we take two steps back. Yesterday during class I finally broke down TWICE. My students saw me. I felt bad and embarrass. I know that isn’t what one would expect a teacher to do but I could not stop. Well, I finally did and managed to still teach my students. I did feel a bit better once I let it all out. Sometimes crying does help, right? 😺

It’s the last Friday of the month which means Marcia has opened the Runfessional! It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Michelle, and me! Let’s get started, shall we?!

I runfess…
That I almost threw away what people were leaving on the street as “dibs”. Most of the snow has already melted and people still think it is OK to still do it. No! They’re just being jerks and saving their own personal parking spot. We got more snow yesterday but not enough for dibs.

I runfess…
That I love Camila from Peloton but it did bother me when in one of her classes she played the song “Que Perra Mi Amiga” which translates to “What a B$%#& my friend is”. Seriously? So many songs out there and that’s the one she decides to add to her playlist. I don’t say that word (OK, maybe have said it once or twice) but the song did annoy me.

I runfess…
That with 11.10 miles (yes, 11 miles! 😬 ) this year, I do not know how in the world I will complete 1,200 miles. I actually want to do 1256.413 since it is 2022 kilometers. I actually got the idea from Shathiso who blogs at The Gaborone Runner. Still not running. Still making the excuse of “it is too cold and I don’t like the snow.”

I runfess…
That I was not impressed with the Super Bowl Half Time Show. I didn’t even watch it that day. I saw it a few days later on YouTube. The artists and songs are not my thing. I did recognize one of Mary J. Blige’s songs but that’s it.

I runfess…
That when I don’t like the music genre in a Peloton bike class, I mute it and listen to my own music on Amazon. I still try to do the same cadence and resistance as the class. Camila is my #1 instructor right now but sometimes I do not like her playlist. Why do the class anyway you might ask? I am taking all of her classes. She has done 98 classes and I still need to take 34. Almost there!

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 More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please add your link below. I am also linking up with Marcia for Runfessions.

22
Feb
2022

Tuesday Topics: Some random thoughts and life updates

categories: 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!

Here are some random thoughts that have been on my mind lately. I am doing OK. Hanging in there and taking it day by day.

💬 Hey there! How is it that we are going on two years when everything changed? I remember two years ago I was worried about all the hills in Atlanta. I was running a half marathon and was not ready.

💬 I love today’s date: 2-22-22!! I had some fun activities for 2-2-22 (it was a remote learning day for us) and will be doing something similar today with my students.

💬 Lately I’ve been in a weird mood. I was doing really good with my Peloton and then suddenly felt unmotivated. I was taking a bike class everyday since January 1 and then took a few days off. I am not running (more on that later) so at least I am staying active on the bike. My goal is to complete 300 Peloton rides. As of yesterday I am at 252 rides. I’ve had so much fun with Camila’s classes. I’ve gotten a few PRs and a couple of badges.

💬 I’ve been struggling with a student in my class. Due to his behavior I’ve had to call for assistance and my students and I have had to go to another room. It has left me emotionally drained and exhausted. I feel bad for him and for my students.

💬 My last run was on January 18. I am over the cold weather and the snow (yesterday was a great day for running but I didn’t have time to run in the morning). I see others running outside and I simply cannot do it. I know, I know-it sounds like a bunch of excuses. I know that having the proper gear makes a different and I have it all, but still no. Some days I miss running and other days I do not.

💬 I signed up for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle! It was $40 and it is one of my favorite races. I am a little nervous but my goals are just to finish and have fun. That is all I can do since running my last race almost two years ago.

💬 Do I still want to run a 50k this year? Absolutely. Not sure which one yet. I am bummed I could not keep up with my training and run the original race I was planning to run on March 26. Oh well, things happen for a reason.

💬 I bought some new shoes. Have you seen the latest Brooks Ghost 14 shoes? So cute! But that’s it. No more shoes this year. 😀 Someone take away my credit card.

Topic for next week – Five words to describe yourself. Feel free to write about this or any running related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

08
Feb
2022

Tuesday Topics: My six favorite of 2021

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Your six favorites of 2021. 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!

What a year 2021 was! It was full of ups and downs. I managed to find joy in various things and here are some of my six favorite things of 2021.

⭐ Favorite Day. It was the first day of school for the 2021-2022 school year – August 25th.

I’ve written about how the 2020-2021 school year was awful. I was beyond happy when I found out that teachers and students were going back to the classroom. Remote learning is a lot of work and it isn’t fun for teacher or students. I made welcome bags for my students and was happy to see my classroom with students.

⭐ Favorite Group Run. I hope one day I can run with this group! Thanks to Kim for putting this collage together. We may not all be running together but at the same time we are. Right, girls?

⭐ Favorite Cat Photo. So many to pick from since I take many pictures of them.

Love my fur babies! A coworker has 2 male kittens and it is tempting to bring them home. However, I have no room in this apartment and I think Lola will run away if I bring two more kittens. She already has to put up with Mateo.

⭐ Favorite Run. August 28th when I completed my one year run streak.

⭐ Favorite Purchase. The Happy Planner. Years ago my coworker told me about it but I never looked into. Last year I saw another teacher post about it on Instagram and immediately went to Michaels to buy one. Then I bought another one. Then another one. I have about 5 different ones but only use one. I know I went overboard. I have different tabs to organize my papers and I like how I have everything that I need for school and my students in one planner. Saves me time as I don’t need to look in different places for one piece of paper.

⭐ Favorite Thing I Found while Decluttering. Two Winter coats! I cannot remember the last time I wore these coats. I have a few black jackets but like adding a bit of color once in a while. It was hard to get a good picture but the blue coat is gorgeous. I thought about donating them but I like them and will try to wear them more often. They do bring me joy!

This was another fun topic. It was great going through my photos to remember the good and not so good moments of 2021.

Topic for next week –Next week is a FREE topic. Feel free to write about any running related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics