Zenaida Arroyo

10
Sep
2021

Fit Five Friday: 5 things I learned from my run streak

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is doing well. I’ve haven’t posted one of these since July. I did post for Runfessions and Ultimate Coffee Date. I am hoping that now that I am back at work I can get back to the routine of posting every Friday. 😀 But if I don’t then I know at least one of my cohosts will have a post so all of you can link up with us.

As you know last month I completed my one year run streak. I thought I would go longer but early in the month I knew I was not. I was OK with it. It was a great experience but overall am glad I am done with it. It wasn’t horrible but just didn’t want to run everyday anymore. Here are a few things I learned from this run streak.

🏃🏽‍♀️My streak, my rules. For it to be “official”, each day the runner would have to run at least one mile. Whatever. 😆 For the most part I would run at least one mile each day. This Winter was harsh and we got hit with a lot of snow. It felt like it would never stop. There were days when I would not run one mile but it was because I couldn’t with all of the snow. I didn’t care. Running in the snow is still hard work. Other days it was cold too.

🏃🏽‍♀️I took it easy and made it fun. I had a mixture of workouts and thankfully 3-4 days were easy runs. I did many of those runs at an easy and comfortable pace. I also walked and still counted them as running miles. Again, my streak, my rules.

🏃🏽‍♀️It’s a mental game. There were days when I did not want to run. However, I would tell myself that it would “only” be 13-15 minutes. Once those minutes were over, then I would decide to stop or keep going.

🏃🏽‍♀️I am stronger than I think. My coach always reminds me of this. Running everyday is not easy. Many days I was tired and wanted to stay in bed or watch TV. But I went out there and ran. There were also run/paces that he had me do and I would say/think that I could not do it. I doubted myself A LOT but he would always believe in me. My coach had me run a 5k and I did it. I think that is the longest I’ve run without stopping.

🏃🏽‍♀️I found the “why”. There were times when I wanted to quit and my coach asked me to think about why I was doing a run streak. At first I thought it would be something fun to do. But then I wanted to stop. I realized that the “why” is because I can. I am healthy. I can run. I really had no excuse not to run.

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.

07
Sep
2021

Tuesday Topics: Tips for beginner runners

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Your tips for beginner runners. 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!

Dear runner,

So you just started running? Good for you! I am proud of you. Running is fun. Running is a hobby. You don’t have to love running but liking it is good enough. When you start to “hate” it then that is when you probably need to take a break from it. That’s OK. It happens to many of us. Here are some of my tips. I hope you find them useful.

➡️ Invest in good shoes. I know shoes are expensive but they’re worth it.

➡️ Running should be fun. Remember that it is a hobby. Unless you are training to win a race and money, then it is more than a hobby.

➡️ Listen to your body. Feeling tired and need a day off? Go for it. Do not feel guilty about taking a rest day.

➡️ Walking is OK. Don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t or make you feel less of a runner for walking.

➡️ A mile is a mile no matter the pace. Whether you finish it in 15 minutes, 7 minutes, or 9 minutes, make sure to celebrate it.

➡️ You can run a half marathon or a marathon if you want. It will take time and commitment but it can be done. I started running in 2005 and ran my first marathon the following year.

➡️ Remember that you are a runner. Whenever you’re in doubt, remember these wise words from Bart Yasso: “I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.”

Tuesday Topics

31
Aug
2021

Tuesday Topics: August 2021 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!

The last day of August is here. Only 4 months to go till the end of the year. I took it easy the month of August because I was feeling burned out and I wanted to finish my run streak. Now I am working with a coach again to get back in running shape and possible train for a race. August wasn’t that exciting but still let me review it. 😉

Mileage: Total for this month is 68.67 miles which include a few walking miles. It is my 3rd lowest month this year after February (34.26) and January (64.55 miles).

Current Challenge: None. Anyone has a good one for me to do?

Current Book: None but I am waiting for “

Current Song: No specific song but I am still loving anything 80s.

Current Shoes: I started with the Brooks Ghost 12 and the Launch. Then I saw the Run Hoppy pair and knew I had to get them. These 3 pairs should last me till next year. I hope Brooks do not come out with more cute pairs because I will be tempted to get them.

2021 Running Goal: My goal this year is to run 1,000 miles (I changed it from 1,200). I am 66% done with 664.68 miles. I have 4 months left and 335 miles. You think I would make it?

What am I looking forward to next month? Fall. I love running in Fall weather. I also love the different color leaves. I am also looking forward to taking more Peloton classes. Running everyday is a thing of the past.

How did August go for you?

Tuesday Topics

29
Aug
2021

Weekly Run Down: 365 days and what’s next?

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

What an exhausting week. I survived my first week of school and I completed my running streak!

Bitmoji Image

Not too many running pictures except for Saturday’s run. I went to the lakefront to celebrate the end of my run streak. I got there a little before 6 and it was still dark. It was the perfect time to reflect on this running adventure that would end that day.

I was there for an hour. It was hot but felt good being out there. I saw many runners and it reminded me of when I was training for the Chicago Marathon. Yeah, do not miss it at all. OK, maybe a teeny tiny bit.

Total mileage for this run streak is 1,068.95!

So what is next? My coach and I will be working together again. The plan first is to get back to build a good, strong base and then train for a race. Maybe a half marathon. I would like to pick up where I left off and finish my goal of running a half marathon in each state. I still need 8 states (South Carolina, Kansas, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, New Mexico, and Hawaii). I would also like to PR in the smaller distances. I do know I will not be running everyday anymore. It is time to get serious now and incorporate strength training in my workouts.

I had two days of meetings and PD. Our new Superintendent went to our school on Tuesday. He encouraged all of us to reach out and email him. I have emailed him a few times and he has responded. It made me happy when he said “Your voice matters”. Let’s hope he and his team really mean it.

All 21 students showed up this week. It was chaos but I know it will get better. These students left school on March 13, 2020, but don’t know if any returned when parents were given the opportunity to send them back to school. All I know is that I have A LOT of work to do. And it requires so much patience. It was hard to get them to follow directions; simple directions is not simple for them. A few left the room (more like ran) to go to the bathroom. I told them that they cannot just leave the room and that they needed to let me know.

I am on the 2nd floor and somehow during dismissal I “lost” a few students on the way out. We practiced the next day and it went better. And we practiced again on Friday, but one girl left and I didn’t see who she left with. One of my students said she left with her mom. I don’t know all of the parents yet but in the past sometimes a sibling, another family member, neighbor, or babysitter picks up a student.

I understand the reason for wearing a mask, but it is so hard to wear it all day. I told my students that I would be speaking loud because of the mask. I also asked me to talk louder (they have to wear masks too). Fun times, right?

I was very late in responding to posts from Sunday and Tuesday. So sorry but it was hectic this week. Better late than never, right? I am not sure if I will read posts today because I need to do a few things for my students and work on my lesson plans. But I promise I will read and respond.

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

27
Aug
2021

Fit Five Friday and August 2021 Runfessions

categories: Fit Five Friday, Runfessions

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 while I am excited to be back in school, I am very exhausted at the end of the day. Exhausted that I drag myself out of bed in the morning to run. It was total chaos on Wednesday and a little part of me wished we were still in remote learning. I have a small class compared to last year but there is still so much to do. Two girls asked me to tie their shoes. I didn’t and told them they had to learn. I did feel guilty and I know I shouldn’t.

I runfess…
I had no idea what the milk crate challenge was about. I kept seeing it on Facebook but no information about it. This morning I read about it. Why would people do something like that? It reminds me of the Tide pod challenge. Simply ridiculous!

I runfess…
My primary doctor whom I’ve seen for over 10 years is leaving the physician’s group in November. I have been assigned new doctors in the same location. I knew this day would come but I was in shock when I received the news. I have an appointment on Monday for my yearly physical. I will ask her where she is going so hopefully she can continue being my doctor. I honestly do not want to start over.

I runfess…
I am jealous of everyone doing Hood to Coast. But I can never do it because it is right around the time that school starts. I remember there was a time when I couldn’t do either Ragnar Relay Chicago because it was also during the time when school was in session. I did do it in 2012 because I was out of school already.

I runfess…
Lately I’ve been eating so much. Stress makes me eat more. Each day when I come home I rest for a bit and then eat whatever I can get my hands on. Some of my pants still fit but my running shorts are a bit tight. I know eventually it won’t be as stressful but I still need to do a better job with my meals.

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.