Tuesday Topics: Some of my favorite running items

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Share your favorite running item(s) you’ve tried this year.  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!

So some of these items are not new but they’re still some of my favorite to use for running.

KT Performance+ by KT Tape Anti Chafing Stick – I bought this after I ran out of the one I was using before (and I wan’t too crazy about it).  It is easy to apply, does not stain, and there is no smell.  

SportSuds Laundry Detergent – I know I have written about this before but seriously I LOVE this detergent for my running clothes.  I’ve been using it for over a year and my clothes do not smell at all. 

Smartwool Women’s PhD Run Ultra Light – I wear both these and Balega socks.  I am not too crazy about extra cushion so these thin socks are perfect.  They’re moisture-wicking and odor-neutralizing so I find myself wearing them 2 or 3 times before they go in the hamper.  

Oiselle Pocket Jogger Shorts –  I mostly wear these during a long run.  But now I love them even more because the pockets hold my two small water bottles. 

Any you used any of these items?

Tuesday Topics

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Weekly Run Down: Last week of Summer Break and 359 days

It’s the same song this week.  Running and more running.  It was also humid and yucky.  Honestly, I do not remember too much about them so this post will be short.  It is day #359 of my run streak.

Friday morning I was thinking about how it was my last Friday of summer break.  I didn’t do everything I had on my list but that is OK.  The main thing is I enjoyed it and relaxed.  I was also frustrated and annoyed because of some school stuff.  A fun run with Matty did make me laugh.  I have taken this class before but there aren’t a lot of classes left to take (with the instructors and music that I like) so I will be repeating a few of them.

I did feel better on Saturday during my run.  It was warm and humid and I walked the rest of the way home after the 4th mile.  My last mile was my fastest which surprised me.  

I went back to school on Monday to finish setting up.  There was nothing more I can do there since I don’t have a printer that works.  Plus, I am not sure what to expect this year with various new curriculums, rules, and expectations.  

The most exciting thing that happened this week was that on Wednesday they were filming Chicago PD very close to my house.  Some of the streets were closed off beginning Tuesday night for the crew to park their vans.  I did go out the next day to check it out and saw Jay and Hailey.

Mateo rarely hangs out with me (he prefers my mother) so it was nice to have him cuddle with me.

I also got a haircut!  I asked the hairdresser to cut off 2 inches and to make some layers.  My last haircut was during the end of June.  My hair grows fast!  Left photo is from June and right is from Friday.

Wish me luck this week!  Monday and Tuesday are all meetings and then the students start on Wednesday.

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

 

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Weekly Run Down: Still enjoying Summer break and photos of my cats

Another easy and relaxing week of running.  No plan to follow but just run whatever I wanted.  The heat and humidity was not fun at all.  Thankfully it cooled down and made the runs feel much better.  We opened the windows and turned off the AC.  

Most of my runs this week were done in the afternoon.  Not sure why I didn’t go in the morning before going to school to set up my room.  I did a bike class Monday and Tuesday but then had no energy the rest of the week.  I took the Elvis run but didn’t like it too much.  I like his music but I think I recognized 1 or 2 songs.  I did enjoy the 90s Run and definitely the 80s pop ride!  His class had a 12 minute warmup which I thought was strange.  Denis is another favorite after Cody.

I don’t know what happened but I swear I took a run class on Friday, but it does not show up on my list.  My goal was to take at least one class for one year (beginning in February when I renewed my membership).  Well, at least it still counts for the streak.

This week I will continue running however long I want to.  August 28th will be 365 days so that will be the last day of my run streak.  Maybe I should just finish the month!  I did good these past 3 days running between 45 minutes to an hour.  We are supposed to have cooler weather so I am happy about that.

This week I went to set up my room (Monday-Wednesday).  I am not done and will go tomorrow just to finish up some last minute things.  The rest will have to wait the following week.  We start on the 23rd and students start on the 25th.  I do not feel ready because I will have a new language arts curriculum (for dual language) and a new math curriculum.  I am supposed to have a wall for Spanish items/ words, another one for English, and a third one for both English and Spanish.  I am happy that Math will be taught in English but now will need to get resources in English since a lot of what I have are in Spanish.  <<No problem with my TpT donations!

We were told that the District will not allow us to have individual student barriers.  However, the office staff has them and the library has them as well.  I asked the Principal if teachers could have one and she has not responded.  You know I hate it when people do not respond to emails.  With one week to go before school starts, there are still many questions that need to be answered.  I received a summons for jury duty for September 1st.  I want to know if another teacher can take my class or will the District get a substitute teacher for me.  I am hoping that I do not have to go at all.  

Thanks for reading and I will leave you with some photos of my cats.  Mateo enjoys being in the balcony more than Lola.  Check out his tongue!  

Guess who was first on the bed?  With so many places in the apartment, I don’t know why they chose to sleep on my bed.

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

 

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Weekly Run Down: Easy miles and setting up my room

With no plan to follow, I ran what I felt like running.  Most days I picked a 20 minute Peloton run and did that.  I also did a few Peloton bike classes and also added some walks to my week.  The last time I took a bike class was in June.

I saw another cat that wanted to come home with me.  I don’t think Lola would be happy about it.  She still hisses whenever Mateo is around her.

I spent time on the balcony and finished reading my book.  Thanks to Wendy’s post, now I have a couple more to add to my reading list.

I needed more wine when I read this paragraph.  

I am thinking of changing the format of posting my weekly activities, but for now don’t know how, so just bear with me while I figure it out.  🙂

Monday was all about the 80s.  I miss Cody and enjoyed the class.

Tuesday was all about Latin music.  Fun classes! 

The rest of the week was all 80s and Latin music.  Those two are my favorite.  The instructor and the music is what I look for in a class.  The two with a checkmark are the ones that I enjoyed the most.  I love Ally’s excitement in class and she is so much fun to have around.

Today was a 20 minute pop run with Matty and a 30 minute ride with Cody.  Great music in both classes.  I know I am late to the party here but lately I have been hearing a lot of the song “Let’s Get Loud” by JLo in a few Peloton classes.  Now, I am NOT a big fan of her, but do like the song.  

I know I said I was not going to buy running shoes, but when I saw these I knew I had to get them.  Cute and comfortable!

On Thursday I went to school to start setting up my room.  I walked in and didn’t know where to start.  It doesn’t look as bad as in previous years, but it still felt overwhelming.  Remember this is a new classroom for me and last year I did not set it up because it was still remote learning.

I do not want to move the desks until I have a better idea of how many students I will have (as of now it is 21).  Also, I think administration needs to set them up and space them out due to social distancing.  Not sure how I will fit that many desks while keeping them apart. 

I worked on my bulletin boards and organized my file cabinet and the inside of my desk.  I am planning to go this week again and hopefully do the bulk of it.  I still need to put up the classroom rules, alphabet, number line, etc.  The rest I can finish when I start school and I know my schedule and how a day with students will look like.  Also, I do not want to go the last week of Summer Break (August 16th).

My sister usually goes with me to help out, but now due to Covid, no one else is allowed to go in.  Anyone has a magic wand I can borrow?  I promise to return it quickly!  

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

 

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Fit Five Friday and August Ultimate Coffee Date


I am so happy that it’s Friday!  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 posted two TpT ClassFund links on Facebook and received over $150 in donations.  Then TpT matched some of the donations (up to $50) so I ended up with over $200.  I am grateful to everyone that donated.  I have an Amazon wishlist that I will post as well.  I know schools/districts received Covid money but I really doubt teachers will get any money to use towards classroom expenses.  😞

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I have my annual physical exam on the 30th and one of the things I will tell my doctor is that I think I am experiencing pre-menopause.  I have hot flashes throughout the day, but more at night.  It is awful and not fun at all.  Why do women have to suffer so much?  Yesterday I went to set up my classroom and the AC was not working.  Sigh, it wasn’t that bad but there were time in which I found myself sweating a lot and had to go out in the hallway to cool down a bit. 

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that it feels really good to be running for fun.  Don’t get me wrong, I like working with my coach and have enjoyed my workouts, but lately it had felt like I had to run versus wanting to run.  Add in the stress of everything going on and it isn’t a good combination. 

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that the months are going by too fast.  How is it August already?  Only 4 months till the year 2021 is over.  Unfortunately, what I remember most from these past couple of months is how awful school was for me.  I know there were many positive moments but why is it that we focus more on the negative than the positive? 

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I haven’t watched much of the Olympics.  As much as I wanted to keep up with swimming and track and field, NBC hasn’t been doing a good job of showing everything.  I don’t have cable and NBC is the only way I can watch it.  I did see the 1500m swimming and that was unbelievable!  I also saw a few of the 100, 200 and 400m events  – those women are FAST!! 

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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