Zenaida Arroyo

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Show us your year in bling!  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’m deviating from this week’s topic (I didn’t run any races this year so no bling) to write about a topic that was talked about a few weeks ago.  I missed the linkup that week and am now writing about it.  

I do not own a treadmill.  I really wished I did.  Once I have more room, I plan to get a Peloton treadmill.  I know Kim has one and she loves it.  I do like running outside but sometimes the weather is not the best.  Also, training for a 50k requires longer runs and I am not sure how much earlier I can get out in the morning to get it done and be on time for work.

Anyway, I’ve done many, many runs on the treadmill.  There was one year where I did a lot of my runs on it while training for the Chicago Marathon.  I actually do not mind the treadmill at all.  I do like it.  I know many people don’t and that is OK.

Here are some tips that worked for me.  

• Listen to fun music.  I have a variety of Spanish and English music and various playlists.  Depending on how I was feeling is the music I would pick.  

• Watch TV.  Sometimes music gets on my nerves so I prefer to watch TV.  I’ve watched whatever is playing on the television or a show on my iPad.

• Change incline and/or pace.  I did my runs at 0% incline but made sure to change the pace.  I would set a timer for 1:30/2:00 minutes or 3:00/4:00 minutes and then change the pace (I would have 3 different paces) at the sound of the buzzer.  Or I would change it after each song.  This would make the run a bit more exciting and made the time go by faster.

• Break up the run into parts.  I never did a run without stopping.  Who wants to run 10 miles without stopping?  Not me.  For a run of that distance, I would run 2.5 miles, take a quick break, and run again 2.5 miles.  Then I would use the bathroom and/or get more water and repeat for the rest of the 5 miles.  Something similar could be done for 12, 14, or 16 miles.  The key is to not think of it as a LONG run of 12, 14, 16 miles but instead as short and quick runs with breaks in between.

Yes or no to treadmill running?

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This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Holiday Gift Guide  for 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!

Hey there!  Welcome to December!  It is time (or maybe you already did) to start thinking of gifts for your runner friends and for you too.  Here are a few of my suggestions of items that I use.

Koala Clip – I love mine and use it on every run.  It is perfect to carry my phone.  Use code ZENAIDA10 for 10 percent off.

ROAD iD – I’ve had mine now for a few years.  I wear it all of the time and never take it off.  

SABRE RED Pink Pepper Spray Keychain – I hate that I have to carry this with me but I know it is necessary. 

Noxgear Tracer 2 – I LOVE, LOVE it!  This is seriously the best running gear I purchased this year.  It provides maximum visibility, lots of different color modes, and it is rechargeable.  If you run in the dark, then you need to get it for you too!

BALEAF Women’s Fleece Lined Winter Leggings High Waisted Thermal Warm Yoga Pants with Pockets – These may be advertised on yoga pants but they’re the perfect running pants for the Winter.  They’re soft and warm.  Plus, I use the pockets on the side to store my small water bottles.

Billie Razors – These razors are inexpensive and leave your legs very smooth.  At sign up you pay $10 and you get a shaver, a magnetic holder, and two 5-blade razor cartridges.  Then for $10, every month or every 2 or 3 months (you select the subscription frequency), you get four replacement blade cartridges sent to your house.  You can also delay an order or cancel your subscription.  

Massage gun – I’ve had mine for two years now (and I paid a lot more for it).  I’ve used it on my mom and my coworkers.  It is easy, quiet, cordless, and rechargeable.

Socks – A runner can never have too many socks.  A few of my favorites are Lily Trotters, Balega, and Smartwool.  

HEAD Women’s Gloves – I got these at Costco.  I have both the touchscreen running gloves and the waterproof hybrid gloves.  They’re perfect for the cold weather and they’re not too expensive either.  I bought a couple to have on hand in case I lose a pair.

Shoes – My favorite are the Brooks Ghost and the Launch.  Brooks has a variety of shoes for every runner and some fun and great designs.  I wish they would stop because I end up buying too many pairs.  🤣 Have you seen the holiday shoes (Levitate 5)?  Adorable!

➡️ Other ideas include gift cards to Amazon, Zappos, and Running Warehouse.  

What else would you add here?  Which one of these gifts would you like to get?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Tell us why you’re thankful for running 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!

Thank you everyone for entering my birthday giveaway!  I am seriously the worst blogger and have not read your post and/or comment from last week’s post.  I will do that soon.  However, Rafflecopter picked the winner for the giveaway and that lucky person is Darlene!  

What a year this has been!  However, I will say that I feel like it is better than last year.  Would you think so too?

At the end of August I finished my one year running streak.  When I first started I didn’t think I would make it to a year.  There were a few times that I wanted to quit.  But I kept going.  I remember that in the beginning of August I felt tired and exhausted.  I wasn’t feeling as motivated anymore.  But I still did not want to quit.  I kept going.  Now I am training for a 50k!  I told myself I didn’t want to run a marathon anymore.  🤣 🤣

Running has brought me joy.  It has also brought me peace.  It has given me more confidence.  It has brought me some of my biggest supporters (YOU)!  Thank you!

Running is my ME time.  I think about life.  I make plans for the day.  I think about what to do with my students.  As I am running in the dark, I feel like I am in my own world.  It is a strange but comforting feeling.  

Running got me through some of the toughest months of the school year.  This past school year was definitely the worst year for me.  I wanted to quit.  I cried a lot.

I plan to continue running for as long as I can.  I still have my 50+ states goal to finish.  Just a few more states to go.

Thank you again for being there for me.  Thank you for your encouragement and support.  ❤️ ❤️