Zenaida Arroyo

25
Jun
2024

Tuesday Topics: June 2024 Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

Monthly Review-June 2024 This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. Feel free to post any running-related blog post. Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

Let me tell you about how June is going for me:

Mileage: To date I’ve run 26.99 and walked 6.53 miles.

Run the Year 2024: I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year. So far I have completed 178.16 miles (per the RTE Tracker). I am training for the Chicago Marathon and I am excited to see how it will go and to see how many miles it will add to this goal.

Current Book: I finished reading“The Bad Muslim Discount”, “The Last Thing He Told Me”, and now am reading “The Unsinkable Greta James”. I am liking the book. It reminds me of my cruise to Alaska and now I want to go on another cruise.

Injuries: None. My knees don’t hurt anymore and the pain with plantar fasciitis comes and goes. I will be running more and I don’t want this injury to affect my training . I have an appointment with a podiatrist next week and hopefully we can find a solution (maybe a cortisone shot).

Races: None.

Health: I am doing OK. I am still dealing struggling with hot flashes and the weight gain. I had some blood work done and my A1C level came back as pre-diabetic. I couldn’t believe it. This is the 2nd time it has happened. I see how much diabetes has affected my mom and it frightens me that one day I will be diabetic too.

School: The last day of Summer School is Friday. I will miss some of the students. There is one that is clingy and always wants to be next to me. Another one likes hugging me.

What I am looking forward to next month: I am going to Minnesota for a few days. I still need to find an Airbnb. There aren’t too many places available and the ones that are available are too expensive. We’re talking $800-900 a night for a house – there is a house for $4,000 per night! I realize it is cheaper than a hotel but that much money for a place in Minnesota? Or is that what the rate is now?

The topic for next week: Your 2024 mid-year review. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

21
Jun
2024

Fit Five Friday: 5 favorite moments from January-June 2024

categories: Fit Five Friday

Fit Five Friday-12 We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!

Happy Friday! Today is my second week of Summer School. One more week to go! It is an interesting group. My first week was rough because of the personalities of two girls. One disagrees with pretty much everything I say or or doesn’t want to do. Another one talks back and questions everything I say and do. What shocked me the most is when she answered back with “Why is it a problem that I moved?” It is Summer School and it is supposed to be fun and stress free.

Here are a couple of my favorite moments from the first half of the year.

• Last day of school. It was a wild year with the extra 30 minutes in the day and a new Reading curriculum. I was exhausted and a few times angry. There was a lot of work to do but not enough time. We didn’t receive any training for the new curriculum and I spent HOURS and HOURS going through the program to learn as much as I could about it. I think it paid off!

• Finding out I was picked to run the Chicago Marathon. I entered the lottery but didn’t get picked. A friend of mine ran the NYC Marathon last year through Team TCS Teachers. I submitted an application along with a short essay not expecting to be picked. Imagine my surprise when I saw the email letting me know I was selected to be on the team.

• Running the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. It is one of my favorite races and the unofficial start of the running season in Chicago. I hadn’t been running consistently but I didn’t care. I still wanted to run the race anyway. I didn’t do that great (my worst time in that distance) but I didn’t care either.

• When I got a refund from my dentist. I was shocked when I found out how much I had to pay for a new night guard. But I needed it so I paid for it. I was told my insurance didn’t cover it. Now I wonder if they actually checked. Well, about a week later I received a message from the receptionist telling me that my insurance would in fact cover it and I will receive a check for a refund. It wasn’t for the full amount but pretty close to it.

• Receiving my assignment letter. This letter lets me know where I will be working during the following school year. For the past 10 years, I’ve been in the same school and in the same grade, but two years ago I was moved to a different school (the school was closed). The letter I received this year said that I would be in the same school, in the same grade, and in the same classroom. However, that can all change, but I hope not. I told my Principal that I want to stay in the same school until I retire.

The topic for next week – Runfessions with Marcia. We hope you’ll link up with us!

18
Jun
2024

Tuesday Topics: My Summer 2024 running plans/race schedule

categories: Tuesday Topics

Tuesday Topics-234 This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your Summer running plans or race schedule? You can write about this topic or post any running-related blog post. Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

While it isn’t officially Summer here but it it feels like Summer. This week we will have temperature in the 90s. Thank goodness for AC! I really don’t want to be outside in this weather.

This is what I have planned for this Summer – running and non running.

• Run the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th. It is one of my favorite races and I cannot wait. This year the race will be on Thursday.

• Train for the Chicago Marathon. I signed up to train with a group. The training will start on June 24th. I am not a big fan of Summer running, but I know that it is the best time for me to train for a marathon. I am off during the Summer and it is easier for me to rest and nap after my runs. I do struggle when I go back to work because then I am tired from spending so much time setting up my room.

• Walking more. I haven’t been consistent with my walks. I want to do a short walk after each run; longer if it is a longer run. I still have that goal to run/walk 2,014 miles this year.

• Continue to relax. Everyone has a different way to relax. I like to read and watch TV. My goal this year is to read 24 books. I am reading my 10th book but need to read more to catch up.

• Work on some school projects. I know I shouldn’t be working on school stuff in the Summer, but I want to get a head start so that I am not doing this during the school year. There aren’t a lot of Spanish resources and many times I have to translate them. Now is the perfect time to do these things.

What I would love to do is create a few projects and sell them on Teachers Pay Teacher. It will be a great way to earn some additional money.

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

New Tuesday Topics

07
Jun
2024

Fit Five Friday and June 2024 Ultimate Coffee Date

categories: Fit Five Friday, Ultimate Coffee Date

Welcome to the June edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah. It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by My First 5K and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me!

Now, grab a mug of your favorite beverage, and let’s chat briefly!

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I found out I snore while sleeping. This is new to me. I realized a few months ago and my sister confirmed it. Nothing wrong with it but just surprised.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that I will be running the Chicago Marathon in October. I was picked to be on the Team TCS Teacher. While I am happy about it, I was actually surprised when I got the email. The last time I ran a marathon was in 2016. My #1 goal is to finish but am wondering if I can get a PR (5:12:59 from 2016).

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you that when I found out I was picked to run the Chicago Marathon, I downloaded an 18-week Hal Higdon training plan. I printed it and added the week dates to it. I was ready to start training next week. Then I saw a post from Mary Johnson on Instagram for a group training program for the marathon. I have worked with her before and signed up for the program. I won’t be working with her, but am excited to work with a coach.

If we were having coffee…
I’d ask you if you ever saw the show “Desperate Housewives”. I remember watching a few episodes but was never a fan. Now I am watching it on Hulu and I am hooked. It is a funny show but sometimes some of the characters get on my nerves. I think Susan is the most annoying one.

If we were having coffee…
I’d tell you Summer Break is off to a good start. It was nice to not have to work but it felt weird on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday not having the routine of going to work. I am on the School Leadership Team and we had a meeting yesterday and have another one today so I’ve had to go to school. However, no students!

The topic for next week’s Fit Fit Friday – 5 great fitness friendly meals. Feel free to write about this or any fitness topic you’d like. We hope you’ll link up with us!

28
May
2024

Tuesday Topics: May 2024 Review

categories: Monthly Review, Tuesday Topics

Monthly Review-May 2024 This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. Feel free to post any running-related blog post. Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!

Let me tell you about how May went for me:

Mileage: To date I’ve run 30.89 and walked 5.31 miles. I ran everyday for 34 days. Then one Sunday I skipped my race because I felt very tired. I meant to run later that day but it was too hot for me. I still haven’t run since then.

Run the Year 2024: I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year. So far I have completed 144.65 miles (per the RTE Tracker). I laughed when I saw the mileage because I have a LONG WAY to go. But I am determined to not give up. I will achieve my goal.

Current Book: I finished reading “Doctors and Friends” and am currently reading “The Bad Muslim Discount”.

Injuries: None. My knees don’t hurt anymore and the pain with plantar fasciitis comes and goes. It isn’t as painful as before so I am happy about that.

Races: None.

Health: I am doing OK. I am still dealing struggling with hot flashes. The number is still on the high side. My shorts and pants still feel tight. I love wearing jeans to work but haven’t been wearing them because they’re too tight and I don’t want to buy new ones. I am wearing black pants with an elastic waist to be more comfortable.

School: The last day of school is Friday. It was supposed to be Thursday but we used one snow day in January so we have to make it up.

What I am looking forward to next month: I start Summer School on the 10th and finish on the 28th. Then the real Summer Break starts. Unfortunately this year we start the school year a bit earlier. Many teachers are not happy about it for various reasons. It doesn’t bother me because I don’t have kids and don’t have to plan back to school stuff for them.

The topic for next week: How will you celebrate Global Running Day tomorrow? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!