Zenaida Arroyo

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  How will you celebrate Global Running Day?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.   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!

This year Global Running Day is Wednesday, June 2nd.  What is Global Running Day?  “Global Running Day is a worldwide celebration of running that encourages everyone to get moving.  This day plays an important role, reminding us of the positives that running can offer and the power of unification.  It’s mission seems more important than ever right now, as people everywhere attempt to stay active and healthy.  During these challenging times, many people are turning to running as a solution to help release anxiety, gain perspective, cope with cabin fever, and keep up wellbeing.

Our physical Global Running Day events may be paused, but it’s important that we all keep active in a safe and responsible way.  This year, Global Running Day 2021 will be digitally uniting people across the world in a global effort to encourage physical wellness and strengthen community.” (Source: https://globalrunningday.org/)

On Wednesday I am planning to do a speed workout for a total of about 6 miles.  I am excited but also nervous about it.

What can you do on this day?

👟 Participate in a virtual event.  There are many of them taking place so that you can get involved either by running or walking.  Below are the events listed on the Global Running Day website.  If any of these aren’t your thing, you can submit an event and others can sign up.

👟Sign up for a race.  Run Rock and Roll Marathon Series is having a 24 hour sale.  There will be races in various U.S. cities as well as in other countries.  You can pick from a 1 mile, 5k, half marathon, or marathon.

👟 Do your own thing.  Just do what I am doing and run.  Or go for a walk.  It may be a day of running but so what if you walk?  The most important thing is that you move and enjoy some fresh air.  

How will you celebrate Global Running Day?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  How do you stay mentally motivated during a long run?  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!

Wow, long runs.  During marathon training a long run would be a run between 12-20 miles (to me).  I am not training for a marathon.  Thank goodness because I don’ think I want to run that long anyway.  Right now my long runs have been between 5-7 miles and those are long enough for me.  I did run a couple of 9 milers last year.  

So how do I stay motivated during these runs?  Let me tell you what woks for me. 

🏃🏽‍♀️ Break up the miles.  If I am running 8 miles I like to break them up in 2 milers.   When I am done with 4 miles then I remind myself that I am 50% done.  If that doesn’t work then I take it one mile at a time.

🏃🏽‍♀️ I get to run!  No one is making me do this.  It is my decision.  I know I’ve said this before but I am fortunate that I can run, walk, etc.  I hope I am still doing this for many more years.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Have a good playlist.  I like to run with music but have also run without it.  I am a huge fan of 80s and 90s pop/dance music.  Matty from Peloton is my favorite to listen to during my long runs.  He always has something exciting to say about him, the song, the artist, etc.  

🏃🏽‍♀️ Enjoy it and take it easy.  For me it wasn’t easy to run “slow” during my long runs (I wasn’t running that fast anyway).  I think it was last year that I learned to let it go and run slower.  No one is chasing me and I am not competing with anyone else.  My paces are usually between 12:00-13:00 minute miles and that is OK with it.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Change my routine.  I used to run by the lake and around the airport but haven’t been there in months.  I run close to where I live but vary the route depending on my mood.  Right now I like to do this to find houses that are for sale.  😀 

🏃🏽‍♀️ Reward myself.  It could be the tamales and coffee waiting for me at home.  It could also be the shower that I will take when I am done.  It could also be the nap that I will take after eating and the shower.  

Running long miles isn’t easy but it isn’t impossible either.  The key is finding the necessary tools to start, continue, and finish the run.