Zenaida Arroyo

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  What do you do the night before a race or 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!

It was a busy weekend for me.  I am late in reading and commenting posts from Friday and Sunday, but I promise I will catch up this week.  😬

I’ve been over a year since my last race.  I am hoping either in the Summer or Fall I can do a race.  So far I’ve been having some great workouts and I hope that translates to another PR.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a night before a race.  Let’s see if I remember what I would do on those nights.  

➡️ Have a good dinner.  I could eat pretty much anything and be OK the next morning.  Yes, to spicy food, but not too much of it anyway.  Sometimes I have a beer too.  

➡️ Get my gear ready.  I don’t want to forget anything in the morning so I make sure to have everything that I will need for my race laid out on the sofa or next to me on the extra bed.  Items include sports bra, shorts/tights, top(s), socks, body glide, watch, gels, watch, credit card, room key, and ID.  

➡️ Set up the coffee maker.  I need to have coffee in the morning.  Sometimes the hotel doesn’t have coffee in the lobby or there is no coffee shop nearby so room coffee it is.  I know it isn’t the best but it is better than nothing.  The best has been where there was a Keurig in the room.  I remember during some of the RunDisney races, there was NO coffee maker in the room and the dining room wasn’t open.  I know, terrible.  I was able to get some later on before lining up for the race.

➡️ Set my alarm.  I remember having to use the room clock for my alarm.  Does anyone remember also having to call the front desk for a wake up call?  Now thanks to my iPhone I set the alarm there and go to sleep.

➡️ Use the bathroom again.  And then maybe again.  Being nervous always make me go to the bathroom multiple times.  

As for a long run, it is pretty much the same.  What I don’t do is set my alarm.  My cats wake me up.  

What about you?  What do you do the night before a race or a long run?

This week’s Tuesday Topic is:  Do you listen to podcasts while running?  List some of your favorite ones.  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 have mentioned before that I am not a fan of podcasts.  I prefer to listen to music while running.  Give me some Spanish songs and 80s and 90s fun music and I am happy.  I tried listening to the audiobook “A Promised Land” and just could not get into it while running.  I even tried listening to it while driving but got distracted.  Yeah, not good while driving.  😬

One day Darlene told me about a podcast with Matty Maggiacomo.  He is one of my favorite Peloton instructors.  You bet I listened to it on my way to work.  I enjoyed it a lot and it was not distracting at all.  I found myself laughing and wishing that one day I could meet him.

I am still not listening to podcasts while running, but instead listen to them in the evening and sometimes in the car.  Here is what is on my list.

🎧 The Michelle Obama Podcast – What is not to like about her?  I have read her book and watched her documentary on Netflix.  She is the type of person I would love to sit down and talk while enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

🎧 Contrapoder, con Jorge Ramos – He is a well known and respected Mexican journalist.  My mom and I watch his show (Al Punto con Jorge Ramos) every Sunday morning.  Each episode covers the latest news and many controversial topics.  There is something about his voice.  I like it.  I also like that they’re in Spanish so my mother can listen to it.

Do you listen to podcasts?  What else should I add to my list?