Zenaida Arroyo

28
Mar
2021

Weekly Run Down: Afternoon runner and kids in the classroom

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

Hello there! Tomorrow is my first day of Spring Break! I’ve been waiting for this week for weeks! Haha! I have no traveling plans but want to finish up a couple of things for school, read a few books, and watch TV. Relax, right? I am excited for Thursday to watch Law and Order! Anyone else?

As you know I prefer to run in the morning. But this week was all about running in the afternoon. I could not wake up in time to run and then get to work. It is weird how years ago I would wake up around 4:30-5:00 to run, get ready for work, and get to work around 7am. I am thinking that something is wrong with me. I’ve just been more tired than usual.

I ran in a few new Oiselle items that I bought. New gear makes me happy. Right, Shathiso?

This week I celebrated my 150th run with Matty. No shoutout from him but he did make one for a friend of mine that lives in Chicago. I had no idea she was doing the same run until she posted it on Instagram. But during the run I did not hear the actual shout (it was towards the end and I was tired of battling with the wind) so then I went back to listen again. Gonna try again for my 200th run!

After a year of teaching online and not having any students in the classroom, I had two students on Tuesday and Wednesday. I had so many emotions that day. I was nervous, scared, and excited. After Spring Break, there will be 3 students on Tuesday/Wednesday and 2 students on Thursday/Friday. While I do like having them in the room, the most difficult thing is wearing a mask. We all have to wear one. It is hard to breathe and talk. I found myself talking louder so my students that are at home could hear me. Oh and we had a fire drill on Tuesday!! 😀

On Saturday I stayed in pajamas pretty much all day. I finished reading “The Vanishing Half” and then went out to run around 5:30pm. The book is so good! Wow! I had to run 5 miles but instead ran 1.5 miles (Sunday’s workout). That night I did not sleep well then woke up on Sunday hungry and with a headache. The plan was to run 5 miles (Saturday’s workout). Nope. It was WINDY and cold. Could not do it.

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

26
Mar
2021

Fit Five Friday and March 2021 Runfessions

categories: Fit Five Friday, Runfessions

It’s the last Friday of the month which means Marcia has opened the Runfessional! It’s also time for another edition of Fit Five Friday hosted by Darlene, Renée, Jenn, Michelle, and me! Let’s get started, shall we?!

Today is the last day of work before Spring Break. It is also the last Friday in March so it is time for Runfessions. This month was just blah. I was happy, sad, and angry. I smiled but also cried. My Runfessions for this month are all over the place. Actually some of more complaints. 😬 Thank you all in advance for listening.

I runfess…
That I am still learning something new about this whole menstrual cycle thing. We can talk about this, right? I’ve been tracking it on the Garmin Connect app. A few years ago my period would last about 4-5 days. Now for the past year or so, it’s been longer than 5 days. I don’t like it one bit. For this month, my first day was the 15th and it ended on the 24th. That is 10 days. That is long. Should I be concerned?

I runfess…
That 5 months after buying my car, I learned that it has a remote starter. That would have come in handy in February when we had those really cold days. A few weeks ago I had to take my car to the dealer for something else and I felt so stupid asking the technician about it. Not only did they confirm the remote starter, but they also showed me how it works. And why did I take my car there in the first place? For some weird reason the windows would go down and the sunroof would open. I thought it was something electrical. No, it turns out that somehow when the keys are in my pocket or purse, something would press on the “open” button (for longer than necessary) causing those things to happen. Apparently, it has happened to many of their customers. Sigh, while I do like my new car, I also miss my old one.

I runfess…
That I’ve noticed more gray hair and I don’t like it one bit. A few I’ve been able to pluck out with tweezers but then they come back or more show up days later. Thanks Orgain Collagen Peptides! I know it is part of life but I am just not ready for them now.

I runfess…
That all of the Reels on Instagram are starting to annoy me. Yes, I know I don’t have to watch them. But I do wonder what is the point of them. The ones I’ve been seeing a lot are of people dancing and/or singing. Is there more to it? Am I missing something here? Is it just me?

I runfess…
That I really want to know what an influencer is supposed to do. Lately I’ve been seeing more of them on Instagram. Maybe I shouldn’t use Instagram anymore? It seems like more and more of them will just post about a “great” or “fabulous” item just to get paid. It makes me wonder if they really like all of the items they’re promoting. Well, let me tell you that I skim through them while also rolling my eyes. 🙄 🙄

Again, thanks for listening!!

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 More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please add your link below. I am also linking up with Marcia for Runfessions.

23
Mar
2021

Tuesday Topics: Races I never want to run

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Is there a popular race you never want to 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!

My last race was the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon last year. I am not sure if I will run any races this year, but hopefully in the Fall I can race again. While I am itching to run a race, there are a few races that I would never want to run. Does that make me boring? 🙂

🚫 The Barkley Marathons – “The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race held in Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee. If runners complete 60 miles this is known as a “fun run.” The full course is about 100 miles. The race is limited to a 60-hour period, and takes place in late March or early April of each year.” 100 miles? No thanks.

🚫 The Color Run – “The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5K on the Planet, is a unique event that celebrates healthiness, happiness, and individuality. Now the largest running series in the world, The Color Run has been experienced by over 8 million runners worldwide in 50+ countries.” I know these are fun races but they’re not for me. I want a finish time. I want to do better than my previous race. I want a PR. And if I don’t get one then I will keep on trying.

🚫 Cupid’s Undie Run – Run in just my underwear? A big NO! 🤣 🤣

🚫 Races that cost an arm and leg to get there – Well, honestly I cannot say that I will never run them. I’ve done one in MT because there aren’t that many races in MT and I had to run it for my Race in the 50 States goal. I paid more than $500 for my flight. The hotel was either $200 or $300 and it wasn’t even close to the start line. It was a great course but honestly don’t think it was worth all of the money I paid. I have a few more states (WY, SD, ND, and ID) to run that will probably cost the same so I need to suck it up. 🙂

What about you? Are any of these races on your list too?

Tuesday Topics

21
Mar
2021

Weekly Run Down: What a week and Spring is here

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

I don’t recall the time change having that much of an impact, but this time it did. I also had parent/teacher conferences on Monday so that was another thing that also affected my schedule. I was so tired this week. Usually my cats wake me up very early because they want to eat. This week I was able to sleep in till about 5 and on some days till 6. I also took a few naps.

I want to say that it is also taking me longer to read, comment, and respond to everyone’s blog posts. So sorry. As of now I am all caught up. 🙂

This week was windy! It really annoyed me. No matter where I turned it was windy and it was tiring. I decided to just take it easy and walk when needed. Maybe that is what I had to do anyway.

Monday afternoon we got more snow. Not too much but Tuesday morning I wasn’t comfortable running in the dark not knowing if there was snow or ice on the ground (there was some snow on the sidewalk). I am still afraid of falling. Tuesday was my 200th day of my run streak.

I had posted that for my 100th ride I was planning to take a class with Cody either on Tuesday or Wednesday. I had a birthday car celebration to go to on Tuesday but I thought it was at 6pm. So then I decided to do take the class on Wednesday. Well, it turned out that the celebration was at 5 and I knew I would be back in time to take the class at 6:30pm on Tuesday. Cody is always fun! No shoutout from him but hopefully there will be one for my 150th ride. I need to keep trying!

On Wednesday I was supposed to run 2 miles recovery run. I didn’t do the workout I was supposed to on Tuesday so the plan was to do said workout on Wednesday. Then I found out that Wednesday was my coach’s birthday. I ran 5.3 miles that morning to celebrate. I had to run 5 miles anyway so what’s .30 more? It was not easy. I was tired. I walked when needed and finished.

Today was a gorgeous day for running. I went out later in the morning and enjoyed my run. Took a 45 minute class with Serena Samuela. I like her! Not too chatty. 🙂 Wore a jacket but took it off halfway because I got too hot. I also ran in shorts. Spring is here!

On Wednesday my students watched a video to draw on leprechaun. They had so much fun! Check out their work. 🙂

I am not sure if I’ve asked or mentioned this before, but has anyone read “The Vanishing Half”? I think Wendy has. I am about 1/4 done with it and so far am liking it.

I am hoping next week is better and I am not as tired anymore. I’ve been using my weighed blanket and it’s helping me sleep better. Even Mateo approves of it.

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

19
Mar
2021

Fit Five Friday: Running advice I would give to my younger myself

categories: Fit Five Friday

I started running in 2005. I didn’t know much about it. I knew one other person that ran (he worked with me). My friends that run now, didn’t run before. I remember going to races and I didn’t know anybody there. Fast forward many years later, and I know so much more about running and more of my friends are runners now. On race day I would always see someone I knew. Sigh, cannot wait till I can race again.

I am pleased with how things have turned out. I’ve run many races and have met many wonderful runners. However, if I could go back in time, there are a few things I would tell my younger self.

✔️ Be ready to invest good money for shoes, clothes, and gear. Running stuff is not cheap. Do you have to spend $150 for a pair of shoes? No, but there is a difference between spending that amount of money versus $50. However, there are a few instances in which you will find some great deals. I remember a few years ago I bought some Brooks shoes that were on sale and they were around $60.

✔️ Make sure it is fun. It was within these past few years that I finally realized it. Running is a hobby and not a job. When running is no longer fun, it feels like a burden. There is no joy so what’s the point?

✔️ Don’t compare yourself to others. It is very easy to do it, but one of the worst things a runner can do. Comparing yourself to others will not make you feel better. On the contrary, it will make you feel worse. I don’t do that anymore because sometimes it would make me envious of others instead of being happy for them.

✔️ Never say never. I remember saying that I would never run an ultramarathon. It my mind 26.2 miles was more than enough. Why go longer than that? Eventually I did get the itch to run more than that. Ha, I didn’t run just one ultramarathon, I did two. Now I am thinking of doing another one in the next couple of years.

✔️ Don’t run all of the races and have a goal or goals. In the beginning I would sign up for whatever race I could find. It was in 2012 that I decided to run a half marathon in each state. By then I had run about 20 half marathons. Then about 2 years ago I decided to work on speed and get some PRs. The ones I have now are a few years old and it is time for some new ones.

I am not saying that any of these are “wrong”. I am just saying that if I knew those things, then I would have done things a bit different. But then maybe that’s how it was supposed to happen? Life is weird. 🙂 What running advice would you give to your younger self?

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 More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please add your link below.