Zenaida Arroyo

21
Feb
2021

Weekly Run Down: Back on the Peloton and “dibs”

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

What a week! Even with no school on Monday and half day on Wednesday, I was EXHAUSTED on Friday. I came home from school and took a nap.

Are you all tired of seeing all of my snow pictures? I will stop at the end of the month. It is supposed to warm up this week and hopefully most or all of the snow will melt. 🙂

I renewed my Peloton membership and got on my bike again! I told Kim about this class and if you have not taken it, please do. It is one of the best ones (or THE best one) I’ve taken so far. This is one class I will definitely take again.

I checked my profile and the last time I was on the bike was in August when I was in quarantine. Then I used the app mostly for running. Then I got bored with it and paused my membership. Cody is always fun but I also like Robin.

I had been away for so long that now I had to name my bike? Is that something new? I don’t remember having to do it when I first got the bike.

So here in Chicago after a snowstorm, some people like to clean up an area in front of their house and claim it as their parking spot. I don’t think I’ve ever had to do it. The last time we had a major storm in 2011, I parked in the garage, so there was no need for it. This time I actually went out and shoveled and claimed an area. Well, someone decided to take my spot anyway. Didn’t they see the items I had left? Luckily, I found parking in front of that car. The next day my neighbor took my spot because someone else had taken her spot. ¡Caramba! Hopefully soon this will not be an issue anymore.

An agreement was finally reached with the Union and the School District. There is a Board Meeting tomorrow in which all agreements will be officially signed. Here are the main things that were decided: Teachers will return to work on March 15 (meaning all teachers will report to their school building on said date) but we also have the option to work from home until March 15. Hybrid students will return on March 22nd. Those teachers that defied the initial order to go back to the building and as a result disciplinary actions were taken against them, all of those disciplinary actions will be rescinded. Looks like those that stayed home are laughing at me!

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

19
Feb
2021

Fit Five Friday: In 5 years

categories: Fit Five Friday

In five years it will be 2026. Nothing wrong with thinking ahead. Things definitely will be better than how they are now, right? I thought it would be fun and interesting to write about where I see myself in 5 years. Keep on reading to find out. 🙂

🟣 I hope that I will still be running. I won’t stop unless it is absolutely necessary. Hopefully in 5 years I would have completed my goal to run a half marathon in each state. Hopefully I would have run another marathon or a 50K. I’ve run two 50Ks and my finish time from my second one is worse than my first one. Yep, I would like a PR too.

🟣 I hope to still be blogging. I enjoy it. These past couple of months have demonstrated to me how much I look forward to reading different blogs. Your posts have encouraged and motivated me. You’ve all made me smile and let me know that things will be OK. Hopefully in 5 years I will have met many more of you.

🟣 Still living in Chicago in a new house. You know I have to add this one. While I am grateful to have a place to live, I want something new. I want to have my own house. Though right now I am glad I don’t own a home because I hate to shovel.

🟣 I see myself still teaching. I already made a career change back in 2009 and don’t see myself making another one. The only change I would like to make is to no longer be a classroom teacher. I have a certificate in Math and would love to be a Math Interventionist. This past year was really difficult and challenging. While teaching isn’t as fun as it used to be, I still know that I am making a difference in these kids’ lives.

🟣 Hopefully I would have traveled to all of these countries or some of them – France, Italy, Hawaii, Africa, and Greece. Of course I would love to go there to run but most importantly the chance to travel somewhere new. While Hawaii is not in a different country, it sure sounds like it since it takes so long to get there. That is how I felt when I traveled to Alaska. I was in the US but it felt foreign to me.

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!

16
Feb
2021

Tuesday Topics: More running/race pet peeves

categories: Tuesday Topics

How is everyone doing with this crazy weather? I saw on the news yesterday that over 40 states are under a Winter weather alert. At least here in Chicago we get snow and are “ready and prepared” for it. States like GA or TX are not and, well, they are struggling. Stay safe and be careful.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: What are some of your running pet peeves? 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!

Here is what I wrote in a previous post.

• Runners that post their pace all of the time (Garmin, Strava, and RunKeeper, etc.)

• Walkers that start in the front of a race.

• Runners that make sudden stops.

• Runners that take up the whole path.

• Dog owners that don’t leash their dogs.

• Runners that blast their music.

• Runners that talk non stop during a race.

Today I am adding a few more.

• Long lines at the port-a-potties.

• Running out of food or swag.

• People that honk or catcall while I’m out running.

• Races that start late.

• People that spit.

• Shoe companies that think they are making their product better, but really they’re not. Don’t change anything!

• Chafing and not realizing till taking a shower.

• An ugly shirt or one that does not fit properly.

• People that do not throw their water cups in the trash can. Stop being lazy.

• Races that do not have a refund or deferral option.

• Spectators with signs saying that I am almost there. No I’m not. Don’t lie to me.

• When I want to hit the pause button on my Garmin and instead hit the lap button.

Tuesday Topics

14
Feb
2021

Weekly Run Down: Run, repeat, and ready for someplace warm

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

What a week! More snow and more cold weather. I know Winter is associated with cold weather and snow, but this is just awful. Even in other parts of the country is colder than normal.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

This morning I woke up with a headache. I usually get them when I don’t get enough sleep or when I am hungry. Sometimes I get one if I don’t wear my mouth night guard. I never eat before running but felt a little hungry this morning so I drank coffee and ate a cinnamon bagel. Then after my run and shower, I ate again. I still have a slight headache and am still feeling hungry. I took a Tylenol and will finish reading blog posts from Friday. I am so behind.

The most exciting thing this week was taking my mother to the hospital for her first vaccine. While I appreciate that there was a vaccine for her, I wished it would have been more convenient for those that need to go there. It was quite a walk to get to the vaccination room (not sure what to call it). Luckily someone took her in a wheelchair but on the way back she had to walk. Now, I don’t mind it, but a 70 year old woman should not have to walk that much. Well, enough ranting about it because as I mentioned earlier, I am happy she can get a vaccine since I know others cannot get it. We go back on March 1st for her second vaccine and I go March 2nd (I am going to a different location).

On Tuesday I went to Trader Joe’s to pick up a few bottles of wine for a virtual wine tasting. I didn’t realize there were so many options!! Wow, and the price was decent. I ended up buying 5 bottles and so far have opened 2. The red one is really good.

Nothing exciting with school except that the District and School Union have not come to an agreement about this whole going back to school thing. They’ve had to get the courts involved. They’re like two big and stubborn babies. We all want what is best for the students and the teachers. Someone has to give in. It’s been one month since teachers have been back in the school building BUT not everyone is doing that. They are working from home. Do you know how it makes me feel? I am going in. I am dealing with the weather and traffic. Others are working from the comfort of their own home. Instead of uniting all teachers, it is dividing us and creating a feeling of annoyance and resentment. The next court date is sometime this week so you know I will keep you posted.

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

12
Feb
2021

Fit Five Friday: Five reasons I love running in the morning

categories: Fit Five Friday

It is no secret that I am a morning person. I also wake up early to feed my cats and then to catch up on reading some blog posts or start working on my next one. I like that it is quiet and find that I work better like that. I finally have a routine going here.

Though I know I can run at any time during the day, I prefer doing it in the morning. Here’s why:

👟 Sunrises. These are wonderful to see in the morning. With so many magnificent colors, it is a great way to make me smile and be alone in my thoughts. My own world. The same can be said for sunsets.

👟 It is my ME time. I’ve written about this before. Running in the morning is my ME time. I enjoy running when it is quiet and not a person in sight. For the most part I listen to music. I have a combination of English/Spanish and slow/fast music for my runs. Sometimes I focus on the music or think about what is going on in the world or what I need to do that day.

👟 More free time in the evening. I am exhausted when I am done with work. Being online and talking all day (because my students don’t talk that much) takes up a lot of energy. I want to come home to read or watch TV. Sometimes I need to do some errands and I can go after work and still be home at a decent time. Other times I want to be home and be with my cats. 🙂

👟 It is a routine for me. I wake up, run, and go to work. Repeat the following day. I work well when I have routines set up for me. I think this is another reason why I am enjoying going back to work. Yesterday was one month since I’ve been back to teaching in my classroom.

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👟 Beat the heat. Of course this doesn’t apply now why for sure in the Summer. There’s been times when at 6am it is already hot and humid. Right now I am complaining about the weather here in Chicago but in a few months I will be complaining about the heat. 🙂

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.