Zenaida Arroyo

23
Mar
2021

Tuesday Topics: Races I never want to run

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.

16
Mar
2021

Tuesday Topics: Best things I’ve seen on a run

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: What are some of the best things you’ve seen at a race or a 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!

How is it Tuesday already? I had parent/teacher conferences yesterday and it was EXHAUSTING. I had 13 appointments with parents and 11 showed up. I got home after 7pm and I didn’t have any wine and I was too tired to make a martini. 🙂

Anyway, back to this post. As you already know I enjoy taking pictures. Read along to see some of the fun things I saw on my run. Nothing really specific but a few pictures of things that made me smile.

Two weeks ago I mentioned how now that the snow is melting, I’ve been seeing so much garbage out there. I took these pictures of an area that literally made me stop and stare. I could not believe it.

On Saturday I ran by there again and stopped. There were workers cleaning up the area. I don’t know where exactly they were from but I stopped to talk to one of them. He also could not believe how much trash there was. I also thanked him. He told me that they were going to several other places to clean it up.

It looks much better.

Then I saw this. I used to play this a lot when I was a kid.

Saw this yesterday. I love seeing kids’ artwork on the sidewalk.

No pictures here but on Saturday’s run I got to the corner and almost bumped into a woman walking two dogs. We were both freaked out. However, not one of the dogs barked at me. Usually whenever I see dogs while out running, they bark at me. Then I saw a couple walking their dog and I crossed the street to avoid having the dog bark at me. The man stopped walking and told me that he had the number of a place where I could go get vaccinated. I smiled. I thanked him and told him that I was already vaccinated. I do appreciate him helping others (total strangers) to get the vaccine.

This was from yesterday’s run. It reminds me of a friends that still have their Christmas tree inside their house but decorate it according to the season or holiday.

Tuesday Topics

14
Mar
2021

Weekly Run Down: One year later and my 99th bike class

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

Hello there! This week went by fast again. That’s what happens when one of the workdays is an Institute Day. I have mixed feelings about Institute Days. Some of the PD is useful and some is not. There was an emphasis on self-care. Umm, OK.

One year ago yesterday was the last day that I taught in a room full of students. I was instructed to make packets for my students but obviously had NO idea that I wouldn’t see them again. Below are two pictures I took at Target on the 12th and then in my classroom on the 13th.

This week I had some good and bad runs. On Monday I ran 3.14 miles for Kim’s Week of Pi. It was fun!

Last week there was hardly any wind but Wednesday and Thursday it was just awful. It did not help that I was exhausted. I was very tired and I did not do the workouts assigned by my coach. But I still ran and wore shorts on Wednesday. 🙂 I did feel much better on Friday and could have kept running but ran out of time.

Saturday morning was a gorgeous day for running! Didn’t I say I was not going to do another of Becs’ running class? Well, I did another one. The playlist was AMAZING but the chit chat was not. There is just something about her voice. Is it just me? I was pleased to have run close to 6 miles. December was the last time I did a “long” run (6 and 7 miles).

You would think that I would have done more Peloton bike classes, but I am currently on my 99th ride. Isn’t that the reason I bought the Peloton? 🤔 🤦🏻‍♀️ I want my 100th to be with Cody and it will either be on Tuesday or Wednesday. Very excited! Clientmoji

Tomorrow I have parent/teacher conferences. Is it too early to runfess? Well, I have NO desire for them tomorrow. I don’t mean it in a bad way, but what could I possibly say to parents that I haven’t said all these past months? I am not meeting with all parents (those students that are doing well in class, have turned in assignments, have participated, etc). I know it’s been hard for everyone but we’ve been doing virtual learning for ONE YEAR! I have communicated with all parents about missing assignments, log in information, etc. They know it already, but I will have to repeat it again. We’ll see how it goes.

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