Zenaida Arroyo

06
Oct
2020

Tuesday Topics: My most popular running related blog posts

This week’s Tuesday Topic is Brag Time: Share some of your most popular running related blog posts. 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!

Well this is an interesting topic. I never check my stats. My blog is small. I post mainly to talk about my training and my adventures as a teacher. 😀 I don’t have a lot of followers but do have my loyal readers that read my posts every week. Thank you.

Here are a few of my most popular posts:

✸ Weekly Run Down: Week #1 of training for a 5k and new shoes. Not sure why this is popular. Maybe because it is a new post?

✸ Goodbye November and Hello December! It was a November monthly recap with the previous “Tuesdays on the Run” linkup. Made me smile when I saw that.

✸ Tuesday Topics: My Winter weather running tips and a birthday giveaway! I wrote about my Winter running tips. Surely it had nothing to do with the $47 gift card that was offered, right?

✸ Tuesday Topics: I walked 610,966 steps in the StepBet Challenge! That was a fun challenge! I don’t wear a FitBit anymore and wear my Garmin only for running but would like to do a similar challenge.

✸ Weekly Run Down: A fall and taking a break. I was excited and looking forward to run after recovering from a cold. Then I fell. I am still traumatized from that fall.

✸ Goodbye September and Hello October! Another monthly recap with the Tuesday on the Run linkup.

✸ Weekly Run Down: End of the month and 335 miles. A weekly linkup hosted by Kim and Deborah. Love the support that is provided by everyone in the linkup. ♥️

✸ Tuesday Topics: 2019 Missoula Half Marathon Race Recap. A trip to MT to run a half marathon. Many people raved about this race and I was excited to run there. I liked the course but not the travel experience. I prefer traveling to big cities.

✸ Tuesday Topics: 2019 Shamrock Shuffle Race Recap. One of my favorite races in Chicago. I miss this race. Hopefully I can run it next year.

✸ Weekly Run Down: The Olympic Marathon Trials Edition. A fun weekend spectating The Olympic Marathon Trials. The next day I ran the Atlanta Half Marathon. It was a tough course but the weekend itself was amazing.

✸ Weekly Run Down: Banned from Brooksrunning and summer break. You all know my LOVE for Brooks shoes. Apparently I order too many and then return them more than they would have liked. Now I am not allowed to order from their site anymore. Maybe that is why I wasn’t picked to be on the Run Happy Team either? 🤣 🤔 That is OK since I like ordering from Running Warehouse and Zappos.

I used Google Analytics for this information. Did I do it right? Is that what you use to check your stats too?

04
Oct
2020

Weekly Run Down: Week #1 of training for a 5k and new shoes

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

With no races for the rest of the year, my coach approached me with the idea of preparing to run a fast 10k. Yes, but I suggested that instead we go with a 5k. I like my runs and I’ve been working with my coach for 4 months and I need something fun and exciting to train for. I doubt there will be real races when I finish my training so I plan to race this on my own.

Last week I mentioned how I made time for myself. I stopped working after 3pm and went to the balcony to ready a book while drinking some wine. It was great. This week was a bit different because I went to my classroom to unpack and set it up. It was exhausting. I arrived Monday morning and was so overwhelmed with so many boxes and I had no idea where to start.

At the time the information I knew was that the District would revisit the current remote learning plan at the end of Quarter 1 (October 30). There would be a possibility that teachers and students would return to the classroom after October 30th. However, that week I found out that teachers would return to the classroom on October 13th. Then they added that students would return to the classroom on November 4th. Nothing is official yet since we have not received an email from the District. I have 27 students. My classroom has 20 desks but only 10 of them would be used. I am not sure whether I want to go back to teach or take time off.

Before I talk about my training let me show you some pictures of my room.

The first thing I did was set up my desk and then unpacked the boxes. I threw away a lot of stuff and also organized it in the lockers, bookcases, and cabinet. I am planning to go again this week and hopefully will be done.

Monday and Tuesday were an easy 3 miles. There was an incident at school on Monday and I was still upset and angry on Tuesday morning. My heart rate was high that not even walking brought it down. Then I started thinking about quitting or taking FMLA and it went down. So weird and understandable. Let me tell you what happened. One of the administrators told me that a parent had called to complain about me. Apparently I yell all day to the students. This parent also said that her daughter is afraid to log in and ask me questions because she is afraid of me. I was FUMING. I was so angry that I cried. And then I was angry for letting it get to me. We just finished week #5 of remote learning and not one thank you from parents.

I finished September with 86.06 miles. So close to 100 miles.

Thursday morning I was so tired and did not want to get up. I had a workout that I was excited to do but no energy. I finally got up to run because I did not want to break my run streak (day 34) and also because it was a new month and I had new shoes to wear. I bought them last year and am finally wearing them now.

I felt so much better on Friday and did Thursday’s workout. I ran 5 miles with a few 1/4 mile tempo repeats. The required pace for each repeat was 11:10/mile. I was actually surprised when I saw my splits.

On Saturday I had to run 4 miles with the last mile being at HMP (11:30-11:45). I guess I had more energy than I thought.

Overall I am pleased with this week. I ran again 7 days and have been feeling good. Well, except for Thursday when I was very tired. I have not given it more thought to Monday’s incident but have spoken to a few parents whose child has been a bit “difficult”. I have a few students that have done zero work and others that like to goof off and distract and think it is fun to do so. Umm, absolutely NOT.

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

29
Sep
2020

Tuesday Topics: Running mistakes I’ve made or keep on making

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is What are some running mistakes you’ve made or keep on making? 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 laughed when I saw today’s topic. I always tell my students that everyone makes mistakes but the important thing about it is to learn from our mistakes. Umm, obviously that does not apply to ME.

🟦 Not stretching after a run. I am always in a rush after my run. I have to shower, get ready, and get something to eat before logging in for my students. This week I am going to my classroom to set it up and seriously there is no time.

🟦 Not enough cross training or strength workouts. I do it here and there but am not consistent. Reason? Time. Sometimes laziness.

🟦 Being too tense. I don’t relax my shoulders and end up with some discomfort. I don’t realize I am doing it until my shoulders are up toward my ears. Sometimes I stop to stretch my neck and my arms and that helps.

🟦 Running too many races. In 2013 I ran 24 races. The majority were half marathons. While it was great crossing off so many states from my list, it was tiring and expensive too. Obviously I did not learn because the following year I ran 18 races and quite a few were Disney races.

🟦 Starting too fast. I think many of us have done this. Now I run my easy runs at an easy pace but sometimes I do start off too fast and then walk more than intended. I know for sure I have done this at a race.

What about you? What are some running mistakes you’ve made or keep on making?

27
Sep
2020

Weekly Run Down: You are beautiful!

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

This week was MUCH, MUCH better. A big part of it was that I didn’t put in any extra hours after my work hours. Friday I did because I did my lesson plans for the week. If I didn’t then I would have had to do them over the weekend and I did not want to do that. During the regular school year I would also stay late on Friday to work on them. Now they require more work because everything is online and I need to find and link the lesson (sometimes create the lessons because there are not that many resources for TR students) to my plans.

I’ve been loving this weather!! Oh gosh, it is wonderful. I am still running in shorts. Once I wore a long sleeve top but the other days it was a SS top.

Monday morning I was not feeling well during my run. My heart rate was high and I was walking more than I wanted to. Also, I went out later than I wanted to and was hurrying up to finish my run to get back home. It was “only” two miles but I had to shower, get ready, and eat. I was running and saw a random guy. He looked at me, smiled, and said “You look beautiful”. I stopped and looked at him. I told him “Thank you” and kept running. Later I stopped again to think about what he said to me. Of all of my years running, I’ve never had a guy say something nice or positive to me. I’ve been followed, stared at, catcalled, etc, you name it. I felt good. It made me feel better. Now, I am NOT saying that being told beautiful makes me feel better, but the fact that a guy said something positive/nice to me.

Wednesday evening Jessie and I were messaging each other about wearing matching outfits for our run on Thursday. We are both Oiselle team members and have a lot of similar clothes. It was fun and we plan on doing it again!

Saturday morning was perfect for running! I was feeling good. On the schedule was 5 miles with miles 3 and 4 to be done at a faster pace. I wasn’t sure if I “could” do it but I had nothing to lose. I just wanted to run. Miles 1 and 2 were 12:30 and 12:39 and miles 3 and 4 were 11:06 and 10:27. I was shocked when I saw those numbers. Honestly, I couldn’t even believe it. I kept my heart rate under control too – average was 124 and the highest was 166 bpm. I ended up running a bit longer too. I love running in the Fall.

I am very pleased with this week. I did all of my runs. I felt good and took it easy. Last week I wrote about relaxing, taking it easy, and making time for me. I did that this week. I logged off work at 3 (Wednesday was 1/2 but we had meetings till 4pm), did not respond to email after work hours, and went to my balcony to drink wine, spend time with my cats, and to read a book. It was GREAT!

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

22
Sep
2020

Tuesday Topics: My goals for Fall

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is What’s on your Fall bucket list? 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’m deviating from this week’s topic to write about my goals for Fall. I’ve been working very hard in my training and also in my job. However, I don’t make time for me. I am hoping that with these goals I can find a balance between my personal and work life. I am writing them in no specific order.

⇒ Continue working with my coach. I enjoy working with him and my workouts. I have my good and bad days. Every runner goes through that and there is nothing to do about it. Is there?

⇒ Keep on working on endurance and speed. I truly believe that the training this year is getting me ready for next year. I say this because I want to be positive that there will be races next year.

⇒ Stop checking and responding to work email after work hours. I have already removed the app from my phone. I can only check it from my computer. Whatever it is sitting in my inbox can wait till the next morning.

⇒ Log off from my work computer at 3pm or 4pm (the latest). The work is never ending. Work will always be there. It can wait till the next day. Yesterday I was working on school stuff till 8pm.

⇒ Buy a house. I know I keep saying this but I want to move this year. I like where I live but am ready for a change.

⇒ Get up more often during the day. I sit pretty much all day and am tense and sore. My neck hurts every single day.

⇒ Get a massage. I maybe need 7 in a row! I know the last one I got was last year. I used to be really good about it and get a massage twice a month.

⇒ Read more books. I love reading Wendy’s posts where she mentions the books she has read. Right now I am reading “The Happy Ever After Playlist” and have a few more waiting for me at the library. Thanks Wendy!

⇒ Do more fun things with friends. This one is “tricky’ but doable. Last Monday I met a friend for dinner. I had not seen her since March and it was my first time out in a restaurant in a long time. It felt weird but also nice to be out.

⇒ Go to sleep earlier. I have not been sleeping well. I stay up way too late (work) and then wake up early in the morning.

⇒ Find time for yoga and cycling classes. Running and strength is what I do now. I know I should do more. I miss the bike and I know yoga will help me feel better. I was motivated with Deborah’s post where she did yoga everyday for 2 weeks.

⇒ Smile and laugh more!

Whew, that’s a lot. What do you think about my goals? Anything else I should add to the list?