February 2021 – Zenaida Arroyo

28
Feb
2021

Weekly Run Down: Goodbye February and another fall

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

Well, even with the weather, I managed to run 34.26 miles this month. I’m on day #184 of my running streak. There were days when I did want to quit. But I didn’t. Nothing wrong with wanting to quit either. I knew that if I could run on the coldest day and the day with the most snow, then I could survive the rest of the days. And I did.

Monday morning there was so much sleet and I decided to run after work. I went to throw out the garbage and it was so slippery. The view after work was much better! I just noticed it is the same picture from above. 🙂

The next day was better but there was a patch of ice that I somehow missed while running but saw it as I was walking. Glad I did not fall. However, I was not so lucky on Friday. I did a 20 minute Peloton run and was walking home. I was feeling good because it was sunny and the snow was melting. Remember, I was walking. Then in slow motion I saw myself falling again. Luckily, I did not land on my face like last time. I only scraped my knee. Someone saw me and helped me get up. It was not a bad fall which I am grateful. However, I was more pissed and annoyed that I fell again and on ice. Did I tell you that I was walking? I had been very careful this month. It seems like I fall once a year. Is it safe to say that I am done for the year?

I am excited to start working with my coach again. This month was a no-no because of the weather. Michelle asked me if I will return to the 10k training. I hadn’t given it much thought until she asked me. I think I will skip the 10k and go straight to a half marathon. Maybe by the time I am ready, I will be able to run a live race. He already posted my runs on Final Surge. Most are easy runs and I am happy about it.

This week I took 6 classes with Cody. Love him! Just out of curiosity I checked to see how many classes I have not taken with him. Recently I found out about that new feature. It is a lot but I am not planning to take all of them. For now I have bookmarked the 15, 20, and 30 minute classes. Not ready for 45 minutes. Oh and I picked classes with 80s, 90s, and 90s pop music.

So that is for February. I already ripped out the page from my calendar and ready for a new month!

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

26
Feb
2021

Fit Five Friday and February 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?!

No complaints about it being almost the end of February. Let’s just say that this month was awful. With the melting snow and the warmer weather, Spring is around the corner! Oh, and Spring Break will be here soon too.

Now it is time for another edition of Runfessions.

I runfess…
That the little things bothered me and made me cry. My box of laundry detergent broke in the trunk and created a mess. Then my two boxes of sparking water exploded in my trunk too. Yep, in my new car. Luckily I have wine. Thank goodness I did not leave that in the car.

I runfess…
That a few months ago I purchased an usual hat. At that time I did not know it because I didn’t see a picture of that specific style. There were two options to choose from: no ponytail hole and ponytail hole. I picked the latter. Imagine my surprise when I received it. Thoughts? I still think they’re cute but without the hole.

I runfess…
That this month I did not do as much laundry as I usually do. With my low mileage each day and week, there were times that I would wear the same pants/tops/jackets for days before putting in the laundry basket. Bras and underwear I would wash by hand and air dry them. I did not want to deal with hauling my clothes from the second floor to make a trip to the laundromat. Even that bothered me. Did wearing the same clothes gross me out? No. And this is the girl that has to shower and rinse her hair after every run. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤦🏻‍♀️

I runfess…
That I’ve been spoiled by the companies that offer free shipping and return. The other day I purchased something from Amazon and then had to return it because it didn’t work out for me. I got annoyed that the company was charging me to return the items. It wasn’t much but still it bothered me that I had to pay. Oh well.

I runfess…
I want to but then don’t want to run longer miles anymore. Ha, I got used to running only 1 mile. Yesterday I did a 20 minute Peloton run which came out to 1.57 miles. It wasn’t easy. But at least the snow is finally melting. I notified my coach that I can start working with him again next week. We’ll see what happens.

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
Feb
2021

Tuesday Topics: A few things you may not know about me

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. 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!

Thanks to everyone that linked up with us two weeks ago. It was interesting and fun to read everyone’s 5 words they picked to describe themselves. It was also interesting to read that quite a few said they were introverted. Today I will be sharing more and writing about a few things you may not know about me.

I’ve never been hospitalized
I’ve been to the ER when I broke a glass with my arm and had to get stitches. I spent a few nights with my mother in her room when she was hospitalized after her stroke. Nope, nothing for me.

I was engaged
We had our hall, church, and date picked out. Things fell through. I remember the day I was supposed to get married, it RAINED! Do I see myself getting married in the future? Definitely not. Nothing wrong with it. I am just used to it being me, myself, and I (with my cats too) and I am perfectly fine with it. However, I do wonder what my life would be like if I had gotten married.

I eat A LOT when I get stressed out
Food relaxes me. Sometimes I like to get a Big Mac with fries and a Coke with no ice from McDonald’s. Who doesn’t like fries from McDonald’s?

There are 7 in my family and I am the 2nd youngest
There are 3 girls, one boy, and then 3 more girls. All of us are about 2 years apart. That is how I can remember the ages. The oldest is 10 years older than me. Rumor is that I was named after my grandmother (my dad’s mom) because I was supposed to be the last one.

I cannot stand the taste or smell of whiskey
Just thinking and writing about it makes me queasy. Let’s go back to 1993. I was in college for summer school. I was at a party and we were playing “Quarters”. You know where I am getting at, right? Yep. I had too many shots that night.

I was born in Mexico but emigrated to the US when I was 5
I still remember that day. My mom and my siblings arrived on July 4, 1978. We were supposed to arrive the day before but we missed our flight. Well, that is the story my siblings tell me. I have some vague memory of being in the airport and being outside. I also remember being in a car and seeing the Sears Tower and the lake. Now that I am older I know that was the Kennedy Expressway (I-90). I have some memories of living in Mexico, but sometimes I do wonder if they’re real.

I wore braces and glasses in high school
High school is already awkward. I got braces at the end of my freshman year and wore them till the beginning of my senior year. The glasses I got at the beginning of my senior year too. I was already a quiet and shy girl so it didn’t really bother me. As a matter of fact, I had a great time in high school! I was not a social butterfly but I still had many great friends.

I have 3 tattoos
I have a panther, a butterfly, and a sun. I would like to get another one but am not sure. The last one (the sun) is on my ankle and that was painful.

I wasn’t always a teacher
After college I worked at The Lodge for 3 months. It was a company owned by McDonalds’s. Then I worked several years and different positions at the American Bar Association. It was there that I received an email to attend an orientation for people wanting to make a career change. I went because another friend of mine was going too. I remember someone there telling us not to go into teaching just for the money. A few months later I had an interview. Then did a few years of graduate school. As much as it is tough to be a teacher, I do not regret it one bit. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

My dad passed away when I was 18 years old
It was at the end of my freshman year of college. I was never close to him. He was a quiet man and we rarely talked. I remember before leaving for college, he asked me a question. I don’t recall what it was but I responded with “yes”. He then told me to take care of myself.

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!

Month: February 2021