November 2023 – Zenaida Arroyo

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!

I feel like November is going by fast. What a month! A few of us celebrated a birthday – 51 for me!. I was off for a few days for Thanksgiving Break. The time off was wonderful and I didn’t want to go back to work yesterday. Now I am looking forward to Winter Break.

Let me tell you about how November went for me:

Mileage: So far I’ve run 20.98 and walked 0 miles this month. I couldn’t get it together to be consistent and run on more days.

Current Book: I finished reading “The Maid” and am currently reading “The Truth and Other Hidden Things”. The former was good and it took me longer than expected to finish it. There were times that I lost interest and put it down to watch TV. I am enjoying the other book but sometimes get annoyed with the main character. It is still a good book.

Next year my goal will be to read 24 books.

2023 Running Goal: I said goodbye to my goal. This year wasn’t my year for running. I did the best I could and am OK with it. I will continue to run and will be happy with whatever number I end up with on December 31.

Injuries: None. How can I have any when I am barely running? 🤪 Sometimes I have some pain/discomfort in my hip. And depending on which shoes I wear and how long I am on my feet, they hurt too.

Races: None, but am hoping I can run a 5k in December. This year I ran a half marathon, 10k, 10 miler, 8k, and a 4 miler.

Health: I am doing OK. Depending on how my day goes, I sleep well and on other days I don’t.

School: It is still an up-and-down situation. I am still overwhelmed with a lot of work to do and not enough time. I like my students and sometimes I like my job. A few weeks ago I got a new student from El Salvador. She is sweet and shy and is excited to be in school. I like my principal. She is very supportive and understands where we (teachers) come from.

Still, I will end this post with what I said last month: Each day brings me closer to another year of teaching and then to another year closer to retirement.

The topic for next week: Holiday Gift Guide for runners. Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic: Tell us why you’re thankful for running this year! You can write about this topic or 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!

Another year and another birthday. I feel lucky and happy to be celebrating another birthday. I went to work where I got presents and hugs from my students. After work, I had two meetings. Then I went to Portillo’s for a burger, fries, and my free chocolate cake. Everything was yummy! It was a good day.

Now let me tell you what I am thankful for.

💖 I am thankful for my students. I know I complain about them but no matter what happens during the day, I still enjoy and like my students. They’re kids. It isn’t their fault that the district has a rigorous schedule and all day is all work, work, and work. The other day, after 5 tests, they asked to color and to listen to music. A few of them danced!

💖 I am thankful for my job. Similar to the previous point. Not all days are bad days. On Tuesday as we were getting ready to go home, one of the girls told me, “Ms. Arroyo, you are fun”.

💖 I am thankful for my health. I am healthy. A little high cholesterol but that’s it. I take good care of myself, but know that I need to be more active. I want to run the Chicago Marathon next year. I know I can do it and that it won’t be easy

💖 I am thankful for my cats. My fur babies! I swear they both understand when I ask them if they want chicken or fish for their snack. I know, I know, what you’re thinking. They meow and it makes me laugh. Lately, Mateo has been more cuddly at night. He usually sleeps on the foot of the bed, but now he sleeps next to me.

💖 I am thankful for running. I had no idea I would still be running years later after I took that first running class with CARA. Then I signed up for a race and then another one. Then we know what happened. The other day someone was saying how I find running to be fun. I know he meant it sarcastically (who doesn’t), but while I do find it fun, it is more than that. I said that to me it is my alone time. I like running because I feel like I am alone in the world with no worries. It is just me alone for those miles before getting back to reality.

Next week is a FREE topic. Feel free to write about any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!

Tuesday Topics