Zenaida Arroyo

Author: Zenaida Arroyo

I am a 2nd grade teacher and a runner. I love coffee and cats.

04
Aug
2019

Weekly Run Down: August and a Peloton Bike

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

Weekly Mileage-20.jpg Hello August! I am excited for it because it means Fall will be here soon. It is my favorite season. August also means back to school. I have 3 weeks left of summer break. I have a few meetings/PD this coming week and then will have a chance to set up my classroom. I checked the roster and so far I have 17 students. It is a good number but I know it will change in the next couple of weeks.

Hello August-1.jpg

I ended July with 58.72 miles. It is my 2nd lowest mileage month after February with 21.52 miles.

July 2019 Mileage.jpg

Still not running as much before and that is OK with me. I did run Monday through Wednesday with 7.31 miles for the week. It cooled down this week and my runs felt pretty good. I just realized that my next half marathon is in 11 weeks. I’ve been checking out various 12 weeks training plans and there are so many. Do you have a good one I could use?

This was Lola waiting for me on one of my runs. I guess she does miss me when I’m gone. 🙂

On Wednesday my mom and I went to The Great American Bagel. We both enjoyed our bagel with jalapeño cream cheese. I remember there used to be one at Midway Airport and I would get one before boarding the plane.

The Great American Bagel-1.jpg

Now the exciting news is that I finally ordered a Peloton bike! Earlier I received an email to schedule the delivery. It will be delivered Tuesday, August 13. I’ve been wanting one for months! Kim gave me her referral code and I was able to get $100 off my purchase towards accessories (she will also get $100 towards her accessories purchase.) I bought the bike mat and a heart rate monitor.

My week might not have been THAT exciting but to me it was perfect. 🙂

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

Weekly Run Down.jpg

01
Aug
2019

Random Thoughts Thursday 83

categories: Random Thoughts Thursday

Random Thoughts Thursday

• I finally finished this book. I cannot believe it took me so long to finish it. I’ve had it since March but then life happens and you need to put it down. She is someone I would love to meet and chat for 10 minutes. OK, maybe 5 since I know she is a busy woman.

Becoming Book-1

• I’ve been trying to get a teacher discount with Sprint but was told that I cannot get it because I already have a discounted phone plan. Ugh, that annoyed me. No one told me when I submitted my application in February. I have been with Sprint for almost 20 years and my bill is around $103 every month. Let me clarify that – my plan is $50 and the rest are fees and taxes.

Money-1

• August is almost here and that means back to work. I am looking forward to it but then also I am not. This summer is flying by. I worked the month of June and then it was awfully hot that I haven’t really been enjoying this summer. I guess I better make the best of it the next couple of weeks. I start the 26th and kids start the 28th.

Number One Goal-1.jpg

• I don’t know about you but I am definitely looking forward to Fall. It is my favorite season. I love that it isn’t hot but yet cool enough to wear a sweater or light jacket. I can still run in shorts, compression socks, and a long sleeve top. Oh and let’s not forget the different colors of the leaves.

• I have plantar fasciitis. Luckily mine isn’t as severe and it doesn’t hurt as much anymore. Maybe it is gone? I hope so. One of the things I’ve been using are these massage rollers. Plantar fasciitis or not, every runner should have these. I have a few friends that had plantar fasciitis and when I would read their blog posts, I was always curious about that feeling/pain. Ha, now I know.

30
Jul
2019

Tuesday Topics: My favorite summer drinks to stay hydrated

categories: Tuesday Topics

Hey there! How is everyone doing? Cannot believe tomorrow is the last day of July. Soon it will be August. To me August means back to school; I am ready but also not ready to go back.

This week’s Tuesday Topic: What are your favorite summer drinks to stay hydrated? 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!

Tuesday Topics-3.jpg

The number 1 item on my list is water. Thankfully I am on summer break and can drink as much water as I want to. During the school year is when I struggle. Well, drinking water isn’t the hard part, it is finding someone to watch my classroom while I run to the bathroom. Luckily the bathroom isn’t too far from my room but I either have to call the office or ask my coworker.

Something else that I am enjoying is hibiscus tea. I drink mine cold and it is delicious. My sister brings the flowers from Mexico and I make it several times a week. Some benefits of drinking hibiscus tea are that it may lower blood pressure, reduce blood sugar levels, and also lower cholesterol level. A friend of mine also mentioned it is good for the swelling in my feet. Not sure how accurate all of these reports are, but I drink it anyway because I like the flavor of it and it gives me a break from drinking just plain water. <

I fill a pot with water (I think the one I have is 8 cups) and add 1/2 cup of dried hibiscus flower. I let it boil and then let it steep. Once it cools down, I then pour it in a plastic pitcher. This pitcher usually lasts me a few days and then I make more. You can also add honey or sugar to sweeten it but I prefer to drink it without it.

I don’t drink milk but do add it to my cereal or when making a smoothie. A few years ago I switched to almond milk because cow milk would leave me bloated. No bueno. A couple of months ago I purchased almond milk chocolate milk and liked it a lot. Sometimes I use it to make a smoothie or I add it to my coffee instead of coffee creamer.

Silk Milk-1

While it maybe not be the best way to stay hydrated, sometimes I like to have a beer or wine. 🙂 A nice and cold beer with a burger is so refreshing after a race or a run. Oh and I like apple martinis too!

GARC17-280

Beer or wine? Both? Have you tried hibiscus tea?

Tuesday Topics

28
Jul
2019

Weekly Run Down: Not motivated to run and some new running gear

categories: Brooks Running, Oiselle, Running, Running Gear, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

Weekly Mileage-19.jpg

I don’t know what is going on but this week I had no motivation to run. I also felt more tired than usual. I ran 2 days this week (my coach has me running 5 days a week). I have been massaging my left foot every single day. It only hurts a little when I get up in the morning but then it feels fine.

Even Lola felt tired too. 🙂

I decided not to run the three half marathons (WY, SD, and ND) next month. No way will I be ready. The race in New Mexico is still up in the air because my mother’s birthday is September 9th and we have a birthday party for her. Her party will not be the 7th so most likely it will be the 14th.

We are still dealing with some issues with my mother’s medical card. I am so frustrated. She has County Care which is a managed care organization through Medicaid. I don’t understand why her coverage changed and why she doesn’t have medical coverage. County Care only offers long term care. She was assigned a PCP located downtown and I tried switching her to her current one but couldn’t do it because she has Medicare and that covers her medical doctor appointments. At this point, why would she switch her PCP? Ugh! Rant over..for now. Thanks for listening.

On Tuesday I went to see “The Lion King”. Have you seen it? I loved it! I want to see it again, and again, and again.

I may have been banned from ordering from the Brooks website, but that didn’t stop me from ordering these from Zappos. These are the Ghost 12. Aren’t they lovely? I have the Ghost 11 and love them.

Brooks Shoes-16.jpg

I ordered some new Oiselle gear. I love the new colors.

Oiselle Gear-19

Oiselle Gear-20

The new tops have a watch window. Not sure If I like it but we’ll see once I start wearing them.

I emailed my coach and she suggested I take some time off from structured running but definitely go for a run if I feel like it. She also said not to put any pressure/expectations on me nor worry about pace. Maybe now the new shoes and gear will motivate me to go out for a run. 🙂

How do you stay motivated? Is it new shoes? New gear? Or simply take some time off?

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

Weekly Run Down.jpg

25
Jul
2019

Random Thoughts Thursday 82

categories: Random Thoughts Thursday

Random Thoughts Thursday

• This made me laugh! Seriously the last thing we want to do is go to a meeting much less stay longer than necessary. I need to go set up my classroom!! 🙂

Questions at meetings

• Another Facebook memory. This was for a running cruise to Alaska two years ago. You can read about it HERE.

• Have you tried these? They are delicious. I bought a package for my nephew and he finished it in a few hours. Well, he gave me 1 or 2 cookies to share.

Oreo Cookies-1.jpg

• I was supposed to run the RnR Chicago Half Marathon on Sunday. I didn’t because my coach advised me not to run because I have plantar fasciitis. Well, maybe it wasn’t meant to be because my name wasn’t on the list of participants anyway.

2019 RnR Chicago-3.jpg

• I may be banned from ordering more shoes from the Brooks website, but that didn’t stop me from ordering another pair from Zappos. How cute are these?