Author: Zenaida Arroyo

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

Weekly Run Down: A good week of running and being kind

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Another great week for me!  Ran 5 days for a total of 20.07 miles and did 2 virtual races for the Uncanceled Project.

I have my days when I can easily get up at 6:30 am and am ready to start the day.  There are also days in which it is 8 am and I am feeling so tired and could stay in bed all day.   I  This week was a combo of both.  I did three runs in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and another one in the evening.  have no idea how I am going to do it when I go back to the classroom in the Fall.

Going back to workMy run on Saturday felt so hard.  I procrastinated and went out at 2pm . I was struggling in the first half mile of the run.  The plan was to run 3.10 miles and then turn around to run another 3.10 miles for a total of 6.20.  At 1.5 miles I wanted to quit but knew I still needed to keep running to get home.  I decided to try a different route to get home.  By the time I was almost home, I was at 4.23 miles.  I asked myself “why quit now?”  I kept on going but stayed close to home because I knew it was going to rain a lot.  It did!!!  And then it was sunny and warm again.

I got on the Peloton one day.  I bought these gym towels to use and I like them.  They’re the perfect size to cover the handlebars.  I had ordered a different kind but that order never got delivered.  After a few emails back and forth with the company, I decided to get my money back and go with Plan B.

The theme this week was Kindness.  I am a kind person.  I do kind things but don’t expect anything in return.  We should all be kind no matter the situation.  We don’t know what people are going through and sometimes all it takes is a smile, a compliment, or just being nice to others.

Essential Workers

Last Sunday when I was coming home I stopped at Wendy’s.  I paid for my meal and paid for the order in the car behind me.  Did I have to do that?  No,  I wanted to.  The cashier told me “That is a very nice thing you did”.  I smiled at her and said “Thank You”.  I felt good but more importantly I hoped the people behind me were happy, healthy, and enjoyed their meal.  

My friend, Carolina, set up a GoFund Me page to raise money for the street cart vendors in Little Village.  I grew up in Little Village.  These vendors cannot go out there and sell like they used to.  Like many people in this country, they have no income.  When things get better, who knows if they will be able to sell again.  I donated a couple hundred dollars to give to the vendors.  I was inspired by my nephew.  He donated his stimulus check because he said he did not need it.  I was so proud of him when he said that.  I used Zelle to send the money to Carolina and she told me it was too much money and that I didn’t have to do that.  She was right.  I didn’t but I wanted to.  I told her that right now I am very lucky.  I have a job, a house, and am healthy.  There are other people in worse situations.  

KIndness-1

We have two weeks left of school.  Seriously, school should be done this Friday and not the following Friday.  Kids and teachers are burnt out and need a break.  On Thursday I held my last Google Meets session with them.  I would have one Monday-Thursday from 10am-1pm.  I did tell them that I will still be there for them if they have questions or need help.  As a way of saying goodbye to 2nd grade, I made a postcard.  Here is what it says:

Your teacher misses you.
Hi!  The school year is almost over.  You did a good job in the classroom and I am very proud of you.  Thank you for your help and your patience.  I know these past few months were not easy but we did it.  Remember that when we return the following year, you will be a 3rd grader.  Never forget that you are very intelligent.  Take care and I hope you visit me in the classroom when we return to school.

Postcard for students-1

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

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Random Thoughts Thursday 125

Random Thoughts Thursday

• Anyone read “Fifty Shades of Grey”?  I remember reading every book and seeing the movies too.  Thanks to Facebook Memories I was reminded of a few years ago when I was in Portland, Oregon for a race and found the hotel.  Haha!!

Facebook Memories-5

• This made me laugh!  I tried making an avatar but it looked nothing like me.  I prefer to use memoji on my iPhone.  

Release the avatars

  • Saw this yesterday.  I wonder how true it is.  I also wonder how exactly it will work in the Fall.  Many of the things on the list will be “impossible” to do.

CDC Guidelines-1

• I finished reading the book.  Wow!  I thought the Netflix series was excellent and the book is great too.  Well, I think the series was better.  

Unorthodox-1

 • No matter what situation we are in, we should always be kind.  Honestly, I am getting tired of people complaining and being ungrateful.

Essential Workers

Tuesday Topics: Some of my best races

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  Last week I wrote about some not-so-great things that have happened to me at races.   So today let’s discuss some of my best races whether it is because of a PR, the course, or some other reason.

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This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What was your best or worst race 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!

2016 Chicago Marathon – It it my marathon PR.  I simply love everything about this race.  I’ve run it a few times and also love spectating it.  

2016chicagomarathon6

2015 Live Grit 10 MilerI met Wendy and Marcia at this race.  It was warm in the beginning of the race but then the temperature dropped about 20 degrees.  I did not have a jacket and was COLD.

2019 Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon – I was undertrained but loved this race.  I was also dealing with plantar fasciitis but I made the best of it. It is an incredible experience running the bridge to Canada, in Canada, and then back to the U.S.  

2019 Delaware Marathon Running Festival – Hilly course but I met Kim!  What’s not to like about it?  Running in Brandywine Park felt peaceful and very relaxing.  It was just what I needed to deal with all of the hills.

2013 Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4thI don’t remember how I heard about this race but am so happy I did.  I love everything about it (distance, price, location, to name a few things) and continue to run it each year.  I am sad it is cancelled this year but understand the reason.

Elmhurst 4 on the 4th 2013-1

2020 Publix Atlanta Half MarathonSo the race itself was not that great.  It was a VERY hilly course and I was undertrained.  What I loved about it was the Olympic Marathon Trials that took place the day before.  I got excited and goosebumps being so close to many elite runners – LOVED seeing Desi on the course!!

Utah Valley Half Marathon 2017 – A race meeting up with blogger friends!  The views were incredible.  It was the first time dealing with altitude and running a downhill race.  Not easy but I finished in 2:34:59 which is a whole lot better than I expected!!

Walt Disney World Half Marathon and Walt Disney World Marathon – Did this as part of the Goofy Challenge.  Seriously, I have no idea what I was thinking when I signed up.  I don’t think I was thinking AT ALL!  🙂  It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.  No regrets at all.

The Great Alaskan Running Cruise 2017 – It was a fun week exploring and running in Alaska.  There were a total of 4 races:

5K Kick Off Run/Walk in Anchorage and Welcome Party
√ Glacier Half Marathon in Juneau
4-Mile Amazing Race in Skagway
5K on the trails in the Tongass National Forest in Ketchikan

♥ Chicago Lakefront 50K 2012 and 2014 – I don’t have a recap from my first race in 2012 but HERE is the second one I did in 2014.  As if running a marathon isn’t hard enough, I decided to run a race even longer than 26.2 miles.  I ran the RnR New Orleans Marathon early in March and then ran the 50k a few weeks later.  Why not, right?  🙂

photo-4

I enjoyed writing about this topic.  It was fun reading older posts (sometimes cringing because of what I wrote – Yikes!!), but overall remembering each one which made me smile.

Tuesday Topics

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Weekly Run Down: Running across Illinois and for dreams

Weekly Mileage-55

This was a good week for me.  I ran 5 days for a total of 17.40 miles.  I did not want to miss any runs because I signed up for The Run Across Illinois Challenge and I am still participating in Deborah’s Run Bet Challenge.  I don’t really care about winning any money.  I just don’t want to lose the money that I entered in the bet.

It was sunny on Monday but must have been cooler since I had a heavier jacket.

I run in the morning before logging in for school but this week I ran twice in the evening.  It was warm on Wednesday and I have no idea what I was thinking.  I overdressed and wore pants and a long sleeve top and then regretted it.  On Thursday morning it was raining with thunderstorms and I knew I couldn’t get out to run.  I waited till the evening when it had stopped raining.  It was humid but still comfortable to wear shorts and a tank top.

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Saturday morning I had to run 5 miles.  I took it easy but still struggled to get it done.  I went out later than usual and while it wasn’t too warm, it was sunny which I guess wore me out.   I saw some pretty flowers along the way.  Later I went to do laundry (I used to go on Sundays but now prefer Saturday).  I must have been more tired than expected and so I took a nap and missed the Bloggers Zoom Call.  🙁

Another rainy day on Sunday.  A big difference from Saturday.  I did not want to go but then remembered the challenges I am doing and I was out the door.  It wasn’t too bad.  And yes I was warm again.

Of course I wanted to stay home like Mateo.  I cannot imagine him being comfortable but I guess he is.

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I did my 5k for the Uncancelled Project.  This time I am determined to get it done each week.

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Something I am excited about is The Great Run Across Illinois that Wendy mentioned in a post.  I even got Marcia to sign up and we created a team – Bloggers Outrunning COVID.  Our goal is to run 210 miles.  I didn’t realize that we had to get it done by the end of the month.   I honestly thought it was 70 days but that is for solo runners doing the challenge.  Yikes!  But we’ll get it done, right Marcia?  🙂

The Great Run Across Illinois-1

Are you doing the Uncanceled Project 2?  What about any other challenges?

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

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Random Thoughts Thursday 124

Random Thoughts Thursday

• The whole drama with the mask and Costco is hilarious!  I am not a fan of wearing the mask because it is tough to breathe in that thing but I know it is for my own good.

Costco Mask Rule

• Aren’t these the CUTEST beds for cats?  They’re actually doll beds and are available at IKEA.  Once the stores open, you bet I am going there to buy 2 of them.

Bed for cats

  • Still up in the air about whether school will reopen in August.  This is what I am picturing to happen if we do open next year.

When schools reopen

• Any fans of The Magic School Bus?  My students and I would watch it all of the time.  It was educational and the perfect amount of time for them to stay quiet while I did other things in the classroom.  If only she were real then we would have a vaccine.  🙂

Ms. Frizzle

 •  Anyone watched “Becoming” on Netflix?  I saw and loved it.  She is someone I would love to meet one day.