This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  Feel free to post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Let me tell you about how March went for me:

Mileage: So far I’ve run 8.41 and walked 3.65 miles this month.  It’s been another nonproductive month of running and walking. 

Run the Year 2024: I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year.  I have completed 71.74 miles (per the RTE Tracker).  I know I have a lot of work to do here.  Once the weather is better, I plan to walk to work a few times a week.  It is 6.2 miles to work so I think it is doable.

Current Book: I finished reading “The Lincoln Highway”.  I loved it!  I still want to get in my car and drive along the highway.  Road trip?  Currently, I am reading “Unsettled Ground” and so far am liking it.  This is book #5 for this year.

Injuries: None.

Races:  On Sunday I ran the Bank of American Shamrock Shuffle 8k.  I have mentioned this race a few times so you know it is one of my favorite races.  The weather was decent and I finished in 1:06:51 (my worst time).

Health:  I am doing OK.  Depending on how my day goes, I sleep well and on other days I don’t.  I don’t know if it was my trip to San Antonio or DST or both but I was very tired when I came back home.  I am struggling with hot flashes and weight gain and I am not happy about it.  On Monday I saw the number on the scale and it was the highest number I’ve seen on the scale for me.  I was upset and then everything else went downhill for me that day.  I had a horrible day at work where everything just bothered me.

School:  It is going OK.  We have two months to go till the end of the school year.  There are a few activities taking place in April and May that I am looking forward to.  We are going to Brookfield Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry.  We’re also going to see (weather permitting because we are walking there) SpongeBob the Musical.

What I am looking forward to next month: Spring Break!  One week to stay home and relax.

The topic for next week:  What are your tried-and-true running accessories?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  Feel free to post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Let me tell you about how February went for me:

Mileage:  So far I’ve run 14.87 and walked 1.64 miles this month.  It’s been a nonproductive run for running/walking. 

Run the Year 2024:  I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year.  I have completed 59.69 miles (per the RTE Tracker).  I know I have a lot of work to do here.  Once the weather is better, I plan to walk to work a few times a week.  It is 6.2 miles to work so I think it is doable.

Current Book:  I finish reading “Nowhere Girl”.  There were some parts that were sad but overall I enjoyed the book.  Currently I am reading “The Lincoln Highway”.  I saw the map in the book and it makes me want to get in my car and drive along the highway.  

Injuries:  None.  

Races:  None.

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

School:  It is going OK.  Also, busy with tests and assignments.  We are learning about insects and the students are enjoying the lessons.  Lots of information!

We read a book in Spanish about saving the sea turtles.  We watched a video from the Dominican Republic which shows the baby turtles going to the sea.  My students enjoyed it.  Also, in the book, one of the characters made a turtle with clay.  We did the same thing.  They had fun with it too.

What I am looking forward to next month:  A few days off from school (Pulaski Day and Good Friday).  I am going to San Antonio with my mom for my aunt’s 90th birthday party.  I am not sure if I am still going to NY because I haven’t been training for the half marathon.

The topic for next week:  How do you maintain your running motivation?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic.  Feel free to post any running-related blog post.  Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Let me tell you about how January went for me:

Mileage:  So far I’ve run 30.14 and walked 5.16 miles this month for a total of 35.30 miles (per my Garmin).  I began training for the NYC Half Marathon.  Again, I am following one of Hal Higdon’s plans and will be running 5 days a week.

I took two weeks off because of the weather.  Not only was there snow and ice, it was also COLD.  I had no desire to run outside in that weather.  I wish I had a gym membership.

Run the Year 2024:  I signed up to run and walk 2,024 miles this year.  So far I have completed 35.29 miles (per the RTE Tracker).

Current Book:  My goal this year is to read 24 books.  I finished “Heard it in a love song” and “The wind knows my name”.  I enjoyed both books but the latter one was so good.  Currently, I am reading “Nowhere Girl”.

Injuries:  None, but sometimes feel stiff.  Ha, I need to move more.

Races:  None, but I signed up for another race in May.  Total races so far this year is 5.

Health:  I am doing OK.  Depending on how my day goes, I sleep well and on other days I don’t.  Perimenopause sucks.  While I am glad I don’t have a period, the weight gain is awful.  I have gained about 10 pounds since last February.  My jeans feel tight and I had to buy new ones in a bigger size.  I know I am eating the same as before so this weight gain is frustrating.

School:  It’s going.  I have my good days and my bad days.  We had 2 days of remote learning and school was canceled another day.  The students have to take a state test (4 components and they already took 3) and a Math test.  This week I need to give them 3 additional assessments for Reading.  We are tired of all of these assessments.  I told them that on Friday we will have a movie and popcorn party.

What I am looking forward to next month: Hopefully not as many assessments as in January.  I also hope that the weather stays decent to continue training for the NYC Half Marathon.

The topic for next week:  Confession time:  What are your worst running habits?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your goals for 2024?  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!

I wrote about my goals for 2023 but also am writing this post to talk about December. 

December, the last month of 2023.  What a month and what a year!  I am currently on Winter Break.  Two weeks off which I desperately need.  I brought some work home and want to get it done this week so I don’t have to think about it next week.  But, if I don’t get to it, then oh well.  

Let me tell you about how December went for me:

Mileage:  So far I’ve run 36.98 and walked 0 miles this month.  I began training for the NYC Half Marathon.  Again, I am following one of Hal Higdon’s plans and will be running 5 days a week.

Current Book:  I love John Grisham and read “The Exchange.”  I was looking forward to it and read it in 3 days.  However, I didn’t care too much about it.  While the story was interesting, I didn’t like the ending.  I know that many times we don’t like the ending, but in this case, it left me confused and with many questions.  Now I am reading “We Are Not Like Them”.  So far so good.  I want to finish it this week.  That will leave me with reading 23 books this year (I am including one that I began reading on 12/30 but finished it in January).

2023 Running Goal:  I said goodbye to my goal to run 800 miles.  This year wasn’t my year for running.  I did the best I could and am OK with it.  As of this morning, I’ve run 493.97 miles this year.  The good news is that that number is higher than last year.

Injuries:  None.  

Races:  None.

Health:  I am doing OK.  Depending on how my day goes, I sleep well and on other days I don’t.  I did feel very tired on Saturday and Sunday.  I took a few naps while taking breaks from reading my book.

School:  Winter Break!

The topic for next week:  What’s your word for 2024?  Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

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!