Zenaida Arroyo

20
Oct
2020

Tuesday Topics: To run anywhere in the world

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: If you could run anywhere in the world, where would you run? 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!

This is a FUN topic! I cannot wait till it is “safe” to travel again. My last trip was in late February to Atlanta to run the Atlanta Half Marathon. Hard to believe that was almost 8 months ago.

Let’s see, if I could run anywhere in the world, where would I run?

Hawaii-I’ve always wanted to vacation there too. I was planning to run the Kona Half Marathon this year. I almost signed up for it. Glad I didn’t because, well, it was cancelled.

Greece-Everything there looks so beautiful. It is on my bucket list of places to travel. Why not run there too?

New York-Maybe one day I will run the NYC Marathon? I’ve heard great things about this race. Everyone that has run it highly recommends it. Yesterday I did a Peloton 45 minute NYC Marathon Simulation Run and it was exciting to listen to Robin describe the course. There were a few times I stopped because I was actually envisioning myself running the race and was savoring the moment.

Paris-Another place I’ve been wanting to visit to see the Eiffel Tower. I know there are other things to see but that is the first place I want to visit.

Africa-I want to run with elephants, zebras, and giraffes. I know it cannot be done but in a way that sounds like fun. Have I told you my favorite Disney movie is “The Lion King”?

Italy-I’ve been there once during a cruise but did not run there at all. Time to go back there! I would probably eat all of the wonderful food there too.

18
Oct
2020

Weekly Run Down: Week #3 of training for a 5k and I finished unpacking

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

Another great week of running. Still keeping up with the run streak. Today is day #51.

I had some great workouts again this week. There were a few days of easy runs and a few days of faster workouts. Fun!

Tuesday’s workout was 1 mile easy warmup with 6 sets of short intervals (1 minute @ 9:45 pace and 1 minute easy), then 1 mile easy cool down.

Friday morning I was so tired in the morning. I woke up at 5am to use the bathroom and to feed my cats and went back to sleep. I woke up again at 7 but got out of bed at 7:20. There was no time to do my workout (1/2 mile easy @ ~ 12:45 pace, 1 mile mid-effort @ ~ 11:00 pace, 1/2 mile easy @ ~ 12:45 pace, 1 mile mid-effort @ ~ 11:00 pace, and 1 mile cool down @ ~ 12:45 pace) so I decided to do it after work or in the evening. I almost skipped it. Glad I didn’t. I was actually shocked at how I did.

Based on Friday’s late workout I wasn’t sure how I was going to do on Saturday’s run. The workout was first 4 miles @ 12:30-12:45/mile and last mile @ HMP 11:15-11:30/mile. I decided to run by feel the last mile. I guess I still had energy.

I did a few fun Peloton runs. I did my first run with Robin. I had no idea she was Cuban! My favorite running instructor is Matty but now am going to add more of Robin’s runs to my list. 30 minutes is not enough for Hamilton nor Celia Cruz but I did enjoy them. J Balvin was OK.

In non running news, there was a School Board Meeting on Wednesday and a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday. The latter was very intense and I actually felt kind of bad for the Superintendent. Parents were angry and not happy with the responses. The meeting was shown live on the District’s website. It was also recorded so others could watch it/listen to it later. However, it was then taken down from the Website. Teachers are now expected to return to the classroom on November 9th instead of October 19. I don’t remember what was said about the students. Honestly, I will be very surprised if we (teachers and students) end up returning this year at all.

I finished unpacking all of my boxes. I still have to add some final touches like borders, posters, etc., but everything is put away. It definitely looks much better. The video is from the first day I went to set it up. I was overwhelmed and did not know where to start. I did play on repeat one of my favorite songs.

I started reading this book. It is good but I skipped parts of it because I got bored. Now I am at the part where she is speaking at the Senate Confirmation Hearing.

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

13
Oct
2020

Tuesday Topics: My thoughts about rest days

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is What are your thoughts about rest days? 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!

I haven’t taken any rest days from running since August 29. Today is day #46. Let’s see how long I can continue this streak. I feel good. The weather has been fantastic and I am enjoying running in this weather.

My coach has me running 5-6 days a week and no more than 30 miles a week. On the days he does not schedule a workout, I run for 20 minutes. The pace is very slow and easy and it is never more than 2 miles.

Some benefits of rest days include:

✓ Allows your muscles to recover.

✓ Reduces the chance of injury.

✓ Helps you sleep better.

There was a time when I would look forward to my rest days. I would rest on my rest days, like really rest meaning that I would not do anything. My body wanted that rest day. I even looked forward to that day when I wouldn’t “have” to run. I am the type of person that can spend all day on the sofa watching TV or reading a book and only getting up to get something to eat and use the bathroom.

However, a rest day doesn’t mean you don’t do anything. You can still do some kind of light activity. You can walk, swim, do yoga, or do an easy bike class.

Me? I take it easy on those rest days and even walk if I want to. No pressure. Again, the weather has been great and I am enjoying it. Who knows how it will be during the Winter.

Everyone trains and recovers different. We do not train the same way and expect the same results. It is the same thing with rest days. Everyone’s body does not need the same amount of rest days. You know your body and what is best for YOU!

11
Oct
2020

Weekly Run Down: Week #2 of training for a 5k and let me brag about it

categories: Running, Weekly Recap, Weekly Run Down

How is it that it is Sunday again? The days go by fast for me. This is week #2 of training for a 5k. I ran a total of 22.55 miles. My runs were similar to last week and they went very well.

Monday and Tuesday were again easy runs. Honestly I do not remember too much about them. What I do remember are my runs on Thursday and Saturday.

Thursday’s run was 5 miles. There were also 3 1/2 mile tempo repeats. Targeted pace was 11:10. I ran each repeat without stopping. I am not “fast” at all so seeing those numbers made my day.

Saturday’s run was 5 miles with the last mile being the fastest. Last week was 4 miles with the last one being the fastest one. The last mile was 3 seconds slower than last week but I ran 1 mile longer and the 4 miles were at a faster pace too (and negative splits). I am very pleased with this workout as well.

The weather has been great for running. I wore tights for my runs but on Saturday and Sunday wore shorts. I love the colors of the leaves. Very beautiful!

In non running related news, I bought a new car. I’ve had my car since 2006 and I love it. I never wanted to get rid of it. A few months ago it began to fail. It began to turn off and then quickly turn back on again. I didn’t think anything of it because I was rarely using it anyway. Then about 2 weeks ago it began to happen again. Also, this time it would take a few times turning the key before it would turn on. Again, I didn’t think anything of it. Last Saturday I used it to go to the laundromat and then left it in front of the house. Then Sunday evening it would not turn on. I tried a few times before calling my cousin’s husband (he is a mechanic) to check it. Long story short, still did not turn on and I had to decide whether to fix it or get a new one. All last week I thought about about it and decided to get a new one. Why not? I work hard and deserve it.

Here is my new car. It is a Honda CRV. I love the new car smell. There are so many features and it is intimidating. Ha, just turning it on is very new to me. I will miss my cassette and CD player. Oh and I am having a little bit of trouble with parallel parking. I don’t understand why since I am very good at parallel parking.

With no car I did not go to school at all. It was actually nice to stay home. I do know that teachers are still required to show up at school on the 19th. No kids yet; there is a Board Meeting on the 14th where a decision will be made. I am planning to go this week and hopefully be done with it. What I really want to finish is to put everything away in the lockers. I don’t care too much about the other things but it drives me crazy to have an unorganized room.

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

06
Oct
2020

Tuesday Topics: My most popular running related blog posts

categories: Tuesday Topics

This week’s Tuesday Topic is Brag Time: Share some of your most popular running related blog posts. 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!

Well this is an interesting topic. I never check my stats. My blog is small. I post mainly to talk about my training and my adventures as a teacher. 😀 I don’t have a lot of followers but do have my loyal readers that read my posts every week. Thank you.

Here are a few of my most popular posts:

✸ Weekly Run Down: Week #1 of training for a 5k and new shoes. Not sure why this is popular. Maybe because it is a new post?

✸ Goodbye November and Hello December! It was a November monthly recap with the previous “Tuesdays on the Run” linkup. Made me smile when I saw that.

✸ Tuesday Topics: My Winter weather running tips and a birthday giveaway! I wrote about my Winter running tips. Surely it had nothing to do with the $47 gift card that was offered, right?

✸ Tuesday Topics: I walked 610,966 steps in the StepBet Challenge! That was a fun challenge! I don’t wear a FitBit anymore and wear my Garmin only for running but would like to do a similar challenge.

✸ Weekly Run Down: A fall and taking a break. I was excited and looking forward to run after recovering from a cold. Then I fell. I am still traumatized from that fall.

✸ Goodbye September and Hello October! Another monthly recap with the Tuesday on the Run linkup.

✸ Weekly Run Down: End of the month and 335 miles. A weekly linkup hosted by Kim and Deborah. Love the support that is provided by everyone in the linkup. ♥️

✸ Tuesday Topics: 2019 Missoula Half Marathon Race Recap. A trip to MT to run a half marathon. Many people raved about this race and I was excited to run there. I liked the course but not the travel experience. I prefer traveling to big cities.

✸ Tuesday Topics: 2019 Shamrock Shuffle Race Recap. One of my favorite races in Chicago. I miss this race. Hopefully I can run it next year.

✸ Weekly Run Down: The Olympic Marathon Trials Edition. A fun weekend spectating The Olympic Marathon Trials. The next day I ran the Atlanta Half Marathon. It was a tough course but the weekend itself was amazing.

✸ Weekly Run Down: Banned from Brooksrunning and summer break. You all know my LOVE for Brooks shoes. Apparently I order too many and then return them more than they would have liked. Now I am not allowed to order from their site anymore. Maybe that is why I wasn’t picked to be on the Run Happy Team either? 🤣 🤔 That is OK since I like ordering from Running Warehouse and Zappos.

I used Google Analytics for this information. Did I do it right? Is that what you use to check your stats too?