Rather than my usual Tired Tuesday post, I thought I would attempt a Running Commentary. For one reason, I ran up the hill to Herkimer College, an accomplishment which deserves a blog post, I think.
As usual these days, I woke up NOT wanting to run at all. I always have all kinds of good reasons: I ran yesterday, I should recruit my energies for something else, I don’t NEED to run the Falling Leaves 14K in September… etc., etc. I usually change my mind after a cup of coffee. Let’s hear it for caffeine! Also in favor of running was the weather: it was not raining, which it is supposed to do soon and for the next several days.
I set off with high hopes. I have been thinking that longer runs were in order, and a run up a challenging hill would be an excellent idea. Additionally, I could post to Facebook that I had run up to HCCC, and my Facebook friends would feel impressed. Accordingly, I crossed to the far sidewalk on German Street and turned left.
A young man was walking a block, maybe a block and a half ahead of me. I wondered how long it would take me to catch up to him. It seemed to take a while. It was actually about three blocks. Is that a lot? I suppose some of you could have done it in one. I am all admiration, I assure you. The young man heard me huffing and puffing behind him as I approached.
“Good morning,” I said. He returned the greeting as he moved over to give me room. “You know how long it took me to catch up with you?” I added as I ran past him. “That’s how slow I run!”
” Have a good day,” he said, turning up the next street.
“You too!” I called, running on.
The run had felt pretty good up till then. The temperature was nice, my body was not complaining. Then I started up the hill. It wasn’t long before I started to feel like I Could… Not… Make… It… I knew this was not the case. I knew I could and would make it. But I only knew this intellectually and logically. I sure wasn’t feeling it!
I reminded myself of the first time I had run the hill. I had thought I would run up till I had been running for 15 minutes (starting from when I left my house), then I would turn around and go down. I had the idea that eventually I would make it all the way up. Well, by the time I got to 15 minutes, I was too close to the top to quit. So there, keep going, I told myself
At one point I tried the trick of looking back at how far I had come. This works best if you do it after you are halfway up, which I knew I was. Yes, I had come far, but looking back down gave me a little vertigo. Yikes! At last I was all the way up and ready to go back down.
As I ran toward the back road down, I realized I had run by a Do Not Enter sign, where there was one of those triangles at a wide T intersection. I ran back and ran by it, entering where it said not to. It added a little more distance to my run and solidified my rebel cred. Yes, yes, I know, by the rule Left Side Facing Traffic I should have been running there. It amuses me to enter where the sign says not to and pretend I’m a rebel. I have to get my laughs where I can.
After running down the hill, I backtracked to Lou Ambers Drive and got a quick drink at the spring. Then I continued on home for a 42 minute run. I did not immediately go on my cool-down walk but opened the garage and hauled out the non-power mower. I spent a good 20 minutes huffing and puffing behind that, once again taking advantage of the time before the rain.
Eventually I got to my cool-down walk. Phew! I felt that I had gotten a work out. I think I’ll be up for the Falling Leaves run in September!
Mohawk Valley Girl 