After yesterday’s writing fiasco, I thought I should try writing first thing in the morning. Then I ran first thing this morning. I LOVE running in the morning. I am sorry to report that I did not rush straight to pen or computer as soon a I had stretched and showered (I suppose some of you would have written when you were still sweaty and stinky or even before you ran at all, but I am not in competition with you) (you know who you are). Nonetheless, it is still prior to 9 a.m., and I don’t need to start today’s Mohawk Valley adventures for yet a little while.
All this by way of introduction to today’s Running Commentary.
Today is the fourth day in a row I went running. Yay me! Yesterday afternoon when I took Spunky for a little walk, I actually thought I would like to go for another run. I did nothing so reckless but was happy to put on my sports bra and sneakers (yes, I wore other stuff as well, sorry if I gave you an unfortunate mental image) (but not real sorry) this morning and get going.
I carried a bottle of water. I don’t really like carrying anything when I run, but I feared to become dehydrated. Additionally, I planned to run in the direction of the spring and knew I could get a refill. I have another awkward situation these days as well, because my wrist watch has become a waist watch. That is, the band broke so I fasten it to my waistband with a safety pin. When I run I tuck it into my bicycle shorts, so it doesn’t bounce.
My legs felt like they wanted a challenge, but I knew they would change their minds as I ran. I really should have written a Running Commentary about a previous run. I had been going to run up to the college the front way, changed my mind three or four times and ended up running up the kick-butt way. I had no intention of getting my butt kicked today. Steven and I have adventures planned.
I noticed how German Street curves upward, especially on the side of it I was on. I told myself that at least I was doing some uphill work. It is not a particularly steep incline, though. I ran up the hill by Valley Health, meaning to go on into what I call the suburbs, where I knew there are several hills of various grades. I took a street I don’t usually run on and went from there. Far from another uphill, this street looked as if it dropped off the face of the earth up ahead. I prefer to run uphill for steep slopes, downhill on gradual slopes. Luckily there was a left I could take. This run was going fine.
Oh dear, was that a garbage truck up ahead? It is garbage day in Herkimer. The truck was a block or so ahead of me. Which way was he going? Was he moving at all? Shouldn’t he be moving by now? He was moving very slowly. I’m not clear here on whether “he” refers to the driver or I was anthropomorphizing the truck (using “he” to mean “he or she,” so don’t ding me for sexism). Then I realized it was not a garbage truck at all but the street cleaner.
I spent a good part of the rest of the run trying to avoid the street cleaner, an interesting occupation in that area, since none of the streets come out where I expect them to. At one point I looked through some yards to see I was running parallel to the cleaner and not going a whole lot faster than he was. How mortifying. I took a couple of hills, admired several of the houses, especially the screened in porches, and kept sipping my water till it was gone.
After a wrong turn or two, I thought I was headed back toward Lou Ambers Drive and the spring. Suddenly I found myself back on German Street, beyond where the sidewalk was. Oh dear, cars go along this stretch very fast. Luckily it was still early enough that there was no traffic. I only had to go a block or so left side facing traffic (of course) to get to Valley Health, where there is a sidewalk. I ran up the hill again. I had never run up that side of Valley Health, so I felt pretty cool doing it now.
About this time I realized my legs felt warm and supple. I was so rocking this run! Soon I was headed towards Lou Ambers Drive, knowing for a change exactly where I was. I realized that I was in shape for the DARE 5K in August. That run, you may recall, goes up the hill to Herkimer College. I love that run. I thought to myself perhaps I could not rock that run right now, but I could at least run it. And I have almost two months more in which I can get in shape to rock it, yes!
I was mighty pleased with my run, and pretty pleased with myself for composing a real blog post thus early in the morning. What wonderful things will I accomplish with the rest of my day? I’ll be sure to write blog posts about them.
Mohawk Valley Girl 