Category Archives: running

Yet Another Post About Running

Posted on October 12, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been remiss about running lately, which is too bad, because a good run — or even a rotten run — is usually good for a blog post. I did manage to run both days this past weekend (no three day weekend for this working girl).

Previous weekends I’ve gotten out of bed, into the sports bras and out the door. This method has the advantage of not giving myself time to think of good reasons not to go running. I am rather ingenious at coming up with seemingly unassailable excuses (I just love that word “unassailable”).

Saturday, however, I sat around in sweats and had a couple cups of coffee with my husband. I’ll tell you what (and I posted this as my Facebook status that day): running after coffee is the Way to Go (I also clarified that I mean going running after you drink coffee, not pursuing coffee down the street, although that too would be motivational) (I just had to include that, because I felt so witty when I thought of it) (or do I flatter myself?) (But I digress) (Too many parenthetical comments?).

I felt pretty terrific. I did not run any hills, nor did I run as far as I had been. Back under the 30 minute plateau for me. But I thought after five days off, I wouldn’t kill myself. I did stop to pet one cute dog, by the way.

Sunday I tried the post-caffeine athletics again. I ran up the hill by Vally Health Services. It is not a huge hill compared to my beloved Herkimer County Community College (HCCC) challenger, but it’s hill enough to say so.

After the hill, I ran by the high school. I like to run by the high school on a Sunday and think, “Ah, what if I would have gotten my teaching certificate?” The school is usually pretty quiet on a Sunday.

I ran over the little bridge toward the parking lot/street I like to run down, because sometimes angels leave coins to encourage me (do I have to explain that again? Are there any new readers today?).

Sunday some game or event was going on. I saw parents and kids making their way toward the field. I tried to look athletic. I hoped nobody noticed me stop to pick up a penny (encouragement!). Then I realized nobody was paying the least bit of attention to me. A relief and a disappointment. I ran on.

I saw a cute little dog with no leash.

“Hi, cute little dog,” I said. “Where’s your person?” She was sitting on a nearby porch. I waved and said good morning. I’ve seen that dog before.

I do enjoy my runs. The Mohawk Valley weather is crisping up nicely. I must run up the hill to HCCC soon to enjoy the view while the leaves are still colored. That’ll be a good reason for another post about running.

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Running in the Unknown Park

Posted on September 30, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is another post about running, but this time I ran someplace different.

There is a park off German Street, a couple of streets before the turn to Herkimer County Community College (HCCC), heading west, I think (I don’t know from directions). There is no sign saying the name of the park, but there is a gate between stone pillars that is sometimes closed, bearing a sign reading “Park Closed for Season.” I don’t run into the park very often, because it is merely an out and back run, and I am more into turning here and there, or at least going around the block.

The reason I turned into the park Wednesday is that I was on that side of the street. Now, crossing German Street at four in the afternoon is no easy matter. I accomplished it, because I had some vague notion of running up to HCCC the back way. My legs were instantly trying to talk me out of that. Still, I had crossed the street. Then I saw the park and my legs said, “Look! That goes uphill, and we haven’t run that way in a long time!”

The incline into the park is not what you would call a real hill, especially compared to what I had thought to run, but a little more effortful that the fairly level sidewalk I was on. As I ran on, I realized a little more effort was entailed, because the road through the park is not smoothly paved, but comprises uneven stones and gravel. Not so uneven as to put one at risk of a turned ankle, but a little more effortful. Sometimes that is the best I can accomplish: just a little more effort.

I’ve run into this park a few times and rarely encounter anybody. Wednesday I saw a sports game in progress. I was too far away at first to see which sport it was. Soccer? Rugby? Lacrosse? I couldn’t tell if they were holding sticks or kicking a ball. Then I saw white on everybody’s head. Oh, helmets. Let’s see, what sport requires helmets? Oh, football. Silly me. This from a girl who listens to Sports Box on WVHC. I ought to be ashamed. Well, embarrassed anyways (but not too embarrassed to include this in the blog for a cheap laugh).

Unfortunately as I got closer the banks were such that I couldn’t see the game any more. I did see a man in the distance, tossing a toddler in the air the way most toddlers love to be tossed. There’s a sport I could get into: the Toddler Toss. Watching, not participating. I’ll confine myself to the Toddler Lift and Carry. Any toddlers handy? By the time I reached the man and tot they were sitting in the back of a pick up truck, watching the game.

After the sports field, things got more woodsy. I remembered the problems we had with mosquitoes on Saturday, but I wanted to keep running.

“Let ’em have at me,” I thought, “I’ve got witch hazel!”

I ran by an area with a pavilion, picnic tables and hibachis. I remembered that during the DARE run we went on a path that came out on this area. I thought briefly of exploring that, but I know the other end of the path is gated off, and I was not feeling sufficiently rebellious. I ran on to the end of the park.

A man made stream flows through the area. In fact, there is a cute little footbridge to the picnic area. I call it a man made stream. It may actually be a drainage ditch, but doesn’t man made stream sound better? As I got to the end of the path the man made stream started to look more like a nature made stream. I could have explored that, but there was a forbidding looking fence with no gate. One could perhaps go around the fence, but one might be asking for trouble to do such a thing. Also, as it got more wooded, it got more mosquito-y.

As I ran back out of the park, I got to pet a cute dog briefly. He was off his leash and much more into running around than being petted. I left the park and managed to cross German Street without mishap. Another cute dog that wanted to be petted, down a couple more streets, and back home.

A different setting with different thoughts to distract myself with. Not a great run, but a good run, and a fairly lengthy blog post.

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More Running Commentary

Posted on September 28, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sunday I did not run the Falling Leaves race in Utica, perhaps to my discredit, but I did run.

I began my run with indecision. I wanted to go right on German Street, because I usually go left. My normal Sunday run is up to Herkimer County Community College the front way. I was not up for that. But in turning left, I usually run into Nicky, one of my favorite dogs I stop to pet.

I looked to the left. No sign of Nicky. I turned to the right. There he was!

“Oh, this is fortunate,” I said.

“He wanted to go the long way around,” his owner explained.

I ran on, feeling I was headed in the right direction. I went up a hill, only I won’t say which hill, because I did not run past a Road Closed sign. Uh, what I mean is… I ran up a hill. That’s all.

As I ran down Steuben Street, I remembered that on another Sunday I had seen a group of orange t-shirts gathered in the parking lot of this big grey building that looks like it used to be a school but now has offices. The building is on German, but the parking lot is readily visible from Steuben and vice versa. The orange t-shirts belong, I believe, to a run team or club. I didn’t want to run by anyone hard core. I would feel self-conscious, although they probably would not notice me. If they did, they are more likely to think of something charitable, like, “Isn’t that nice, that old lady is trying to run.” And I wouldn’t know even if they did think something mean, because I can’t hear people think. And who cares what they think? Not me! After that lengthy inner dialogue (and yes, dialogue, not monologue; I was talking to myself and I answered), the parking lot was empty. I ran on.

I scared a lady on the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal. I always know how slow I’m running when I come up on a pedestrian, because I see how long it takes me to catch up with them. I said, “Good morning!” when I finally passed her.

“Oh, you scared me!” she said. “I don’t usually see people at this hour.”

“It is pretty early,” I agreed, as I ran on.

No further mishaps, no dogs to pet, no coins from the angels. Just a nice Sunday run in the Mohawk Valley.

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A Not So Lame Run

Posted on September 24, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

I like blogging about Saturday morning’s run on Saturday. Today’s run was not devoid of interesting features.

It rained Friday night (my lame excuse not to run, but I have mentioned that on Friday I’m lame) (Actually now that I think about it, being lame is a great excuse not to run, although I guess that’s a different definition). Ahem. Parenthetical comments aside, I made up my mind to run around the puddles and got my butt out there.

Running down German Street I saw a nice little dog named Nicky, further down and on the other side of the street. I often see Nicky on my Sunday runs. I ran across the street, putting on a slight burst of energy because it was not in a crosswalk and a car was coming (actually in Herkimer being in a crosswalk is not much help; cars don’t like to stop around here). As I got closer I called, “There’s my friend Nicky!” His owner and I exchanged greetings. She had seen me cross the street and was pleased about that. Both Nicky and his owner are very nice. I ran on.

This put me on the proper side of the street to run up the hill to Herkimer County Community College or up a smaller hill by Valley Health. I opted for the smaller hill. I have not been very hard core lately. I exchanged good mornings with a couple of healthcare workers smoking outside the building.

Running down by the school I decided to run down the street where the angels sometimes leave coins to encourage me. At least, sometimes people drop coins there and I like to believe the angels leave them for me. Then I thought I really wasn’t in such need of encouragement today; it was shaping up to be a not bad run. More humid than I like, but good temperature. And there were no coins. Was this the angels’ way of telling me I was on my own? More likely they had other things on their heavenly minds. I ran on.

I passed a young man in a red shirt and black cap. I thought he might be walking home from a job at a fast food place. His back was to me so I did not greet him. I saw a rather large woman pushing what looked like a cart of laundry down the street. Ah, I remember those days. Neither car nor washing machine, we do what we have to. I did not greet her because she was looking quite miserable and did not make eye contact. I could sympathize. I uncharitably reflected that she could use the exercise. Then again, I don’t know this lady; she could be overweight for reasons quite beyond her control. And nobody knows better than me how hard it is to lose weight. But oh how good it feels when you do. This encouraged me to keep running, because I do not want to gain back my hard lost weight.

I had to run slower at one point to let a car back out of a driveway. I wondered where they were going, and hoped it was in search of adventure. They seemed casually dressed, not that I was staring. Adventure is what I seek on Saturdays. After my good run, I felt ready for the search.

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More Running Commentary

Posted on September 22, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not been good about running lately, but I have tried to keep my feet in, so to speak.

I made myself run on Monday, because I did not intend to run on Tuesday and Wednesday was iffy (in fact, this is Wednesday and I’m typing this in instead of running. My bad). I got myself going by the simple expedient of telling myself that of course I did not feel like running, but once I started I would feel great. Is it wrong to tell a lie to achieve a laudable object?

Then again, it was perhaps not a lie but a miscalculation. I might have felt great. Turns out I did not. I felt grateful for a comment I received on a blog post about another not so good run. Alexandra said it could be empowering to complete a difficult run. I told myself I was doing that again. Then I started looking around for bloggable observations. That served the dual purpose of improving my next post and distracting myself from the terrible run (I guess I can multi-task after all).

I noticed that some people’s flowers are not over like most of mine are. I particularly noticed some spiky things (no idea what they’re called, but I have red ones in my container garden). These were different colors, still bright and spiky. Mine are discolored and droopy. Probably the wrong amount of shade or water. I thought, I must research my garden better next year. And by research I don’t mean call my mom and ask what she does. Although that is not a bad method. My mom has gardened for years. She knows a lot about it. Still, they print books about gardening which I am sure I would find helpful. I’ll look in the library.

After a while I found a penny. I’ve mentioned the theory that angels leave coins to encourage us. Sunday they left me three quarters, and that was a pretty good run. I could not believe the angels thought I needed less encouragement on Monday. Then again, maybe it was a statement about my attitude. Did I have 75 times better an attitude on Sunday? Probably, but I didn’t need the angels pointing it out to me. Thanks a lot, angels! (Just kidding; I picked up the penny. I like angels.)

“Run, Mama Q!” It was one of my boys from National Guard (when I used to be in National Guard), leaning out a second story window. I waved but had neither the breath nor the brainpower to reply.

I ran by some windows and looked at my reflection. Not too bad. I didn’t have to feel embarrassed when I ran by people. Not that I usually am. Hey, what you see is what you get.

I found another penny. That was all right. Now I could put my two cents in. I love making that joke.

By the end, as usual, it had not been a bad run at all. I just always expect it to get better before it actually does. Perseverance. A word to live by, and definitely a word to run by.

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Running Away From Home Again

Posted on September 14, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

One more post away from the Mohawk Valley. We were staying with some friends who live in the Alexandria Bay area.

Sunday morning I got up early to run. I’ve run at my friends’ house before. It’s a fun setting. They live on a private road on a lake. It’s not exactly paved. There is a 10 mph speed limit posted, which kind of enforces itself. If you go much faster, you deserve what happens to your car.

It’s not a very long road, and I’ve previously run up and down it. I was pleased to be going for 20 minute runs in those days. These days I’m up to 30, so I got a little more ambitious.

The private road is off a dead end road which is off the highway. I thought I had heard my friend Tracy say that the other end of the private road came out on Simpson Road. I had seen Simpson, a mere stone’s throw down the highway, depending on who’s throwing the stone (not me; I live in a glass house).

I set out in that direction, enjoying the cool temperature. My friends’ house is only the second one in, so I was soon headed down the dead end road. I saw a bunny at the end of a driveway, sitting perfectly still. If there would have been a little more dead grass, he would have blended in better. He hopped away as I approached.

I heard some loud motors and wondered if they were boats on the lake or cars on the highway. I thought it was a little early for either, but who am I to judge? I hoped there would not be too much traffic on the highway. I really appreciate the sidewalks in Herkimer. Sometimes they are uneven, but few running surfaces are perfectly smooth, and the cars are nicely separated by a strip of grass.

Luck was with me, and the highway was empty. I should have known a stone’s throw looks a lot shorter from a car than on foot. Still, I thought, I can rock this. I know she said Simpson. I’m sure she said Simpson.

I had thought originally that if I was wrong or if it seemed a longer way than expected, I could always turn around and go back the way I came. No chance of getting lost that way. Problem was, I didn’t want to turn around. For one thing, Simpson was a pretty good road to run on. To my left I saw fog over some fields. At one point I could see the sun poking through the fog and some trees, making beams of light.

It was very scenic, but a big longer than I had expected. She did say Simpson, right? I looked at my watch. I had been running for 20 minutes. If I turned around now, that would be a 40 minute run. I wasn’t up to 40 minutes yet. Who was I kidding? Anyways, I didn’t want an all highway run. I wanted to run along the private dirt road and look at the backs of people’s camps. I decided to give it ten more minutes. I was really running very well; my legs weren’t complaining at all. Still, where was that damn turn? Ah, at last!

Then I saw I had two choices of private dirt roads. I was pretty sure I picked the right one. We had just walked our respective dogs down the road the day before, but we had not gotten all the way to the end. Things looked familiar, as I’d been out this far on previous visits, but previous visits were a while ago. Sometimes a thing looks familiar just because you want it to. At last I saw a fish mailbox I was pretty sure I remembered.

I saw a lady carrying mugs and a thermal carafe out to two men.

“That’s what I need — coffee!” I said.

“Go faster! Dig in!” one of the men said.

“At first I thought Ed was really into his work,” the other said. “No, Ed ain’t moving that fast.”

I could be mistaken about what the second guy said. I did not speed up as advised, but I did keep going.

I was delighted to realize I had broken my 30 minute plateau by running for 33 minutes. That is an increase of 10%, which a guy at the Sneaker Store told me was just about right. I may not be up for the Falling Leaves run, but I had a good run Sunday.

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Running My Mouth

Posted on September 9, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

After the DARE 5K I thought I might try the Falling Leaves road race on September 25. The Falling Leaves is a scenic run beginning and ending in Utica. I really don’t know much about it, but I have a Falling Leaves shirt I bought at a garage sale a few years ago.

This was the first year I ran the Boilermaker. Shortly after the Boilermaker I kind of crashed and burned, running-wise. I wanted to start up again and thought the shirt might inspire me. The following week I ran into a fellow wearing a different Falling Leaves shirt.

“Oh, the Falling Leaves,” I said. “I was going to run that.”

“It’s not too late,” the guy said. The race was some two days hence. “You can register on the day.”

“It’s too late for me to be running every day and be in shape for it,” I confessed.

Well, I did not crash and burn this year. I had nothing to crash and burn from. I’ve been hovering around 5K shape and sort of looking at the Falling Leaves out of the corner of one eye.

Here’s the problem. I had it in my head that Falling Leaves was a 10K. One of the fun things about running is that just because a run is twice as far does not mean it is twice as hard. When you run like I do, just for fun, a long run is the way to go. Nobody cares if you run slow, and you get kudos just for finishing. When you get right down to it, distance running is easy. You just don’t stop.

I started to feel pretty good about my Falling Leaves plan. So good I went to a friend’s Facebook page, a young athletic guy I met in National Guard who I knew was planning to run the Falling Leaves, and wrote on his wall, “Maybe I can rock the Falling Leaves.”

Then I went to the Utica Roadrunners website for more information, and the whole thing came to a grinding halt. It’s not a 10K. It’s a 14K! That’s only one K less than the Boilermaker! It took me almost two hours to run the Boilermaker (1:46:32, if you really want to know). Who am I kidding with these little 30 minute runs I’ve been doing? Just don’t stop, indeed.

Well, let this be a lesson to me: research before you boast. Anyone wanting more information on the Falling Leaves road race can go to the Utica Roadrunners website, uticaroadrunners.org.

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Saturday Run

Posted on September 4, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last week I gave the perhaps unneeded advice to don’t wait four days before running. This week, I was much smarter. I ran Monday, then I ran Friday. Three days is clearly fewer than four. Even if my Friday run sucked, it would probably suck less, and my Saturday run would be way better. As it turns out, not so much.

My Friday run was a lesson in perseverance. That’s OK. I can always use more lessons in perseverance. I looked forward to Saturday’s run.

My legs were immediately like, “What’s this all about? Stop it now!” And there’s a grammatical construction many people criticize: saying “like” when you mean “said.” As in: I was like, “Di-duh, di-duh,” and he was like, “Da-dih, da-dih,” etc. Well, my legs cannot actually say anything, so I think “my legs were like” is actually fairly descriptive.

You would think that as I pondered that in my head, my legs would stop complaining. In fact, I did think that, but to no avail. I ran on, and looked for other things to distract myself with.

I saw a girl being dropped off at a house and wondered if she was coming off a one-night-stand. Then I said, “Watch it, Cindy, this is a family blog.” More likely she was returning from a night shift somewhere. The time was right. I felt happy that I do not work nights, although some people like it.

I ran through the parking lot of the County Court Facility, a place I have never run. Often you find coins in a parking lot. Not this morning. I suppose people try to hold tight to their money when they go to court.

I ran down a street whose name I had not noticed before. It was a first name that I shall not repeat, in case any reader might rejoice in that name (that is an expression I love, “rejoicing in the name of blank”). I’ve always thought it was the ultimate geek name, and not geek in the good sense of the word. You know, somebody really smart, but just a little off kilter and socially awkward, usually loving sci-fi. The one person I ever knew of this name was none of that, except for the socially awkward part. When you first met him you might think he was a nice, friendly guy. Then you realized he was not particularly nice, he was being friendly because he had no friends, and although he apparently wanted some, there were a few good reasons he had none. It would have been sad, except the guy was so annoying it was hard to feel sorry for him. While I pondered the memory of this guy, and how I couldn’t call him a geek because in fact I like geeks, and how I’d like to meet somebody I like of that name, I had run down a few more streets and was approaching my street again.

I ran past my street in order to make my run the length I wanted. I had my reward, because I met up with Pudge. Pudge is the cutest pug dog. When he sees me coming, he sits down very nicely and waits for me, because he knows I want to pet him. Then when I get there, he’s so jumpy and wiggly, I almost can’t pet him. I tried my best to pet my wiggly canine friend, exchanged greeting with his owner, and ran on.

By now my legs’ complaints had quieted to the proverbial dull roar. I have not had that “I can rock this” feeling on a run in a while now. I’ll persevere though (after all, I had a lesson in it Friday). It’s almost fall, and that’s a beautiful time to run in the Mohawk Valley (phew! I almost went the whole post without mentioning the Mohawk Valley). (Is is bad to end a piece of writing with a parenthetical comment?)

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Back to Running Commentary

Posted on August 28, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

A bit of advice to people who run, although you probably already knew this: don’t take four days off.

When I started to run this morning, after not having run since Monday, I knew right away it would not be fun. I took the opposite direction from what I usually take, hoping to fool my body into thinking that I was an opposite type of person from what I really am. I pretty much knew it wouldn’t work, but I thought that different sights might take my mind off my troubles.

I had a vague idea of crossing Rt. 5, also known as State Street, and running in a really unfamiliar section of town, but I really don’t like crossing busy streets. I ran along the side of Rt. 5, though, and looking at businesses and old buildings kept my interest up.

I saw Baker’s Dozen Bagel Shop and was immediately hungry. I ran by the site of the now closed Albany Street Cafe and was sad. Hummel’s Office Plus was closed, so could not wave to anybody there. I saw a gentleman getting out of his car in front of Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner and said good morning.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Not too bad,” I replied, “but I’d rather be going there for breakfast.” I ran on.

I passed the Hot Spot Salon and Luxury Nails and thought a pedicure would feel good. I passed the Folts Home and knew I was not ready for that yet. I passed Mohawk Medical Arts Building and Bassett Healthcare and reflected that I really wasn’t feeling too bad. Anyways, Urgent Care wasn’t open yet.

A drill sergeant once told me that the real secret to running was to distract yourself and to realize how far you could keep running when you feel like crap. I was in a class in the army — never mind what for, I don’t think I learned it — that took place at a campgrounds. Physical Training was on our own, and for the most part we pretty much ignored it, but a few of us got up early and ran. Not together. I did not run very far the first day, but one sergeant mentioned that he ran till he came to a barn then turned around. The next day I said to him, “I ran to your barn this morning.”

“Good run,” he approved.

“It wasn’t a good run, it was a terrible run,” I said. “I wanted to stop running and cry, but I was too dehydrated.” I thought about that this morning.

This is what I mean when I say the run might not make me feel good, but I almost always feel good that I ran. I didn’t even feel like crying this morning. In fact, as I write this, several hours after the run, I feel pretty damn good.

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I Finally Ran the DARE!

Posted on August 22, 2011 by mohawkvalleygirl

Saturday I finally ran the DARE 5K.

The night before the race, my sister Diane, niece Camille, nephew Tommy, husband Steve and of course dog Tabby walked to the bottom of College Hill so Tommy could see what was in store for him Saturday morning. Tommy lives in Liverpool and recklessly agreed to run the 5K with me having never seen the hill up to Herkimer County Community College (HCCC). He would have liked to walk all the way up it, but was overruled. We went for a long walk anyways, walking by the finish line and through Meyers Park, because Camille likes parks.

Saturday morning I walked over to the corner of Main and Church streets to pick up our numbers. Registration was in Christ Episcopal Church, which is the church I go to. They were just setting up. A lady told me pre-registrations were at 190, and they were expecting more registrations that day. Along with our numbers we got t-shirts, re-usable bags, and a few other goodies. Very nice for a $20 registration fee. Tabby, who had accompanied me, made a few new friends before we walked back to our house.

I love these smaller community runs. Of course the Boilermaker is exciting and overwhelming, but a smaller run is so relaxed and friendly. And an event walking distance from my house is awesome. No worries where to park the car!

The Youth Fun Run took place at 8:30 am. This was limited to children under 12, but parents were allowed to accompany them. I saw a few 5K numbers running along with the young participants. I thought that would be a great warm-up and made up my mind to do that next year, if possible, with my niece Camille. Everybody cheered the young runners as they came in. Some were very young. The littlest couldn’t have been more than two. Her father was carrying her. I yelled, “Good assist!” She ran the last few steps. What a cutie! Finally it was time for my event.

The start line was further down Main Street, almost at German. I was feeling plenty nervous by now. I don’t know why. I kept saying, “After all, somebody has to finish last. It might as well be me. People can laugh and point.” Several people assured me that even if I was last, people would cheer not laugh, and Tommy was of the opinion that I would not be last.

“Just don’t walk,” he advised me. “However slow you run, just don’t walk.” Good advice. In fact, that is my usual method.

Once we started the run was a lot of fun. Tommy took off strong, and I soon lost sight of him. I daresay I could have gotten a better time if I didn’t wave to the people on the sidelines cheering us on. Of course the cheering sections were not as big as at the Boilermaker (why do I feel I must compare every run to that?), but I was impressed with the number of people along the way shouting encouragement. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I also like to call out remarks as I run. I didn’t feel much like doing that as I ran up College Hill (although I felt proud of the fact that I did not walk, as others did), but on the way down I shouted, “Gravity is my friend!”

“I think it’s everybody’s friend about now,” another runner said.

When we reached the off-road portion, I yelled, “I always wanted to know where this path went! I’m all excited!” I guess I was feeling a little high after the uphill exertion. A small group was cheering for us at the turn to the path. “Thank you for your support!” I told them.

There were a couple of uphill portions on the path, which I took exception to. At the top of College Hill, somebody had posted a sign saying it was all downhill from there. I believed it, but it was a lie! Other runners did not seem to feel these little upslopes were a problem, so I suppose I was just being that way.

After a while, a runner way ahead of me turned around and said, “Don’t stop, Aunt Cindy, you’re almost there!” I immediately suspected Tommy had walked, or I would never have gotten that close. Then again, he was definitely still ahead of me.

“Good job, Tommy!” I yelled.

Later on German Street I did catch up with him. We passed Bellinger. “Just Prospect, then Main,” I told him, giving him benefit of my familiarity with the geography. We almost caught up with another runner who turned around when he heard our feet. “Don’t look back, just keep going, you’re almost there,” I encouraged. He did, and I did not come close to him again.

Once we got on Main Street, Tommy took off and left me in the dust. I sprinted at the end too. And I see now my word count is over 800. This is the longest post ever! This is about a 5K, not a marathon! Is anybody still reading? I’ll finish up about the DARE 5K tomorrow. Remember, we left me approaching the finish line!

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