When I noticed my Army t-shirt in a drawer yesterday, I made up my mind to have an Independence Day Run this morning. I would wear the Army shirt and run up the hill to the Veterans Memorial at Herkimer College. It was time to run up that hill again anyways, and it was the day to increase my run time to 44 minutes. This was going to be great!
I was a little worried about how warm it was when I first got up. We are having another muggy streak these days. Oh well, what’s a little extra sweat compared to celebrating our country’s birthday? I put on a wide headband in hopes of absorbing some of the sweat before it ran into my eyes and made a note to myself to look for some extra-absorbent, exercise-grade headbands for the future.
As I reached German Street, I met a lady taking a walk. We exchanged good mornings.
“We gotta get out before the heat of the day,” I said.
“That’s what I’m doing,” she said. “It’s beautiful out!”
“Oh, it sure is!”
A short time later I was making a note to myself that I must run more hills. I ran this one earlier this week (I don’t know when; remember that note to myself to go back to keeping a running journal? I didn’t do it). Today it felt as if I hadn’t run it in years! Crap! I was gasping for breath. But I persevered and at last I made it to the top.
It feels steeper when you’re on it, and it gets steeper after the curve.
And realized that it continued to slope upwards. It is amazing to me how my body can detect the most subtle angles when running. I took my mind off my troubles by continuing to ponder my plans for the Boilermaker Virtual 15K. I hope to recruit a few friends to meet me along the way with water. Once I figure out a route. Various possibilities ran through my mind.
Soon I realized a slight problem. It was taking a long time to get to the Memorial. Would I be able to get back home in 44 minutes? Should I run only for 44 minutes and let part of my cool-down walk take me the rest of the way home? I would have water; I was carrying a 16 oz. bottle which I intended to refill at the spring.
At last I reached the Memorial!
It’s a lovely little area.
Going down Reservoir Road was a pleasure. My body appreciates downslopes as much as it suffers on upslopes. I finished my water shortly before I reached the spring. A man was there filling a bunch of five gallon buckets, but he let me sneak in to refill my bottle.
One of my favorite spots in Herkimer!
He said he was getting water for his swimming pool. “I’ve been drinking this water since I was nine years old!”
“I love it,” I said. “Thank you!”
I was getting closer to my goal but was further from home. I ended up running 47 minutes. It is an increase of more than the recommended ten percent, but I think that will be OK. Boilermaker, here I come!
Mohawk Valley Girl 