Tag Archives: East Herkimer Fire Department 5K

Am I Ready for the 5K?

Posted on October 10, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would make a quick post about the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K tomorrow, Oct. 11.  Regular readers may recall I am running in it and have been training for it.

From when I shared the logo in 2017.

I last ran the race in 2017, then it kind of fell off my radar.  I am not always in good running shape in the fall.  Many years this is about the time I am starting again and aiming for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  Quite frankly, the only consistent thing about my running is its inconsistency.  Oh, and the fact that it is never particularly fast.

Me and Mookie Wilson.

I wanted to share a silly picture of myself.  This is from October 2020 when I was exercising for 34 minutes every day for 34 days to raise awareness for 34 million Americans with diabetes.  People were only doing virtual races at the time, due to COVID.  However, this is digressing from the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K, which I had meant to blog about.

The race is tomorrow!  Am I ready?  Regular readers are right to wonder!  I took a short run today but did longer runs on Wednesday and Thursday.

My only worry is getting lost along the way.  I tend to run much slower than the other runners and so lose sight of them.  I found the map from the 2017 run (it’s true: I never throw anything away) and tried to drive the route.  I got hopelessly lost after the turnaround, since it did not follow the same route back. I can only hope for signs along the way on the day for the race.

The race starts at 9 a.m. at the fire station, 193 Main Rd., East Herkimer, NY.  The station will be open at 7:30 a.m. Day-of-Event Registration and Sign-in will begin at 8 a.m. Pre-and post-race water and refreshments will be available. For more information, check out their Facebook page.

 

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I Wouldn’t Waste an Axe Murderess, Would I?

Posted on October 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regular readers may have noticed that daily blogging continues to elude me.  Ooh, there’s a slimy passive-voice way to put it, as if I am pursuing the goal, but the goal is too clever for me, when the fact is that it is my own efforts that fall short.  You can call me out on that if you like, but you see I have already admitted the fault.  In any case, having missed posting Sunday and Monday but refraining from calling attention to the fact (till just now), I sit on my couch on Thursday morning preparing to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.

Full disclosure: I did not look like this when I played Roxy.

You can’t read her name tag, but it says “Roxy.”  It is Roxalana Druse, who famously killed her husband and was hanged behind the 1843 Herkimer Jail in 1887.  I had the honor of playing Roxy in the play of that name presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre in 2015 (long-time readers may have read some of my blog posts about it).  This Roxy is in Renewed and Rescued at Mohawk Valley Community Market.  I stopped in briefly yesterday but must return for a longer visit (preview of coming attractions).

Just hanging out!

Here is a friendly-looking fellow I encountered one of the mornings I was out looking for pictures to go with one of my Village Board stories for Sentinel Media.  I adore Halloween decorations!  I should take some more pictures and do a blog post of them (another preview of coming attractions?)

This woman did not kill her husband.

I guess I am veering into Non-Sequitur Thursday territory after an ax murderess and a skeleton.  This is Michelle, one of the bartenders at the Herkimer Elks Lodge wearing my tiara.  I wore it for a play I was in last summer (Four Old Broads on the High Seas, perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it).  I happened to wear it to the Lodge one day, I forget why, and Michelle wanted to pose with it.

Ooh, look at me, over 350 words.  I’m almost through my second cup of coffee too.  Time to go for my run.  The East Herkimer Fire Department 5K is Saturday.  I fear I have not been posting nearly enough about that!  Well, as I said in the first paragraph, I have not been posting enough period, at least by my standards for me.  But I thank you for tuning in when I do.

 

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A Run to the Moon?

Posted on August 10, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oops, I missed posting on Saturday (yes, I am back to calling attention to my deficiencies).  I went for a run this morning, though, so how about a Running Commentary Post.  I don’t know if I ran by anything I have pictures of in my Media Library, but I may throw in a few random shots to pep the post up.  We shall see.

I seem to remember making a post about a run I took after a two week hiatus (that’s a fun word to say; try it!) (too lazy to go back and check, as usual).  Then I went two days without running.  At least I walked.  I was determined to run this morning. After a reheated cup of coffee (waste not want not), I suited up and set off.

The temperature was nice, the humidity was not bad.  I thought to turn right at German Street but noticed the full moon which I had not seen last night.  I love the full moon!  I turned left and ran towards it.

Not the same full moon.

It was lighter out when I ran this morning.  I look forward to starting my runs in the dark and finishing them in full daylight.  I do not rise early enough for such shenanigans these days, but Mother Nature will catch up with me eventually.

I went up one minor hill on Maple Grove and went on to the residential area behind Valley Health, which I refer to in my head as The Suburbs.  I was figuring in my head how long I wanted to run and how I would increase my times to be ready for the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K in October.  I think I will be in pretty good shape (remembering that round and puffy is still a shape).

Running felt pretty darn good.  I had to remind myself not to get too ambitious and overdo.  I pointed out metaphors for life as I ran:  you notice and lament a 10% uphill but barely feel the same percent going down.  Also, a hill looks less intimidating the closer you get to it.  At least it did today.

One weird thing:  as I ran by a sewer grate, I thought I felt a little warmth emanating from it.  Tim Curry?  He was smoking hot in some of his movie roles!  For readers who did not get the reference, Tim Curry was a clown in the sewer in an adaptation of a Stephen King novel.  Or was it a novella or short story?  How embarrassing that I do not know (I even had to check to make sure he spells his name with a “ph”).

I plan to start running more often again so may be inflicting more running commentary posts on my readers.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Not Too Far, Not Too Fast, BUT…

Posted on August 6, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

This morning I ran for the first time in two weeks.  Yay, me!  I had first spent far too much time in bed (symptom of depression) and thought I would take a walk.  I felt too tired to do even that but was willing to give it a try.  Then I decided to try running instead.  It worked!

I had told myself I only had to run for 20 minutes.  That is my usual time when I go to re-start running once again.  I thought perhaps I would manage to go a little further, but starting with a shorter goal helps get me moving.  For the first few blocks, I though I could probably manage 20.  There is a 5K in October I want to do, so I spent a good part of the run figuring how far I should run in order to be ready for that.

This is the one!

Phew!  I have an illustration!  I had been unsuccessfully looking for a picture of one of the streets I ran on.  Perhaps I will go for a walk later with my phone and store up photos for future Running Commentary posts.

My first mile was slow, and I did not complete a second mile.  However, by the end of my run I had reached the I Love Running! stage.  I don’t always hit that stage, although I usually get as far as I Can Rock This.  I wonder if there are scientific terms for these stages.  I managed to keep it up for 26 minutes, which puts me well on track (so to speak) to be in 5K shape by October.

The East Herkimer Fire Department 5K will be run Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at the Department, 193 Main Rd., East Herkimer, NY.  For more information, you can visit their Facebook page.

 

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A Run-on Blog Post?

Posted on July 17, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sunday I started a blog post about running but got bogged down and discouraged.  I sensibly saved the draft and share it now, with some editing and additions.

I ran yesterday , hoping to make a Running Commentary post before I went ahead with the rest of my day, but the day crowded in and, well, here I am Sunday morning.  However, it is quite appropriate for me to blog about running as today is Boilermaker Sunday in Utica, NY, a big deal around here and elsewhere.  In case you didn’t know, it is a premier 15K which a great portion of the community turns out to support.  I have run it in the past (perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it).  This morning I have been looking at Facebook posts from the Boilermaker and WKTV News and thinking, “Damn, I could be there.”  But so it is any year I do not run the Boilermaker.

In point of fact, as I ran this morning I was happy I had not signed up to run the Boilermaker 15K (I always specify 15K, because there is also a 5K in which I have absolutely no desire to participate).  It is EXTREMELY humid out!  I could hardly breathe!  Additionally, my legs were doing their best impression of overcooked elbow macaroni (which some find delicious in baked macaroni and cheese, but is not so good to run on) (maybe a run-on sentence) (but I digress).

Why do they always look less steep in pictures?

This is one of the hills I ran up Saturday.  I went on to run up to Herkimer College the back way.  It is less steep than the front way but longer.  I surprised myself by making it.  However, it was fairly painful, so I made up my mind that I would not run the Falling Leaves 14K Road Race in Utica in September, which features a lot of hills.  I have always wanted to run it, and it seemed within reach this year.  And then suddenly it didn’t.  What the hell, me?

Running, a drill sergeant in Army basic training taught me, is largely a matter of distracting yourself from how much it sucks.   One of the things I do to distract myself is to figure in my head how long I will be running each week if I increase my time by ten percent (recommended by many running experts).  And I figure how long it might take me to run 5K, 14K, or 15K or whatever.  Sometimes I go backwards from the date of the run to now.  Suddenly my figuring seemed hopelessly optimistic.

As Saturday wore on, I thought perhaps I had been hasty in my decision.  After all, the registration price for Falling Leaves did not go up till midnight Sunday.  If I had a great run Sunday, I would reconsider.  I suppose it will come as a surprise to no one that Sunday’s run was no great.  Never mind.  There are 5Ks that are within my grasp!

Like this one!

Looking to the future:  I ran into a friend who did run the Boilermaker 15K, and we made plans to run it together next year!  At least, we will start together and try to meet up again at the end.  He runs much faster than I do.  Further blog posts as events warrant.

 

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Sometimes I Do Run Backwards

Posted on July 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

It really has not been all that hot and humid lately.  I mean, no heat advisories that I heard of, and it was only in the 80s, not the 90s.  Why, then do I feel so sluggish and that my brain has been steamed?  Why, oh why, am I making another blog post about it?  This cannot be interesting!  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Anybody remember when I did that?

I participated in this race back in 2017 but not again thereafter.  I do not know why not.  However, I saw a post about it on Facebook the other day and said, “I’m doing it this year!”  Of course I forgot to write down the date or any other information about it.  However, I think I have time to find these things out.  And I am still in 5K shape from the Pride Stride 5K in June.  The beauty part is, this should be good for several blog posts.

Can you tell it’s uphill?

I think this is the back way to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC).  I recently ran up the front way for the first time in a while.  I have not run up the back way recently but I suppose it would be a good idea to.  I feel I do not run enough hills.

On the brighter side, using the two pictures from the past entitles me to bill this as a Throwback Thursday.  Once again, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow, and I thank you for tuning in.

 

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What? No Nosferatu?

Posted on September 4, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had thought about making another Running Commentary Post, because I went for a long(ish) run, but then I thought a Throwback Thursday Post would be more fun.  Let’s see what I can find in my Media Library.

Why have I never run this again?

This is from the inaugural East Herkimer Fire Department 5K in October 2017.  I ran it and had a very good time.  For one reason or another I have not run it again.  I’ll have to look for it this year, if they have it.  You never know these days.

A favorite event in Little Falls, NY.

Here is a September event which has been sadly canceled this year, the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival. Mmmm… garlic!

Another sight at the Festival.

 

Just thought I’d show some garlic as well.

Well, this is lopsided.  One 5K logo and three pictures of the garlic festival.  What else can I find?

A dramatic moment indeed.

You knew I would get back to theatre sooner or later.  This is a shot from Fabulous and Fatal, the murder mystery we presented to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society last October.  When, oh when, will my drama friends and I murder again?

One of my all-time favorite pictures.

I guess this is kind of a Scattered Throwback Thursday.  Oh wait!  It’s OK, because it is Non-Sequitur Thursday!  Phew!

 

 

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I Think Candy Would Help

Posted on November 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I believe this was in December.

I wanted to do a Throw-Back Thursday, but I can’t seem to settle on any throw-back pictures, so I thought I would throw back to not too long ago and give a shout-out to a local business.  This is my husband, Steven, and our friend, Margaret, proprietor of the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY.  It is a lovely little shop with lots of goodies.  I think another trip there is in my near future.

“Oh shame! Oh degradation!”

Since this is also Non-Sequitur Thursday, I do not feel I need to have a theme to my throw-backs.  This is me and our dear, recently departed friend, Julianne Allen, in Dirty Work at the Crossroads Ilion Little Theatre at  in 2013.  My character was having a real wrist to forehead moment.  It is kind of the way I feel when I fear I am making a really foolish blog post (which, as we all know, is often).

I even felt kind of like Superman that day.

Here is another throw back to a mere year ago, the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K.  It is also another wrist to forehead situation, because, alas, I did not run it this year.  I meant to, but I neglected to write it on my calendar and something else came up.  Well, there’s always next year.

 

That reminds me, I need a hair cut.

Also about a year ago, Steven and I visited the Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  Now, there’s a place I need to go again.  Maybe I could write about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  It would definitely make a good blog post.  I’m afraid this has not been a particularly good post.  I’ll try to do better tomorrow, but no promises.  After all, it will be Lame Post Friday.

 

 

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Lame Thoughts Running Through My Mind

Posted on July 28, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

This was me! And it could be again!

So I was sitting here trying to think of something to say for my Lame Post Friday post, and I remembered something I wanted to check: the Falling Leaves 14K in Utica, NY.  Regular readers may know that I did not run the Boilermaker 15K this year, although I have run it in the past.  I have never run the Falling Leaves but have always wanted to.  In fact, there was one year when I was seriously thinking about it.  That was when I found out it was 14K, not five or ten as I had thought.  I believe I wrote a blog post detailing my chagrin.

As I have been running lately, I have been keeping the race in my mind’s eye.  During a run, I often figure in my head how soon I will be running how long if I increase by 10 percent weekly.  For one reason, doing the math distracts me from running.  For another reason, setting goals can be helpful.  I would like to set the Falling Leaves run as a goal.

But can I make it?  I missed my 10 percent increase last week.  Well, one cannot always meet the ideal (oh, I suppose YOU can?) (you know who you are).  When is this race anyways?  September, I knew. I seemed to think it was around the 14th.  The closest Sunday to that (I know it’s on a Sunday) is the 16th.  Oh dear, I have a murder mystery on Sept. 15 (at the Herkimer Elks Lodge; I’ll write more blog posts about that as I get more details) (preview of coming attractions).  I don’t want to run a major race the day after a murder mystery!  This race is only 1K shorter than the Boilermaker.  The day before the Boilermaker, I drink Gatorade, eat pasta, and go to bed early; I don’t kill anybody.  I just do not have that kind of energy at my age.

The little devil on my shoulder said, “Hey, you may be off the hook. You can just run what you feel like running and do the Falling Leaves next year.  What a good plan!  There could be no possible objection.”  So I checked.

Sept. 23.  The week AFTER my murder mystery.   Why, that even gives me another week to increase by 10 percent!  IT! COULD! WORK!  (That is a quote from the movie Young Frankenstein, for the uninitiated).  The cost of registration does not go up till Aug. 28.  That gives me plenty of time to make an irrevocable decision.  But I think it’s looking good.

Incidentally, the picture above is me running the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K Race last October.  I plan to run that one, too.  I am in fine shape to run a 5K.

 

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Tricks and Perseverance

Posted on October 26, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I reminded myself all day to go running and to make a Running Commentary post.  Regular readers may recall, that is one of my tricks to get myself to run after a long, tiring day at work: remind myself all day to do it so it will be automatic and I won’t talk myself out of it.  Sometimes I have to ask myself, how can I keep saying I love to run when it is so damn easy to talk myself out of it?  One day perhaps I will take a whole blog post to discuss the matter.  For today, let us just accept it as true.

So I accomplished the first part of my plan: I ran. Now I am attempting to accomplish the second.  As I type this, it is more than two hours after I finished my run.  Ideally, I do not wait that long.  In fact, after I finished the run, I thought, “That was a dull run.  I’m not going to write about that run.”  Well, two hours later and no other blog post in sight, I am going to write a little bit.

I am slowly working back into running after my week-long pause following the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K (just thought I’d plug them again).  When I ran on Saturday, I managed 27 minutes.  Here is how I decided to run 27 minutes:  I seemed to remember that there is a Turkey Trot 5K somewhere around here on Thanksgiving Day.  I thought I might like to run it.  I further thought, to be really comfortable running it, I would like to run for 40 minutes the previous Saturday.  Then I counted backwards from Saturday Nov. 18, if I was adding 10 percent to my run time each week, what I should run Oct. 21 to get to 40 minutes by then?

I often figure simple math in my head when I run.  It is another trick I use.  Back in Army Basic Training, when I learned to run, Drill Sergeant Dillinger told me that the secret to running is to distract yourself, so you don’t think about how much it sucks to run.  I later found out that it does not always suck to run, something I never would have learned without the distract yourself trick.

Getting back to today’s run, part of it was fairly sucky.  I have been working on my feet for the past two days; my legs and feet are TIRED.  However, as I have mentioned many times: I know how to persevere.  Eventually my leg muscles began to feel more supple. My feet were still not best pleased with me, but you’ll have that.  I reminded myself that I do not have any place I have to go nor anything I have to get done this evening.  No need to recruit my energies!  I could just go ahead and BE tired!

And, yes, obviously I did have one thing to get done this evening:  make my daily blog post.  And, look at that.  I just did.  Ha! In your face!  I say that to my inner critic, not my dear readers.  To my dear readers I say, thank your tuning in.

 

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