Tag Archives: Garmin

To Run on Tuesday

I tell myself:  It could have been worse; it could have been Two Minute Tuesday.

I have been meaning to up my running game (and all my other games too, quite frankly, but let us take one game at a time).  After my unfortunate experience at the Utica Boilermaker 15K,  I have not been having an easy time running, last Sunday’s unintended hour-long run notwithstanding (I mentioned that in a blog post, I am sure).  I keep thinking if I just persevere, I can get my mojo back.  So I made up my mind to run today.

I did not get right into sports bras and on the road today.  First I had to send a couple of texts to my sister Diane.  We went on the South Beach Diet together starting today.   It is a great motivator to have somebody to compare notes with.  Full disclosure:  I have to get my diet mojo back, too.

Of course I practiced my usual multi-task of putting in laundry while I ran.  For one reason, I am out of clean work pants.  However, if the diet mojo returns, perhaps I will be able to fit into some previously worn trousers.  In the meantime,  a little exercise never hurts.

Off I went, and I did feel a little off.  Or a lot.  So old and thunky!  When I see people they tend to smile at me.  I suppose they are thinking, “Isn’t that nice, that old lady is trying to run.”  I can use all the good will I can get.

I changed my mind several times about which way to run, where to turn, and which side of the street to run on.  One thing I did not worry about was my speed, or rather lack thereof.  I often say that what I do is called running only by the most generous definition of the term.  And what, I ask you, is wrong with a little generosity once in a while?

The run started to feel less thunky as I went.  I never stopped huffing and puffing, but I did not feel I was in distress.  The shadier spots definitely felt better than the sunny ones.  A couple of times I crossed in the middle of the street to take advantage of a tree’s shadow that reached across.

I ended up running for 20 minutes and felt pretty pleased with myself.  I do not know how far I ran, because I misplaced my Garmin. I say I don’t worry about how fast I run, but it is nice to know.  Additionally,  I remember my Two Mile Tuesdays before the Boilermaker.  I guess I didn’t have one of those today.

 

 

Walk, Check. Blog Post, Check.

OK, it may be late blog posts all week, because here I am Wednesday morning making my Tired Tuesday post.  For anybody who read Monday’s post (made on Tuesday morning, of course) and was wondering: I did feel better as the day went on.  I went to rehearsal for Love’s Labour’s Lost (just to plug my upcoming play again) and did not do too badly (or perhaps I flatter myself).

I thought this morning instead of making another post lamenting my inability to make good posts on time (just ignore the preceding paragraph), I would attempt a Pedestrian Post.   This was one motivation to get me out the door and walking when the devil on one shoulder said, “Don’t walk today. You have to make a blog post and fix your lunch.”  I still don’t know what I’m going to bring for my lunch, but I will worry about that later.

I thought of using Map My Run on my phone to track my walk, because I was worried my Garmin would not have enough charge, but Garmin at least had a couple of bars.  That was good, since I intended to do a short-ish trek that I have mapped before.  It looks like Popeye’s arm.  I know this, because I usually share Map My Run on Facebook, for the entertainment of my friends.  Some of them like to say what the shape looks like.  Sometimes I tell them what it means about them psychologically or predicts for their future, adding the caveat that it is for entertainment purposes only.  Not that anybody takes anything I say seriously, but you never know.

The Garmin always says Wait when I hit Walk, but I don’t always do it.  Today I did not.  It seems to track the walk or run the same either way.  I headed towards German Street and turned left.  I had a bottle of water.  My intention was to drink it as I walked and refill it at the spring on Lou Ambers Drive.  This is what I have been doing on most of my walks, although it cuts down on the variety of my paths.  However, since I seem to be in a dehydrated state most of the time these days, I continue to do it.

The birds were singing loudly.  I do like to hear that. I noted with gratitude every light in someone’s window.  I especially like the ones that look like flickering candles.  I also like to see the ones where it seems somebody is up and about, not just leaving a light on for security or other reasons (I don’t purport to know people’s reasons for doing things).  It is nice to think I am not the only one out of bed prior to 5 a.m.  Obviously I am not, as the occasional car drives by.

I turned up Maple Grove, so I could go up a little hill then across I think it’s Johnson and come down Lou Ambers to the spring.  As I turned down Lou Ambers, I saw a couple on the opposite side of the street walking a dog.  I thought to myself, “Left side, facing traffic!”  That is what I was taught in kindergarten, but it seems others were not or perhaps did not internalize the lesson.  Or maybe they are being rebels.  Again, I do not purport to know others’ reasons.  I did not catch up to them so could not ask to pet the dog.  That is all I would have asked them.  I think people might get defensive if I asked them why they were not walking the way I was taught to in kindergarten.

I ended up walking a mile and a third in about 27 minutes.  I thought vaguely as I turned up my driveway about continuing for another three minutes to make a half hour but was disinclined to do so.  For one reason, I had a blog post to make.  And I see I have made it to the tune of over 650 words.  Wow!  I haven’t blathered on that much for a long time!  If you have read till the end, I thank you.