Tag Archives: herkimer ny

Not Quite the Run I Planned

Posted on November 4, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

YES!  Saturday Running Commentary is BACK!  I ran this morning and less than an hour later, I am sitting down to write my blog post about it!

I had actually planned  better blog post.  I am still unsure of my plans for the day, so I thought I  would think about what I was going to do while I ran, then I could write about the run and my plans.  Well, I thought about my run while I was running, probably because I kept changing my plans about where and even how long I was going to run.  So I am going to tell you about that.

My thermostat said it was 38 degrees out, well within my parameters for leggings and long sleeves.   A long-sleeved running shirt was handy, because I had worn it under my sweatshirt when greeting the trick-or-treaters on Tuesday.  It took a little longer to find leggings and winter running socks.  I guess I could have done without winter socks, but the leggings I found are a little short and I did not want that little half-inch of bare leg between sock and legging.  It’s the little things.

At last I was off.  Ooh, it felt cold.  And I felt a little self-conscious in my form-fitting shirt and leggings.  I usually run in very large t-shirts.  Indeed, most of my long-sleeved t-shirts are on the baggy side as well.  But one must not let these things keep one from pursuing fitness.  I kept running.  My main concern was that the cold would give me a sinus headache, as it sometimes does.  I made up my mind that if it started to I would have a short run.  I have things to do today (even if I have not planned it out yet); I can’t be down with a headache.

I ran toward Valley Health, my go-to hill when I am building myself up.  From there, I could run to the high school and over the little footbridge.  That is often my Sunday run, but it would do for a Saturday.  As I approached the hill, I could see something was going on at the school: a school bus and several cars were right where I planned to run.  I revised my plans.  I thought the sight of my lumpy body outlined in such detail by my outfit, which was not even all that warm, might traumatize high school students.   I decided to run into the residential area behind Valley Health and make my way back to German Street via Lou Ambers Drive or Maple Grove.

As I approached Lou Ambers, I thought I would go to Maple Grove, where there were sidewalks to run on.  Then as I got toward Maple Grove, I saw that it went uphill to the next street over.  A little uphill would be a good thing.  Beyond that was the back way up to Herkimer College.  I was not up to running to Herkimer College.  Then I noticed the “Do Not Enter” sign.  I felt I just had to run by a “Do Not Enter” sign.  I thought I would only run to the path that goes into Brookfield Park (previously known as The Unknown Park in this space).   This put more uphill in my run.

The path into the park added more uphill.  As I ran, I hoped I could actually get into the park.  The path leads to a picnic area, which is separated from the rest of the park by a little footbridge over the brook.   The bridge and brook are surrounded by a chain link fence.  Sometimes the bridge is blocked.  If the bridge was blocked, I would have to turn around and run back the way I came.  I did not want to do that.  I was tired of running and wanted to go home.  I made up my mind that if the bridge was blocked, I would just climb over it.

I could not tell until I was right at the bridge whether or not it was blocked.  In that length of time I was able to picture myself ripping my leggings on the fence, falling into the brook, spraining my ankle, and having to drag myself out of the brook to limp home.  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to just run longer than I intended.  The bridge was unblocked, so that was good.

By now I realized I MIGHT make it home in 30 minutes, the length of last Sunday’s run.  Then again, it might end up being 33 minutes, the intended length of tomorrow’s run.  I felt pretty good either way. My legs and body had warmed up nicely and I felt I could continue running with no problem.  This was all right!  I ended up running by my house to the end of the street and coming back for a 33 minute run.  Yes!

As I walked my cool-down, I felt pretty damn good about myself.  If I keep this up, I will be in great shape for the Reindeer Run 5K!  Now to get on to planning the rest of my Saturday…

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running, running commentary, Saturday Running Commentary and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Post Halloween Run

Posted on November 3, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Note to self:  Do not take three days off running again.  I have made this note to myself before.  Come to think of it, sometimes the note says a greater number of days, so at least I kept it to three this time.  Oh well, shit happens and we do not always do the right thing, fitness-wise or otherwise.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

This by way of introduction to today’s Running Commentary post.  I guess the Turkey Trot 5K is back off the table, for the main reason that I can’t readily find one nearby.  However, I can easily find the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls, NY in December.  I wanted to do that last year but did not have my act together (long story, not very interesting).   That will give me a couple more weeks to build up.  As Fredrick Frankenstein said in Young Frankenstein:  IT! COULD! WORK!

So I felt determined to run today, even if it was raining, which it was when I left work.  It stopped by the time I got home, so I had that going for me.  After putting on my running clothes, I put a load of laundry in the washer, the other un-put-off-able chore of the day, and got going.  It had started sprinkling again, but I’m not sugar; I won’t melt.  My legs felt quite unhappy, but I ignored them.

I dodged around puddles and a few pedestrians, pondering how long I was going to run.  On these mid-week runs, I only require 20 minutes of myself, although I usually run at least a little further.  I ran along German Street and turned down Main, looking for houses that still had Halloween decorations.  I saw a ghoul looking out the door of an enclosed front porch and felt comforted.  A few Jack-o-Lanterns rotting from the inside out leered at me.  I admired a couple extra large ones with smaller ones in their mouths.

I ran a large rectangle and ended up back on German Street.  I heard sirens and saw flashing lights turn on my street.  Yikes!  I was certain I had not left anything on in my house to cause a fire.  I ran by my street to go around another block, just to add a few steps to the run.  I peeked down the street as I passed and saw the police and an ambulance outside the apartment building at the end of the street.   That was another reason to go another block: so as not to run too close and bother the first responders.

My legs had been feeling better but by the end of the run, they were tired again.  You’ll have that at the end of the day, especially at my age.  My run ended up being 27 minutes, three minutes less than I did on Sunday, the same length I was doing last week.  This is good.  I can run 30 on Saturday, up it by 10 percent to 33 on Sunday and stay on track.  I hope I can find my “Dashing” t-shirt for the Reindeer Run (get it?  Dashing through the snow…).

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running, running commentary and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Who Me? Run a 5K?

Posted on October 29, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Sunday Running Commentary to avoid a Wrist to Forehead Sunday later on.  At least, I will avoid a post about one.  As a worker at Monday through Friday employment (most of the time), although I appreciate Friday, I confess to some amount of angst on Sunday.  As I like to say in a philosophical tone of voice, you’ll have that.

I did not run yesterday and thought I might not run today.  For one reason, lots of rain is predicted, and Steven informed me it had already started by 5:30 when he got up to pee (we slept in to an almost unheard of 7 a.m.!).  I grumped downstairs for a cup of coffee on stiff knees and feet (yes, I’m old), feeling contented at the thought of my husband having the day off, too.  After coffee, I was hungry, but Steven wanted to do the dishes before fixing breakfast.  As I was contemplating having a piece of toast to hold me over, I realized it was not currently raining.

“You do the dishes while I go for a short run,” I suggested.  I noted that it was 53 degrees out, so I felt secure that my sinuses would not become irritated (often a concern for me).  I brushed my teeth, washed my face, got into running gear, and got myself going.

I crossed German Street and ran up the steeper side (it is kind of a slanted street), heading for the hill by Valley Health.  As I ran, I thought I would lead my Running Commentary post with the reflection that I was NOT going to run in any kind of 5K on Thanksgiving Day, as I had threatened to do in a recent running post.  To keep on schedule for that, I would have to run for 30 minutes.  I wasn’t going to run for 30 minutes!  I had just taken three days off of running (go ahead and judge me if you like)!  I was probably going to run for 20 minutes and have done.  Maybe 20 plus a few.  At least I was going to do the hill.

It sure took a long time to get to the hill.  This was more of a plod than a run.  Never mind, at least I was doing it.  Maybe my body would feel better as I went.  Only that did not seem likely at the time.  The hill was not fun, but I managed it without having a VCD attack (that is Vocal Chord Dysfunction, a breathing problem I have).  Once I got down the hill, I felt a little better about things.  I could rock this run.  Well, maybe not rock, but at least continue.  Twenty minutes?  Maybe 25.  27, same as I did last weekend.  Oh, just keep running.

I ran up and down a couple of streets, keeping an eye on the time passing and wondering how long I would go.  My legs didn’t feel too bad, but my breathing wasn’t so great.  I concentrated on taking deep, slow breaths, holding each breath in for a second or two before exhaling.  I took note of people’s Halloween decorations, to keep myself in a cheerful frame of mind.  Lots of ghouls, nice.  A few pumpkins.  Oh, one house that had a magnificent display last year was bare.  I think it is a rental property, which would explain things.

My run ended up lasting for 30 minutes.  When I was around 13 minutes I wondered if I would; when I hit 16 minutes it seemed likely, and when I got to 18 I was sure. At the bottom of my street, I saw I was at 27 minutes and picked up the pace, so I would not go over 30 minutes. It felt pretty good running a little faster.  I thought I should do this more often.  Perhaps I will.  And the Turkey Trot 5K?  Still on the table, I guess.

I felt happy as I walked my cool-down around the block.  Now I feel ready to sit my butt on the couch, crochet and watch Halloween movies, yes!  I hope to see you all on Mental Meanderings Monday.  Or perhaps I will have a Monster Movie Monday, just to mix things up a little.   Tune in tomorrow and see!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running commentary and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Run Before G.R.A.V.E.

Posted on October 8, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Good things happen all at once.  Just when this blog ought to become All G.R.A.V.E. All The Time, I find it also must become All Fireman 5K All The Time.  Yes, this Saturday, Oct. 14 I shall run a 5K in the morning and act in a murder mystery in the evening.  I know, that’s not a huge lot on my plate (I know YOU probably do more before breakfast) (you know who you are), but you know how easily I get flustered.  I just got back from running and must study my lines for tonight’s rehearsal.  However, I shall first attempt a Running Commentary post in order to avoid Wrist to Forehead Sunday later.

It was pouring rain when we got up this morning.  I was guiltily happy to postpone my run.  I even wondered if the rain would keep up enough to make an indoor run on the mini-tramp eligible.  For one reason, I never finished watching the John Barrymore silent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that I started watching the last time I ran on the mini-tramp.  However, the rain soon stopped.  When I stepped out on the front porch to get the newspaper, I noticed how muggy it was. Yikes!  I hate a muggy run, and it’s October, for heavens’ sake!  However, after Steven left for work shortly before nine, I suppressed my feelings of ill-usage and got into running clothes.

I sought out the loosest shirt I could find, which was a large, low-cut, sleeveless t-shirt I wear when I go swimming (for a bathing suit, I wear spandex shorts, a sports bra, and that shirt to cover my fat gut).  My sports bras showed, so I made sure I wore colors that didn’t clash with light pink: hot pink and grey.  I know I will never look like anything but a plodding, overweight middle-aged lady when I run, but at least my colors are coordinated.  I further decided to run with a bottle of water in my hand.  I felt desperately thirsty by the end of yesterday’s run.  Also, I planned to run to Herkimer College, which would bring me right near the spring, for a re-fill.

Oh, it was warm and muggy.  There were puddles to dodge around.  I had taken the precaution of wearing an older pair of running shoes, so that was all right.  Still, I don’t need all that dirty water splashing up my legs, so I dodged.  I felt tired and ploddy, so I decided to run up to the college the back way.  It is longer but less steep.  Also, it is in a wooded area, so there might be shade.  I treasure shade.  By the way, I do not care if ploddy is a word or not, it is how I felt.

As I approached the road I wanted, I noticed a new sign saying “Do Not Enter.”  Score!  I could feel like a rebel! The little sign below said, “Authorized vehicles only,”  so I figured it was only closed to vehicular traffic. I thought they would not object to a ploddy, overweight, middle-aged lady, especially on a Sunday.  As I plodded up the road, moving just fast enough that I could pretend to myself it was a run, I saw they are doing work on it.  I made a note to myself to keep running this way on occasion, so I can mark their progress.

My body was not loving this run.  However, one must persevere, especially when one has a 5K to run in less than a week (yikes!).  Actually, you can ignore that parenthetical comment;  I have no reason to “yike,”  I am in plenty good shape for a 5K.  I don’t expect to get a good time, but I feel sure I will have a good time, if you see what I mean.  As I often observe, one must push through the bad runs to get to the good ones. This run was not horrible, at least, not yet.  I continued on up Reservoir Road, which is uphill but more of a gentle slope.  I still struggled a little, but you’ll have that.  Finally I was crossing over and starting on my way down.

And that was when it got horrible.  The sun had come out and was reflecting off the wet pavement like a wide, bright beam of headache.  If I had been wearing my polarized sunglasses and wearing a hat with a brim, I’d have been fine.  As it was, yikes (here I have good reason to  “yike”)!  Still, I didn’t see anything I could do but keep going and hope for a cloud.  Twice I was able to in the grass and take advantage of the shade offered by a row of trees.  Ah, I love to go off-road on occasion (I know some people mean something different than that, and I like those runs too).  At last I got to Lou Ambers Drive, where the trees offered some shade.

Of course the shade did not last.  However, a handy cloud gave some temporary relief, and as always, I tried to count my blessings.  Another blessing is the wide shoulder on that road, because a couple of cars were coming up it.  This is why I like to run on sidewalks when possible.  Occasionally the wind would pick up, and that was another blessing.  It was not enough to dry my sweat, but I was sweating profusely.  Sorry if that gives you an unfortunate mental image (but not real sorry).

I ran for 44 minutes, which was last week’s time.  Normally I try to up it by 10 percent each week, but today I must recruit my energies for this afternoon’s G.R.A.V.E. rehearsal.  Additionally, it should take me less than 44 minutes to run the 5K, so I can feel confident about that.  If the headache the bright sun gave me goes away (can’t say the sun never gave me nuthin’), my life will be perfect.

For more information about the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K, visit their Facebook page.  For more information on A GR.A.V.E. Murder, visit its Facebook event.  And Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in commentary, humor, personal, running, running commentary and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Moonshine Monday

Posted on October 3, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Full disclosure:  It is not really Moonshine Monday.  I did not nor will I drink any moonshine today.  I’m a little sorry about that.  Today is one of those posts I make in haste before rehearsal, having once again failed to write anything earlier today.  I think it will be long on pictures and short on words.  That may be a good thing.  Let’s see what I can come up with…

I went to DikinDurt Distillery in Herkimer, NY  a while ago, so I could write about it for Mohawk Valley Living Magazine.  That issue came out today.  Noting that they did not use all the pictures I took, I thought I could use them here.  If you want to read the article, and the rest of the magazine, which is a wonderful publication, you can find them online: http://www.mohawkvalleyliving.com/.

Wouldn’t you love to have this in your house, with or without the moonshine?

This and the next picture were in the magazine.  However, I like them, I downloaded them, I’m sharing them.

Elizabeth Stack and Eric Boyer, co-owners of DikinDurt Distillery.

No, I did not have a sample from all those bottles of moonshine.  For one reason, they are only allowed to give you three 1/4 oz. shots.  The rules for distillery tasting rooms are much more strict than for winery tasting rooms (who me, sample every possible wine at a sitting?  Say it ain’t so!).

Kim suggested this shot, as it included the logo.

My friend, Kim, came with me when I visited.  We must return sometime soon with my husband, Steven.  For another reason, I might like to taste three different moonshines.

You can look through a window at where it all gets made.

 

I would also like to get a t-shirt.

I purchased a coffee mug when we were there.  The next time, I’ll probably buy some moonshine to put in my coffee, possibly Toasted Maple or Mohawk Valley Fire.

Kim did not fear the clear.

I close with another picture of Kim, because when you have a beautiful blond friend, it is nice to put her picture in a blog post.

DikinDurt Distillery is located at 115 Smith Rd., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-868-1563, www.dikindurt.com.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

No Pictures, But Lots of Plans

Posted on September 30, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, here I am, after 7 p.m. on Lame Post Friday and no post anywhere in my brain.  So I sit down, start typing, and hope for the best.  Before I started typing, I went to Facebook and looked for an image to download from the show we’re watching.  It is Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen.  We watch a lot of Oxygen, because they show a lot of Snapped, one of my favorites.  This particular episode of Dateline was a case that was also covered on Snapped.  I LOVE to see the same crime on more than one show!

Oxygen has what they call “Crime Time Weekends,” where they show LOTS of true crime shows.  I am a well-known addict of true crime.  Um, not committing it. Reading about it and watching television shows about it.  The real documentary shows, not what I call the reenactment-fests.

However, I do not intend to have a “Crime Time Weekend” of my own.  I have plans.  Tomorrow I am going to go running (preparing for the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K Race!)  I may also walk to the post office, after writing my usual post cards, just for a little more exercise.  Later on Saturday, I plan to attend the Flood Relief Benefit for Rocky Rockwell, an area veteran who lost his house to flooding earlier this year.  In between these two activities, I have to figure out what to wear to the latter, always a traumatic experience for me (perhaps that will form the subject of Saturday’s blog post) (preview of coming attractions).

Sunday will be spent watching Halloween movies with my lovely husband, Steven, with a few breaks to work on our lines for A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, the murder mystery dinner theatre we are doing to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I think I know my lines pretty well, but it is well to be sure about these things.

So this is my Friday Lame Post.  No pictures but lots of plans (would that be a good title for this post?  I’ll ask Steven).

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Community Events, humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Late, Lame, But at Least Local

Posted on September 23, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m not even that late but thought I would throw that in, in the interests of alliteration (“In the Interests of Alliteration” would make a good title for a future blog post; I wonder if I will remember it).

It’s Friday, and I’m kind of glad it is, not that I expect the weekend to be any great shakes.  That’s OK, though, because I have been moving and shaking a bit too much on the weekends these days (see what I did there?).  However, I did a couple of things tonight to get my weekend started right.

First we went to a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.  I thought they were tasting 19 Crimes wine, one of my favorites, but it turned out to be High West Whiskey.  So we tried a little whiskey.  We had apple cider with Campfire Whiskey, lemonade with Double Rye, and American Prairie Bourbon all on its own.  I liked the last one best, but that may be because I prefer my whiskey straight, on the rocks or in a cup of coffee.

Next Steven and I went to dinner at Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant.  I had a Mediterranean Panini with eggplant, roasted red pepper, spinach, provolone, and pesto mayo.  Steven had a fried fish sandwich with fries.  Yum!  While we ate, we enjoyed watching the workers behind the counter making pizzas.  They were very busy yet so cool and competent.

I guess this is not a proper shout-out to either business.  Still, if I put in links, I think it’ll do.  What do you want from me on lame Post Friday?  Happy weekend, everyone.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Too Much Detail on a Tired Tuesday Run?

Posted on August 16, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have this recurring dream where I am trying to get somewhere and my legs won’t work properly.  I can’t pick up my feet, I can’t move forward, it’s simply dreadful.  I pretty much felt this way at work today, and I worried tonight’s run would be more of the same.  However, I have not been running since July and I was determined to begin again.

I made a bargain with myself that I would only run for 20 minutes.  I could hang for 20 minutes.  This would work.  Of course it was a rigamarole getting ready to run.  I wanted to put in a load of laundry while I ran, including the pants I had worn to work today.  Since I had gotten sweaty at work, I took advantage of this.  I stayed naked while I filled the basket with laundry, then put on my running clothes (sorry if that gave you an unfortunate mental image) (then again, what are you doing picturing me naked?  Shame on you, you dirty-minded thing, you!).

Of course I was still sweaty.  I put powder on my upper body, but my second sports bra  still rolled up as I put it on and I couldn’t reach the back to unroll it.  I hate when that happens!  I got it, though, because, like I said, I was determined.  If this is too much detail, tough.  I calls it like I sees it.  I almost got out the door before I realized I had not thrown the laundry in.  Back up the stairs to retrieve the basket, then down to the basement.  I figured it could count as my warm-up.

Usually when I run, I make a left at the end of my driveway and head to German Street.  If I have not been running in a while, I head to Caroline Street, then go up and down the streets, working my way back home.  I decided to mix things up, so turned right and headed towards Meyers Park.  I even crossed the street and ran down the opposite side from my house.  The sun came out from behind a cloud, showing me that I had not picked the shadier side of the street. No matter.   It was my first run of beginning again, and I was going to persevere.

Persevere was what I had to do, because I never hit the I Can Rock This stage.  I won’t say that every step was an effort, but a goodly number of them were.  I tried to distract myself by looking around.  Mostly I noticed other people’s porches and wished I was sitting on a nice porch, perhaps enjoying a beverage.  I had told a work friend that I might reward myself with a glass of wine after my run.  Suddenly I remembered… chocolate milk!  When I was training for the Boilermaker 15K, I got in the habit of re-hydrating with chocolate milk.  I read somewhere that it is an excellent recovery drink.  I must say I enjoy it quite a bit.  I knew there was milk and chocolate in my refrigerator.  That thought sustained me for the rest of the run.

I ended up running for 22 minutes.  I felt pleased with myself that I had gone at least a little over 20, especially since the devil on my shoulder had been whispering that 15 would be just as good.  The cool shower felt wonderful, and the chocolate milk was heaven.  I probably won’t run again tomorrow, because I have rehearsal for The Tempest (no, that is not over yet, and I will no doubt write more blog posts about it), but I hope to run on Thursday.  Sooner or later, I must hit that I Can Rock This stage.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running, running commentary, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Pedestrian Post with Pictures

Posted on July 24, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Steven and I decided to take a little stroll after dinner, so I brought along my Tablet to take a few pictures.  It was a lovely afternoon for a stroll.  After stopping to chat with  neighbor, I saw some flowers I wanted to snap.

This is an apartment building that used to be a school.

Hmm… I guess that one did not come out very clearly, but I liked the purple flowers.

Maybe I’ll go back after dark and try to get a picture of these lit up.

Steven noticed some solar lights and wondered if ours still work.  We did not put them out this year.  It’s kind of a rebuilding year for our lawn; we have not done much with it except get the nice young man who lives across the street to mow it for us.

Steven thinks this would make a delightful movie/opera house.

Eventually we turned down Main Street, and I suggested I take a picture of this building, which we have long admired.  The “for sale” sign that I had noticed there previously was gone.  I wondered if somebody had bought it or if they were just doing the trick of taking the sign down for a while so when they put it back up folks will think it is a new listing.

I love the color; the picture does not fully do it justice.

Continuing down the street, we saw a building that had seen better days, but there was one lovely flower in front of it, so I took its picture.  Soon we were approaching the Historic Four Corners, which regular readers may recall is a favorite spot of mine.

I wrote a blog post about this cemetery once, a long time ago.

This is the Herkimer Reformed Church.   I love the old gravestones.  Next I wanted a shot of the Suiter House, home of the Herkimer County Historical Society.

It’s even more interesting inside.

The house was built by Dr. A. Walter Suiter, who played a pivotal role in the trials of Chester Gillette and Roxalana Druse, two famous historical murderers of the area.  Steven played Dr. Suiter in the play Roxy, presented by the Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre in 2015 (I played Roxy.  Perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it).

Across the street is the Herkimer County Courthouse, where Chester Gillette and Roxalana Druse were tried for their respective murders.

Still a magnificent-looking building.

Of course I had to take a picture of the 1834 Jail, which housed both Gillette and Druse.

Who put that tree in the way!

Steven suggested I take a picture of him on the steps.

“Try to look like Dr. Suiter,” I suggested.

“In my party shorts with my Mr. Incredible t-shirt,” he said, as if he thought that was a problem.  He just smiled handsomely instead.

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore are thou…” Oh, wait. Wrong play.

Continuing down Main Street, I took a picture of Christ Episcopal Church.

Another handsome, historical building.

We cut though the little park next to Basloe Library (another of my favorite places), and I got a picture of some nice flowers.

I did not read the NOTICE on the building. I hope it did not say not to take pictures of the flowers.

After that, I thought I had taken enough pictures, so we continued our walk back home.  Now I see I am over 550 words and I have successfully avoided having another Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I say, not a bad ending to the weekend.

 

8 Comments

Posted in humor, Pedestrain Post, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Last Long Run Before Sunday

Posted on July 5, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

It may be time for this blog to become All Boilermaker All The Time.  I went for my last long run before the big race.  The big race, for anybody just tuning in, is the Utica Boilermaker Road Race, the premier 15K race in the country (I say it with confidence, although I confess I have not researched 15K races), which takes place this Sunday, July 9, 2017.  There is also a 5K on Sunday, a 3-mile walk on Saturday, an Expo Friday and Saturday, and many other events and attractions.  I know I’m not mentioning everything; after all, this blog is mostly about ME (I say it with no apology for my egotism) (although I confess to having a good laugh at myself).

Where was I?  Ah yes, about to do a Running Commentary post about my last long run till Sunday (hey, is that a good title for the post, or is it too obvious?).

It was excellent running weather: not too hot, not too humid, sunny and pretty.  As I ran, I felt the sun was perhaps brighter and hotter than my own personal ideal, but running in the shade was fine.  I decided to run in the residential area behind Valley Health, what I refer to as “the suburbs.”  This took me up the hill by Valley Health as a kind of a warm-up hill, and I knew I would find a long, challenging hill as I went.

As I ran toward Valley Health, along German Street which gradually slopes upward, I realized I did not want to run any hills.  My body felt like it could keep going perfecly well on level ground but would be utterly defeated by gravity if I tried to push it.  Well, naturally on my Last Long Run Before The Boilermaker, I was inclined to push it.  I remembered of what I thought on a recent run: running hills does not become easier for me; I merely learn to keep going longer while it sucks.  I wondered if that was strictly true. Most probably it sucks less as I go.  Today I tried a new tack:  I told myself that going up hills was a psychological trick;  I just had to stop NOTICING how much it sucked.  This is an extension of a trick I heard about in the army:  just look at your feet and shuffle up that hill.

I took a wrong turn and ran down a perfectly level street that turned at a right angle then ended in a cul-de-sac.  Then I found the correct corner, when down a small hill then up, up, up.  I passed a lady walking down and said good morning.

“Boilermaker!” I added, fists in the air.  “Three days and a wake-up!”

“There you go!” she encouraged.  “Good luck!”

A short while later, I saw a fellow runner, headed down the hill.

“Boilermaker!” I called to her.  “We got this!”   She laughed.

I passed a few other walkers, including a very nice couple who let me pet their dog.  Yes, I stopped running long enough to pet the dog.  I like to pet a dog.

I ran for an hour and one minute, which is how long I ran yesterday.  In training for previous Boilermakers, I have been up to an hour and a half.  However, I feel an hour is good.  I tell myself, if you can run for an hour, you can run for two; just don’t stop.  I plan shorter runs tomorrow and Friday, and a couple of long walks on Saturday.  And in between, I hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  Boilermaker, here I come!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, running, running commentary and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →