Tag Archives: Reindeer Run 5K

Don’t Reindeer on my Parade

Posted on November 20, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

The Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls is looking increasingly remote.  I feel so sedentary lately!  I have managed to bestir myself to take a few half-hour walks, so I do not completely harden into a concrete slab.  Oh yeah, like I would ever be rock hard!  But heavy as a rock.  Perhaps concrete flab.  In any case, I managed to go running this morning so will attempt a Sunday Running Commentary.

Winter weather was in the forecast, and when I woke up sometime in the very early morning, I thought I heard sleet against the windows.  We woke up to rain and wind that makes an old witch like me look at the sky fearfully.  I figured a run was out of the question.  After coffee and scrambled eggs, I began to question it.  Steven said it was snowing, but when I looked out the window a few minutes later, the precipitation had abated.  After waiting for my food to digest, I got into running clothes.  Of course it started snowing again, but after I wrestle myself into two sports bras (don’t you DARE say TMI!), I run.

The snow had turned to rain by the time I got outside.  As I started to run, I questioned my determination.  I had said to Steven that a 20-minute run would not kill me.  Still, there exists a lot of discomfort short of death that I might like to avoid.  Never mind, I told myself.  I have been putting on a few pounds once again.  Running was a good idea. Presently the rain stopped.  The sun even started to peep out from behind the clouds.  This was all right.  The wind was still pretty fierce, but I had a headband over my ears and my sleeves pulled over my hands.  I could do this.

I did not run any hills, but ran up and down the sidewalks, avoiding puddles and mud.  I could keep this up for 20 minutes.  Maybe even longer.  Let’s see, how far away was the Reindeer Run?  How much longer than 20 minutes would I have to run to be in OK shape for a 5K by then?  I think the run in on the 9th of December, giving me two more weekends to increase my run time.  Then I thought I could probably run a 5K regardless.  Nobody cares how slow you go on these community runs.  No doubt I could keep moving on determination alone till I got to the finish line.  People are nice; they would still clap for the fat old lady huff-puffing along.  It might be fun.

As I walked my cool-down, I felt wonderful.  The hot shower felt even better, and my chocolate milk recovery beverage was delicious.  I am still on the fence about the Reindeer Run. Any advice from my readers?

 

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Mid-Week Run with a Stop Mid-Way

Posted on November 16, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

After several huge bouts of Don’t Wanna Run/Not Gonna Run, I went running.  It was not the best run, but I will attempt a Running Commentary post to avoid another Wuss-out Wednesday (is it really Wednesday? I have been in a time warp since last Friday, which did not feel like one).

I started the run late, about quarter to five.  The sun was setting.  At least, I couldn’t really tell if it was setting or not, because the sky was so cloudy.  I appreciate a cloudy day, so  that was all right.  The temperature was one degree below my cut-off for leggings and long sleeves, so that was how I dressed.  I was not worried about getting too hot while I run because of that sun going down thing.  I figured the air would only get colder.  Additionally, I had one of my long-sleeved ARMY t-shirts handy. It has a reflective decal on the back.  Safety first for Mohawk Valley Girl.

My idea was to have a long, slow run with no hills.  The slow and no hills part would make the long part possible, so I thought.  As I started out, though, I wondered if I was up to it.  I ran slow.  I did not turn toward the hills.  I felt tired.  To distract myself, I thought about what I would cook for dinner and if I would ever get to the other chores I had set for myself.  I ran a couple of errands earlier in the day, but they did not include going to Hannaford nor getting milk (we get it at Stewart’s, where members of the Milk Club, we get a gallon for half off after purchasing five).

The last reflection rendered my run even less enjoyable.  I hadn’t gotten milk!  I couldn’t have my beloved post-run recovery beverage of chocolate milk!  What was I thinking?  I reviewed my timeline in my head, including run, cool-down walk, and shower, ending in Steven’s expected arrival home.  I figured I could at least get the milk.  Maybe I could go to Hannaford as well, and get something easy for dinner, since my timeline clearly did not include time for cooking.  My body heartily applauded the idea of a shorter run.

Still, one must run a certain length of time or it isn’t worth putting on the sports bras.  I continued, looking at my watch and figuring my rout and how long each street was likely to take.

Then I ran into Nicky’s Mom.  Nicky, regular readers may recall, was a sweet little dog I always stopped and petted when I saw him.  I don’t remember if I mentioned it in the blog, but I heard from a mutual friend that Nicky had passed away.  I stopped and said, “I’m so sorry about Nicky!”  We chatted for several minutes about Nicky, and having a dog in general, and how sad it is to lose them. Nicky’s mom (how embarrassing that I cannot remember her name!) has a cat now.  She thinks it was abandoned by some people that moved out of the neighborhood.  It had been living as a stray for a while, until she said to it, “Do you want to come in?”

At some point while we talked, I clicked my watch so it stopped timing my run.  When I finally started running again, I thought I would run to the corner before turning it on again.  Then when I turned it on again, apparently I didn’t do it right, so I have no idea how long I actually ran for.  I think it was for at least 20 minutes.  I’ll tell you what, it is not the best idea to stop in the middle of a run and stand in the cold weather chatting.  My body enjoyed the last part of my run even less than the first part.

It was almost dark as I walked my cool-down.  I reflected how much more I enjoyed walking than running.  For the past two days, I have gone for walks of about a half hour.  It may be time to change over to walking.  But, a little voice in my head says, what about the Reindeer Run?  Well, that’s a problem, isn’t it?  Any advice?

 

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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…

 

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