Tag Archives: running

Running to be Ready

Posted on June 9, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was a little faster than a Tuesday Trudge but not fast enough for a Tuesday Trot, but this is my Running Commentary Post. I often say that what I do is called running only by the most generous definition of the term.

I was quite determined to run today, despite the heat and humidity, because I am gearing up for the Pride Stride 5K in Little Falls this Saturday, June 12. It is part of the Little Falls Pride event hosted by Little Falls Community Outreach. I do not expect to run very fast, but I expect to have fun. And it is a cause I like to support.

Knowing I will not run very fast led the devil on one shoulder to say things like, “It doesn’t really matter if you run or not. Why torture yourself in this heat? It probably won’t even help.” I ignored such ignoble thoughts.

The humidity was pretty horrible. It was like trying to run through bath water. Or maybe dirty dish water. Breathing was not much fun. Never mind. Persevere. I veered a little way into a lawn to sniff some lilacs. That was nice. Some lilac bushes are over, but these two bushes were nice.

On my drive home from work, I had noted some nice bushes of light pink peonies. I planned to run by those and take a sniff. I did not remember exactly where they were, so it was a nice surprise when I saw them.

I kept glancing at my Garmin. It tells me what rate I am currently running, which leads to some disappointment. For example, I vary from a 15-minute mile to bursts as fast as a 10-minute mile (I know, not very fast in the ultimate scheme of things). So it is an average. So my Garmin may say I am running at a 12:20 pace, but 13 minutes have passed and I still haven’t gone a mile!

However, I try not to worry about how fast I go. I usually try to run for a certain length of time, not a specific distance. Today I ended up running for 24 minutes, 1.8 miles. In addition to smelling lilacs and peonies, I petted one nice dog. I was running through Meyer’s Park and saw a dog I had petted before.

“There’s that nice dog that likes to be petted!” I said, sprinting across the grass. The dog looked happy to see me and sat sweetly while I petted her and called her a good dog. I also greeted her person and wished him a nice day, to which he responded in kind.

I hope to run at least one more time before the 5K. For more information on Little Falls Pride, you can visit the Facebook event or Little Falls Community Outreach page.

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A Blogger’s Work Is Never Done

Posted on June 6, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regular readers know, or maybe they don’t know but some people know, that I normally go to bed early, even on the weekends. Well I am up late tonight. I know, for many people this is just the beginning of the evening. It used to be so for me, too. Things change.

All this by way of introduction to what may be a rather pathetic Scattered Saturday Post.

I slept in till 5:30 this morning (this is why I go to bed early). I went for a long run up a challenging hill. One week from today is the Pride Stride K, part of the Little Falls Pride event in Little Falls, NY. I think I will be ready.

I multi-tasked by doing a load of laundry while I ran. On returning from my cool-down walk, I managed to mow the lawn (non-power mower, it takes an effort). I returned bottles and cans, which took two tries because the place was so busy. I paid a few bills. I wrote a couple post cards. I did the dishes. I dropped my car off at the shop. I visited my husband Steven at the hospital.

I guess I got a few things done. However, looking around my house, I see I have a long way to go. Oh well, I suppose that is always the case. I have heard that the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement (I read it in a book I got out of the library when I was a little girl; I wish I could remember the name of that book).

Tomorrow will be another chance for improvement. If I manage any, I will be sure to write a blog post about it. That will improve my blog as well. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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I Think Thunk is a Word

Posted on May 28, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to make a Running Commentary Post and call it The Thursday Thunk. I was pretty sure that would describe my run pretty accurately. I was right. It is good to be gainfully employed, but it tends to put a damper on my evening activities. I am sure many of you have similar issues.

It was a nice day, not too humid, not too hot, sunny, pleasant. After two days of not running and rain predicted for tomorrow (although we all know how that goes) (however, in this case, my bunions agree) (but I digress), I knew it would be a good idea to get myself out there. I got into running gear, threw a load of laundry in the washer (my favorite multi-task) and set out.

And thunk I did. Oh was I slow! Did I ever shuffle! But I went, and I kept going. I had thought to go on a different route than what I ran Monday, but I also wanted to cross as few busy streets as possible. Additionally, I prefer to stay left side facing traffic, even on the sidewalk. It makes it easier if I do want to detour onto the road.

I saw a few things of note: a metal sculpture of a frog on a bicycle, various colored irises (my own have not bloomed yet, but I have hopes), a few people working on home improvements. I did not pet any dogs, alas, although I greeted a few pedestrians.

It was not easy, but I made my run last 20 minutes, then took a ten minute cool-down walk. With my longer weekend runs, I think I will be in OK shape for the Pride Stride 5K in Little Falls, NY June 12. It is part of a whole event. I should write a whole blog post about that (preview of coming attractions).

In the meantime, I am over 300 words. Not bad for a Thunky Thursday.

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I Lame Myself

Posted on May 15, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I neglected to mention something that happened on Wednesday’s run. When I realized it, I thought, How brainless of me! Then I thought, It’s perfect for Lame Post Friday!

There I was, running (thunking, really) along, admiring flowers, observing various home improvements, in general keeping my mind off how much my run was sucking. This is an excellent technique for running, by the way: distract yourself. So I was wondering why this particular lawn was more yellow than green when down I went.

I don’t know what I tripped on (for God’s sake, autocorrect, tripped is a word, why are you changing it to dropped?), but as I went down I remember telling myself NOT to try to break my fall with my hands, because it is easy to break a wrist. Of course I did not tell myself that soon enough, but all I did was skin the heel of one hand a little.

Oh, and I landed hard on my left knee. Ouch! I got right back up and continued to run, so I knew it wasn’t too bad. One time I fell on a knee, I limped the rest of the way home. Still, it did not feel good.

For the rest of the run, I kept trying to look down at my injury. I could see two little trickles of blood, but they did not travel far. I considered how ironic but not surprising it would be if I fell and scraped my right knee while I was trying to look at my left. However, I made it home without further mishap.

I was also thinking about how I would include the event in my Running Commentary Post. I would mention that I am not one to photograph my injuries to share. This would add interest to my blog post.

I did not remember till much later that I had completely left it out. How silly of me! It was even — dare I say? — lame!

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Not Too Much Thunk

Posted on May 13, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a short run after work. I am having some personal problems which are not worth mentioning here except that I have made the determination to get more exercise, for the mood-improving effects. Exercise is a potent and often under-utilized anti-depressant (that was my little bit of health advice for the day).

It was a beautiful afternoon, warm and sunny. I did not even leave a sweatshirt on the front porch for my cool-down walk. I did not plan a long run. Fifteen minutes would be acceptable, I told myself. Sometimes I treat myself gently.

Right away, my body did not feel happy. Thunk, thunk, thunk, down the sidewalk I went. Fifteen minutes, just fifteen minutes, I kept repeating in my head,

I encountered a number of pedestrians. I would move out into the road before I reached them, because I was not wearing a mask and I was huffing and puffing. We usually greeted each other in a friendly fashion. I love those small human connections. I try to have a smile for everyone.

My body felt better about thing as I went. That usually happens at some point in the run. Sometimes I don’t notice the exact moment when it happens; I just suddenly realize I feel OK. I did not exactly reach the I Can Rock This Stage, but I did not spend the whole run wondering what the hell I was thinking.

I ran for 20 minutes and felt fairly pleased with myself. My cool-down walk felt good, and my chocolate milk recovery beverage when I got back home was delicious.

There is a 5K in Little Falls in June I am thinking I will register for. That will give me another goal to work for. It will probably get me a couple more blog posts as well. I’ll keep you posted.

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Truman Capote Was Right

Posted on May 7, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a run after work today, thinking I could make a Running Commentary Post. I even had a title for it: Thunky Thursday.

Just a quick digression: my autocorrect turns “thunky” into “thinly.” For heaven’s sake if there was anything thin about me, I would not feel so thunky when I ran! Oh, I know, thunky is not a word. It ought to be.

Where was I? Ah yes, explaining why I seem unable to make a Running Commentary Post after all. Well, to begin with, I am tired after my run. For another reason, it was not all that great a run. I spent part of it wondering why I had ever thought I could run. I had plans to include that in the post (you know how I like to narrate in my head as I run).

I ask myself, why am I not making that post now? No answer is forthcoming. It is all very well to say I am tired. Obviously I am not too tired to write SOMETHING. So once again I ask, What the hell, me? I have no answer to that question either.

One thing about this blog: I can almost always get a post about not writing a post. As Truman Capote famously said, That’s not writing, that’s typing. Oh, Truman, you hadn’t seen anything yet!

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Not Monsters, Makeover?

Posted on May 4, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

It has been a kind of a monstrous Monday. Nothing that bad happened, but my allergies are acting up, and my brain felt like a leaden lump. It does not feel particularly un-lumpish now, but I like to make a blog post.

I went for a short run after work, which I almost never do on a Monday. One reason I went was that it was not raining. I thought it was supposed to rain almost every day this week, although it is possible I misunderstood the forecast, bearing in mind my lumpy brain.

My other reason for running was more philosophical. I want to give my life a makeover but have little idea of how to do it. Vague notions of master plans swirl through my brain (especially at times when it is feeling less like a leaden lump), but concrete steps are elusive. Today I thought to myself: Just do one thing different.

So I ran. Not very far, not very fast, but I did it. And I feel like the same old lump. Was I expecting miracles? I guess not. However, I was hoping for a Running Commentary Blog Post. Can what I have typed in so far count?

Let’s just call this a Monday Middle-aged Musings Post and drive on. I’ll keep you posted on my makeover, whether it turns out to be a Master Plan or Just one Thing Different a whole bunch of times.

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I Ran In the Wind, Not Like the Wind

Posted on April 23, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here is the thing about running on a windy day: no matter which way I turn, the wind is never at my back. It is kind of a metaphor for life, but let us not wax philosophical. My purpose right now is to make a Running Commentary Post.

I had not gone running since Sunday. I usually let myself off the hook on Monday, I was auguring my toilet on Tuesday, and I have no excuse for Wednesday. I had not planned on running today. Then when I was driving home and saw it was not raining, I thought maybe I ought to. This, of course, is my usual cue to come up with all kinds of good reason not to.

After pretty much deciding not to, I got dressed in running gear and went. It was colder than I had thought, so in addition to leggings and long sleeves, I put on a hat. As I started out, I realized the wind was the real culprit. No matter. Once I get those sports bras on, I’m going.

And it was rough going. My body did not want to move. Even without the wind dead against me (and sometimes it was at an angle), I was moving slowly. I felt sluggish and thunky (yes, thunky, not thinly, autocorrect, sheesh!). But that is to be expected. The important thing is to do it.

It did get a little easier. At least it got a little less onerous. One thing I have learned is how to persevere. I ran for just over 20 minutes, which I felt was OK for a mid-week run. I saw some lovely daffodils in various yards. I petted one sweet dog on my cool-down walk.

The beauty part is, here is a Thursday blog post ON Thursday and NOT whining about how I can’t make a blog post. OK, maybe I whined a little about the run. Judge me if you feel you must.

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Short Run, Tired Post

Posted on April 14, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

My plan was to go for a run so I could make a Running Commentary Post. I accomplished the first part of my plan. Can I manage the second?

My back was feeling pretty sore at work, and my attitude was not in very good shape either. I wondered about taking a walk instead, possibly with my Tablet to get more spring pictures. For one reason, it might improve my disposition. However, I opted for the run.

I put in a load of laundry, my favorite multi-task. Really my only multi-task, since most of the time I can barely task. It was a beautiful warm, sunny day. No question I could run in shorts and short sleeves. This would be great!

It was not great. My body did not want to run. I did my usual trick of telling myself I only had to keep it up for a short time. Twenty minutes, I thought. Fifteen in a pinch. One mile. At the rate I was running, I figured a mile would take me fifteen minutes.

As it happened, I did a mile in barely under 14 minutes. I continued to run till I reached 20 minutes. It never got fun, but it always feels somewhat good to persevere.

I’m afraid I have not persevered to the extent of writing a good blog post. You should hear some of the narration in my head as I go! Unfortunately I cannot remember any if it now. Of course, with that being the case, we’ll never know if it was really good narration. It could have been utter nonsense and I am flattering myself. I shall not waste any energy wondering.

In the meantime, I am over 250 words. I call that more than respectable for a Tired Tuesday Post. I hope to see you all again on Wuss-out Wednesday.

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I Thunked, But I Ran

Posted on March 24, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would make a Running Commentary Post in lieu of my usual Tired Tuesday. For one reason, I was determined to run. All last week I came home feeling too tired and frustrated, mostly frustrated. Intellectually, I knew if I ran I would feel better. Physically, I could not accept the knowledge.

So I ran. Do I feel better than if I had not? I suppose I do.

The run did not start out feeling good. Oh what a difference eight hours of work make! I thunked along like the overweight middle-aged lump that I am. My autocorrect does not think “thunked” is a word, but there I must differ.

At least it was a beautiful warm day. That caused a few problems, as I had to avoid pedestrians, bicyclists, and others. I tried to stay mindful of social distancing.

One other runner passed me, toward the end of my run. I could hear footsteps approaching me from behind, moving a lot faster than I was. This young kid passed me, loping along like a gazelle. He turned to give me a friendly grin and wave as he passed, which I was happy to return.

I did not run very far, and I never run very fast. But I was glad I ran. I’m only sorry that this is not much of a blog post. As I run, I narrate in my head. It usually sounds pretty good to me at the time, but when I get to the Tablet and start posting, I can’t quite make the translation.

No matter. I ran, I posted (or rather, I will have posted, for the more didactic among you) (you know who you are). Sometimes we must be content with the process.

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