Tag Archives: running

Everything But the Blog Post!

Posted on March 21, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had a real Scattered Saturday yesterday. I went for an early run, starting in the dark and ending in the light. I love to do that. After writing my weekly postcards and puttering around for a bit, I did a little grocery shopping at the Little Falls Food Co-op.

Just a couple of the many items available.

I did not need popcorn but took the picture to remind myself where I can get more. When I got back home I actually spent a little time cleaning the house. Not all that long; I’m not a maniac, after all. By then it had warmed up considerably, so Steven and I took a walk.

Note the red ribbon.

I asked Steve to pose in front of Frankentree for perspective. I put that red ribbon and yellow tulips there back in March, when people were decorating their houses to cheer up passersby during the quarantine. The ribbon was just over my eye level at the time. Our tree is a monster!

Next Steven and I went to Gems Along the Mohawk, so I could buy a few postcards. Then we were feeling a bit peckish, so we drove to Cacciatore’s on Barringer Road in Ilion (where the Moose Lodge used to be). We had a delicious pizza and made some new friends.

Steven suggested I take a picture. They graciously agreed.

We took a different way home and got a little lost. It made for a nice drive over country roads, though, and we ended up in Frankfort. Since we drove right by Heelpath Brewing, we thought we’d just stop in for a glass of Rustic Ridge Winery wine.

One day I want to come with friends and sit at this table.

When we got home, we hung out and watched a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie. And I completely forgot to make a blog post. How silly of me. But if I make another one later today, I will be all caught up. Will I do that? A little suspense adds interest to my day.

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Sunday Run

Posted on March 15, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a run this morning — one of my few useful acts of the day — so I thought I might attempt a Running Commentary Post in lieu of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday. Full disclosure: I pretty much feel like swooning, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, onto a handy chaise lounge. Note to self: obtain a chaise lounge for just such an emergency.

Where was I? Ah yes, about to write about my run. The lovely spring-like weather did not last. However, I am no stranger to running in the cold. I got ready and off I went.

Saturday when I ran, I headed toward Valley Health and ran that hill. Today I turned towards Main Street. Mind you, I was disinclined to run either hills or for very long. But I convinced myself to just go.

I made it up part of the Main Street hill just beyond the Road Closed sign. I have mentioned before how I believe these signs refer to vehicular traffic and not middle-aged ladies shuffling along with various amounts of huffing and puffing.

Soon I was heading back down Steuben Road and stuck to the relatively flat village roads for the rest of the run.

My only question was how long the run was going to be. Saturday’s run was 37 minutes. On Saturday I could not at first remember if I had gone 30 or 33 minutes last week. Note to self: find Running Journal and get back to writing in it. Then I remembered I had gone 34, slightly more than the recommended 10 percent increase. Hence, 37 minutes on Saturday.

After some minutes of wondering, it was soon clear I would do 37 minutes again today. I spent a lot of the run looking at my Garmin and counting how many minutes were left. I make bargains with myself of how long I will wait before looking, then I look anyways.

In other words, it was not the best, most entertaining run. Nor, I fear, is this the most entertaining blog post. I suppose you’ll have that. On the other hand, it is Sunday night. Monday looms menacingly. I hope will not be too monstrous.

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I Go Running

Posted on March 10, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went running today, and I was kind of proud of myself, because I have been having a hard time getting back into weekday runs. It was not a great run, weekday runs rarely are, but it was a good run. I thought in lieu of my usual Tired Tuesday Post, I would attempt a Running Commentary.

I walked to work yesterday and today. I try to do that most of the time, so that the days I don’t run, at least I get some exercise. Monday was cold, but today felt like spring. Actually, today the walk home kind of annoyed me, because the jacket that felt good in the a.m. was way to warm for the p.m. I may have to start shivering in the a.m.

I wore shorts and short sleeves, which I found pretty awesome. I ran on a few sidewalks, where they were mostly bare and dry. I did not run very fast. I did not run very far, although I went longer than the 20 minutes I require of myself on these Just-To-Keep-My-Feet-In Runs.

I passed a few pedestrians. I asked a man pulling a wagon and a woman pushing a stroller for a ride. They laughed but turned me down. I complimented a lady on her cute little dog. I would love to get another dog, but I don’t think I will be able to.

I just noticed I began every paragraph in this post with “I.” How egotistical of me. Then again, this is a personal blog. I could go back and edit, but Tired Tuesday is starting to kick in. I will try to keep my ego in check for Wuss-Out Wednesday. As always, I hope you’ll tune in.

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Some Spring in my Step

Posted on February 25, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was a glorious day that felt like spring. Of course, I spent most it inside, wondering if the sun was living up to its promise, as it so rarely does this time of year. However, when the work day ended and I stepped outside, I was elated. It was warm! It felt good! I was totally going to go running!

Many days when I have worked all day, I talk myself right out of it, and Wednesday seemed for a moment to be going that way. I’m tired! I spent all day running around! The snowbanks are still too high; sidewalks are way too messy! Oh hell, no. Those arguments were not going to work.

I did heed the argument about the sidewalks and ran in the road. I wore my road guard vest, because safety first. Additionally, I can put tissues or a handkerchief in the zipper pocket. My sinuses are ever a problem. Of course I wore leggings and long sleeves, but I opted for a knitted headband instead of a hat, and I did not wear gloves. I was so happy to step outside and not feel freezingly cold. This was going to be great!

And it was, kind of. I have not been running after a day’s work in a while. It certainly feels different from a run on a weekend morning. My legs were soon complaining. I ignored them. I also seemed to be running very slowly. I declined to worry about it.

The real problem was all the snow. The snowbanks encroached on the road, and the puddles from their melting made it even worse. I did not encounter much ice, though, so that was good. I tried to stay on less busy streets, but I still encountered some traffic. I made sure to give the thank-you wave to everybody who slowed down and/or moved over.

I had been thinking that this was the sort of day when, back in my misspent youth, I might have been out on a porch with friends and beer. Of course it was not really warm enough for such activities, but we never let that stop us. I saw several people out running or walking. Then, closer to home, I saw a few people on a porch, their kids playing in the snow, and a fellow I know standing in the driveway with what looked like a beer in is hand. Awesome!

“It’s a great day for a porch party!” I yelled.

“It’s a great day for a run!” the guy on the porch said.

“It sure is!”

And it sure was, snow and puddles notwithstanding. I felt so happy I had run, even it was not too far and not too fast. As I type this, winter has naturally returned to the Mohawk Valley. However, I cling to the promise of yesterday. Spring is coming! Come on, Spring!

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Basil, Beast, Big Chill… Oh Yeah, and Columbo!

Posted on February 22, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went running this morning, thinking I could do a Sunday Running Commentary Post. Fortunately that was not the only reason, because I don’t know that I can say that much about it now. However, I have been having a fairly enjoyable Cinema Sunday, so perhaps I can post about that.

Basil has a clue.

We started with Dressed to Kill, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively. This was how I first encountered Basil Rathbone, not as the horror icon I later found out he was.

“Oh, one more thing!”

We went on to a couple of episodes of Columbo, which we happen to have on DVD. I would like to eventually have the entire series. I loves me some Columbo.

It was scary!

Next I wanted something cheesy, so we went to our collection Attack of the Killer B’s for Track of the Moonbeast. I remembered it from MST3K, if that tells you anything.

Great ensemble piece.

Now we are enjoying The Big Chill, an old favorite with a great soundtrack.

Now I am trying to think of a title to pull this post together. Well, what does anybody want from me on a Sunday afternoon? At least I am up to 200 words and a few illustrations. Time to start looking forward to Monstrous Monday! As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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Cold Sunday Run

Posted on February 8, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did go running this morning, and oh was it ever cold! I thought I would make a Sunday Running Commentary Post to make it worth my while.

I have not been running during the week lately, which is very bad of me. I walked to and from work three days this past week, but that is only eleven or twelve minutes each way (yes, I look at my watch and check). Well, one does what one can. I strive always for improvement. Hence, running both weekend days and beginning the week with hope.

My thermostat said the outdoor temperature was 17, which is practically 20, so I hoped for the best. At least I found both mittens. They are really good mittens, which I accidentally stole from my sister Diane some years ago.

As it turned out, my hands were my only warm parts. And they got cold when I took off the mittens to blow my nose, which I obvious had to do a lot. Why oh why, did I have to be running into the wind? Why oh why did the wind have to change direction every time I did?

I had told myself I only had to run for 15 minutes. I ran for 20 on Saturday. There is no harm in doing short runs when I have not been running much. I have plenty of time to build up for this year’s Boilermaker 15K.

The cold was really my only problem. My legs, my back, my breathing all felt fine. I was quite discouraged by the weather, because I could not enjoy the run very much. At least the roads were mostly bare.

I kept it up for 18 minutes, which I felt was pretty good. I see this blog post is approaching 300 words, which also ought to feel pretty good. Unfortunately I fear they have been dull words, but I can’t seem to help that. Maybe the cold froze my brain. On the other hand, I can always count this as a Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I hope to see you all again on Monday.

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Short Run, Sunday Post

Posted on January 25, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not gone running for two weeks. At my age, that is far too long. This morning, despite the cold, I ran. So how about a Running Commentary Post in lieu of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday? It won’t be a very long post, because it was not a very long run. What do you want from an overweight, middle-aged lady?

I had not planned on running. The roads are still covered with snow and ice, which is what deterred me all last week (it was my own laziness the week before). And it was frigid cold. Double digits, but barely. It was 11 degrees according to my thermostat, which often reads warmer than the actual outdoor temperature. I figured after two weeks it would be like starting all over anyways, so why not wait a few more days?

As the morning wore on, however, I damn well felt like it. I was, I realized, sick of not running. So I got into running clothes and went. In addition to leggings, long sleeves, a hat and gloves, I put a scarf around my neck and wore a zip-up sweatshirt.

Of course the scarf was not the miracle I was hoping for. My neck was warm, but I could not get it to properly cover my cheeks. Yes, it was face-hurting cold. Never mind, I told myself. Just go for 15 minutes. 15 minutes. Nobody could ask for more in this cold. Oh, well, I guess somebody could.

I started out running in the road but switched to the sidewalk on German Street, which usually has more traffic. The sidewalks were snow-covered rather than icy. This was excellent, I told myself. Look how much effort it takes to run in the snow. I would burn all kind of calories!

It did not take long for that to get old, and I switched back to the road when I turned down a side street. I went back and forth between sidewalk and road, snowy and bare, as the opportunity offered. Other than my face and my hands, I didn’t feel too bad. It was worse for my hands when I would take off my gloves to pull a tissue out of my pocket and blow my nose. Sometimes, I pulled my fingers into the palms of the gloves and made fists. That’s an old army trick to get warm.

I ended up running 16 minutes, 17 seconds, 1.22 miles, according to my Garmin. I tracked my cool down walk with the Garmin, too: 9 minutes, 46 seconds, .46 miles. I walked through more effort-inducing snow on the cool down. It felt pretty good, and my recovery beverage of chocolate mild tasted really good.

For the rest of tne day, I proceeded to eat like the huge honking hogger I am, thus negating the calorie-burning benefits of the run, but let us not dwell on such negativity. I ran. I wrote a blog post. It is a good Sunday.

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Sunday Stroll with Snow

Posted on January 18, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not go running this weekend, because I feared the roads would be slippery. However, I took walks both days. Today I took a few pictures for blogging purposes.

It looks a little mysterious to me now.

Years ago, when I did not have a car and walked everywhere, I hated the snow, because it seemed to take so much longer to get anywhere. Now that I walk for exercise and entertainment, I embrace the extra effort. I walked to Main Street, thinking to take pictures of an area I sometimes run.

Yes, I run right by the sign that says “Road closed.” They don’t mean middle-aged pedestrian ladies, do they?

Not the best shot.

The reason the road is closed is that part of it collapsed, I believe as a result of the flooding in 2013. That is how quickly they get to fixing things around here.

See? Others have been there.

I saw footprints, both human and canine, and knew I was not the only one. I tried to get a couple shots of the damage, but the snow hid most of it.

I have to admire the persistence of vegetation.
You can just see a crack.

I took a picture of where the road keeps going up, but I went another way today.

It really is a good run.

I kept walking and soon came to a street I like to take, because it says “Do not enter.” I like to feel like a rebel.

I do not always follow directions.

It was a very enjoyable walk, trouncing through the snow and pretending to be a rebel. I have not been running enough lately, but at least I got some exercise. Additionally, I think this makes an OK blog post. Or do I flatter myself?

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Cold Run! Warm Post?

Posted on January 9, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not done a Saturday Running Commentary Post in a while, although I usually do run on Saturday. I thought I would attempt one today.

I have been watching the weather with some measure of attention (regular readers know I rarely pay much attention to anything) so knew it was likely to be cold. Accordingly, I put on long sleeves and leggings. I found an extra warm hat and mittens in the closet (which I recently cleaned, so that wasn’t too hard). I found my one pair of actual mittens, which I accidentally stole from my sister Diane some years ago, because I figured mere gloves would not be sufficient. I debated wearing a sweatshirt for the run and something warmer for the cool-down walk, but decided my road-guard vest would add another layer. I clicked “Outdoor Run” on my Garmin and waited for it to stop saying, “Wait” (I have not completely figured out this Garmin thing yet).

Off I went and immediately noticed I had forgotten my mittens. I hate stopping a run so pulled my sleeves down over my hands and drove one. It was not long before I regretted leaving the sweatshirt and not putting on a scarf to cover my face. It is a sad truth that the Mohawk Valley is one of those places where at certain times during the year, the air makes your face hurt. Never mind, Cindy, just keep running.

And run I did. Not very far, not very fast, but I was out there trying! I seriously considered running up the hill to Herkimer College. First I turned up Maple Grove (oh dear, is that what that street is called? I don’t know how to Google that) and turned onto Pine (I’m purely guessing here), where there was a short but fairly steep section. This was going pretty well, although my body was not warming up at all.

By the time I had turned a corner and was headed towards Lou Ambers Drive, still debating about the hill to the college or some smaller hills in the residential area I call “the suburbs” in my head. Steven had told me there was little wind, but he was mistaken. Damn it was cold! How long was I going to run, anyways? I did not have to do a super long run in this cold, did I? Then it occurred to me: it is windier at the tops of hills. I turned down Lou Amber Drive and headed back to the village proper.

Oh, this was much better. My body felt… not warm, but not as freezing cold. That continued on and off for the rest of the run, as the wind picked up and died down according to its own caprice. Lately I have been running just to keep in the game, not to build up or meet lofty goals. There is plenty of time for that after I register for the Boilermaker 15K. What, did I say I was never going to run the Boilermaker again? Quite possibly I did. Was it a lie? When I do it, it is called fiction.

I see I am over 500 words. That is the beauty of Running Commentary Posts. Before I know it, I have gone a long way. I wish the runs themselves were like that, but you can’t have everything. Now I must get ready for the rest of my Saturday. My friend Kim messaged me wondering if we were to continue our, as she puts it, reign of terror in the Mohawk Valley. I’m up for that. First a little house cleaning? Let’s not go crazy over here! Happy Saturday, everyone.

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Yes, He Brought Me Coffee

Posted on January 6, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, and welcome to another late post, made around five in the morning, ten finger typing on the lap top. I have not even had coffee yet but expect my husband Steven to bring me a cup when he gets himself one right along here.

Last night I began to made a Tired Tuesday Post and just did not want to do it. For one reason, all I wanted to do was whine about how stressed and depressed I felt. For heavens’ sake, many, many people are stressed and depressed. I do not have any more reason to feel so than anybody else, considerably less than some. And from me, it is getting dull.

One thing I did to help myself last night was to go for a run. It was not a bad run. It was certainly not a long run. It felt as if I was running fast, for me. Unfortunately I had my Garmin on and was discouraged to find that fast for me is just under a 13-minute mile. Well, what am I so discouraged about? I am not racing against anybody.

On the brighter side, quite literally, a few people still have their Christmas lights on. Tradition has it we should leave our decorations up till January 6, you know, Twelve Days of Christmas. I have long wanted to throw a Twelfth Night Party. For one reason, it would postpone my Post-Christmas Letdown. For another reason, I like to give a party.

I see I have rambled on for more than 250 words. By my rules for me, that is more than respectable for a Late Tired Tuesday Post. I wonder if I should also categorize this as a Non-Sequitur Post. Or add a category of Just Babble On Till 200 Words Category. Any thoughts?

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