Tag Archives: running

It’s Scattered, It’s Lame, It’s Late

Posted on August 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

What’s wrong with making my Friday Lame Post on Saturday morning?  Maybe a few things, but here we are.  It is prior to 6 a.m., although my timestamp may disagree.  I can’t worry about these things.

This is a really awesome place.

I drove to Richfield Springs, NY to check out the Food Co-op.  I loved it!  I will write more about it soon.  I took went a different way out of town and drove over a scenic route to Little Falls.  Unfortunately,  I did not stop and take any pictures. Maybe next time.

In Little Falls I went to the Little Falls Public Library’s book sale.  I did not have as good luck as I did at last year’s sale, but I found a couple of books and DVDs (including a Bela Lugosi movie, yes!).  Once again, I do not have a photo to share.  What’s that all about, me?

It looks longer and less steep in this shot, I think. 

Here is a picture of my Friday I can share!  Earlier in the morning I ran up the hill to Herkimer College (H-trip-C to locals).  I ran all the way up onto campus, around the stadium, past the Veterans Memorial, down Reservoir Road, and THEN into the residential area behind Valley Health and up the kick-buttest hill!  I guess I should have made a Running Commentary Post and bragged about it.

So it was kind of a Scattered Friday.  In case anyone was wondering: no, I did not have to work.  I took my last discretionary day off, just to get rid of it in case my place of employment abruptly shuts the door.  And if they do not shut the doors and I have to work the rest of the year with no extra days off, I have promised to do a happy dance each day.  Won’t that brighten up the workplace?

 

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I Ran! I Was Tired!

Posted on August 28, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wednesday afternoon I went running with the intention of making a running commentary post.  I’ll say it was the run that tired me out too much to make said post (there may have been other factors, but as I often say, explanations are so tiresome).  Therefore I sit at work (BEFORE my shift, not when I am supposed to be working), pen in hand (my Tablet is at home), trying to remember the run.

I put my smart phone in the arm band, trying to put it on so that it would NOT rub part of my arm raw (I am so incompetent at these thing) and set out.  I had a vague idea of running up the hill to Herkimer College, but my body was definitely not on board with the plan.  Nevertheless, I persisted.

I have signed up to run the MIni-Maker at Copper City Brewing in Rome, NY on Sept. 13.  Before signing I exchanged a few messages and  comments with the venue and the guy that mapped the route, wondering if it was right for me, or I was right for them.  They emphasized that I had to train.  Well, I have been training right along, but I am not any faster of a runner than I have been at any time these past few years.  They said I could start early, since they want to wrap it up in two hours or less.

With all this in mind, I thought I should perhaps train a little harder.  That is, to not let myself off the hook on a weekday run (as I often do) but to make a good length of time on a challenging course.  Hence, the hill to the college.  Of course I waffled and weaseled but ended up running what I call the kick-butt way up to the college: by the dormitories.  You run up a steep hill, through a parking lot on a more gradual upslope, repeat two or three times (I can’t remember how many, but it seemed like a lot), with the last steep part pretty steep and fairly long.  Or so it seemed to me.  I certainly did a bit of huffing and puffing along the way.

I ran the back way down to the village.  This is currently closed to traffic, so I got to feel all rebellious.  Additionally, I entered where it said, “Do Not Enter,” around a traffic triangle on my way there, and turned left at a “No Left Turn” at the end.  We middle-aged ladies have to get our kicks somehow.

My Map My Run app had dutifully told me when I was at one mile.  My rate was less than 14 1/2 minutes! Score!  It is not a great time, but it is a little better than previous runs.  I picked up speed going downhill, thinking to make further improvements, which I did.  I thought I should try to run three miles, which would take about 45 minutes, less if I kept up my pace.  I have to perception of distances.  All I can do is keep running and let the app track me.  I considered my options.  Up this street? Down that one?

I ran through the high school parking lot, down Bellinger Avenue to Graham, then down Church to Bellinger Street (yes, we have a Bellinger Avenue and Street in our little village; don’t get me started!).  I went by the house to the apartment building two doors down, then up their driveway.  I saw a lady I know sitting out front.  We greeted each other and she praised my running.

I felt pretty happy, because I ended up doing 3 miles in 43 minutes.  I don’t think I can run 15K in less than two hours, but dammit I will get as close to that as I can!

 

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More Commentary Than Run

Posted on August 23, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not done a Running Commentary Post in a long time.  I thought I would be doing more, and perhaps this blog would become All Virtual Boilermaker 15K All The Time.  But not so much.  I took a long run this morning, though, so let’s see what I can come up with.

As my runs go over an hour, which the longest ones do, I realize the Herkimer is not that big of a village.  The places I particularly like to run are more suited to runs of 40 minutes or less.  My body tends to prefer runs of those lengths as well, but I’m training for a 15K over here.

Today I ran where I could later drive, so I could see how far I ran.  Regular readers may remember how I delight in entering where it says, “Do not enter.”  I guess that is under the heading It Takes So Little To Please Some People.  I have started using the Map My Run app on my recently acquired smart phone.  Unfortunately,  the arm band I got for it has rubbed both arms raw.  I’ll have to figure out how to fix that.

As I ran, I alternated between wanting to stop now and coaxing myself to run a little further.  I seemed to go a long way then find only a little time had passed.  Then I wondered if I could remember where all I had run when I went to drive it.

To my surprise,  the drive was way more tiresome than the run.  I kept thinking, “This is taking forever!”  Imagine my chagrin when I found I had gone a mere five miles.   I feel certain I can keep going for the full 15K (9.3 miles,  in case you didn’t know), but I fear it will take me a while.

I also have a lot of logistics to figure out.  That will no doubt be worth at least another blog post or two.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Not Much Writing on Wuss-out Wednesdsy

Posted on August 6, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am afraid this is going to be a bad blogging week.  I did not mean to make a Wuss-out Wednesday Post, and yet, here we are.  I went on a long run this morning.  Perhaps that is what took it out of me.  I did a few household chores, wrote a letter, and wrote a little bit on my novel.

Here’s a thing:  as I started to write on my novel,  I thought, “What is with this not writing?  All I have to do is write!  Just put the pen to paper and write!”  Of course the pen petered out shortly after that.  And the part I left out was how much I had to bestir my brain to start that first sentence.

What I find is that if I say to myself, “OK, just write,”  not much happens.  If I think of a scene — for example, what if something freaky happens to Olivia in a dark alley? —  I can often come up with something.

OK, you may say (you know who you are), so just think of a scene.  It is these glib bits of advice that make writers like me tear our hair out.

Me with my hair torn out.

Just kidding.  Regular readers know my bald has nothing to do with my frustration.  I am not even sure I would call it frustration.  In fact, I think I will try to follow the above mentioned glib advice:  just think of a scene.  I will let you know how it works out.

In the meantime, sorry about another lame blog post.  I’ll try for something better tomorrow.

 

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Typing Away on Slacker Saturday

Posted on August 2, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, I have the type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease.  I have not been afflicted with that in a while.  This is only going to be a Slacker Saturday Post anyways, so I will just keep typing and hope for the best (as Truman Capote once said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing”).

I went for an extra long run this morning up a kick-butt hill. I actually felt pretty good afterwards, although my knees hurt abominably when going up and down stairs for at least an hour.  I must do some knee-strengthening exercises.  My Mom told me a few.  I hope I can remember what they were.

I wrote some post cards but did not get around to walking them to the post office till it was too hot for me to enjoy the walk.  I had seen a garage sale on Facebook so decided to drive to the post office then to the sale.

On the way to the sale, I passed another sale.  I stopped at that one afterwards.  All I bought at the first one was a glass of lemonade.  At the second I found a cute Halloween decoration, and I petted a puppy.  Yay!

Back home, I wrote a little on my novel and watched television.  Not at the same time.  Now I am relaxing on the deck with my husband and enjoying the cool of the evening (when everything is gettin’ kind of groovy) (no, wait, that’s something else).  Happy Saturday, everyone!

 

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Feeling Sapped on Saturday

Posted on July 26, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was another Saturday without much scatter to it.  In my defense, I ran for over an hour (63 minutes, to be exact), and that really takes it out of me.  I spent the rest of the day wanting to take a nap.  Of course when I finally laid down and tried to take one, I had no luck at all.  These things happen to insomniacs like me.

My friend Kim and I went to a neighbor’s garage sale and got a few good buys.  The neighbor missed the Village Wide Sales, because he had to work, but he seemed to be getting a good number of shoppers.

After shopping, Kim and I hung out with Steven on the deck, his favorite spot to be these days.  We had some good laughs, as we usually do.  After Kim left, Steven and I went inside and watched Creepshow, one of the DVDs I had just purchased.  I have to say we were a little disappointed. When we watch it again, I may fast forward through the boring parts.

So this is turning out to be a dull blog post.  Could the hot weather be sapping me of all entertainment value?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!  In any case, I see I am over 200 words.  I’ll try to be more entertaining on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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I Get My Butt Kicked

Posted on July 23, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I started to make a Running Commentary Post this morning but had a headache.  I wonder if I can do it now.  We shall see.

It was raining when I got up,  around 4:30 (I went to bed early last night), so I turned on the coffee and relaxed for a while.  That also gave me time to drink water.  Water and coffee, it should have been an awesome run!

Of course it was not.  When do things ever go the way I expect them to?  NEVER!  As soon as I started running, my legs started complaining.  What the hell, I had to ask.  I HAVE been running on a regular basis.  I had had it in my head to run the kick-buttest hill in my area.  As I ran toward it, I questioned my intentions.  Never mind, I told myself, just keep going.

On the way to said hill, I went up the hill by Valley Health.  It was hard!  I thought, this is it for me.  I would keep running a long run, but no more hills.  I ran on toward the kick-butt hill but intended to take the last possible turn to avoid it.  Naturally I second guessed myself about this.  How could I train properly if I did not run challenging hills?  Then again, I have plenty of time before my Virtual Boilermaker 15K to run hills.  Then yet again… if dithering burned calories, I would have no problems meeting my weight loss goals.

As I approached the hill and the avoiding turn, I observed a couple of pick-up trucks with some workmen near a house.  I thought I would greet them.  I like to greet people when I run.  The avoiding turn was right before the house they were at.  Oh, heck, I thought to myself, let’s get our butt kicked.

“Good morning, fellas,” I said.  One man turned around and returned the greeting.

“I is about to get my butt kicked,” I said.  He laughed.

And I proceeded to do just that.  This hill goes on and on and up and up.  Yikes!  I have done it a few times in recent memory.  They are not good memories.

However, I persevered and made it to the top.  Yay, me!  What a pleasure to go downhill after!  I went up a couple shorter hills before the end of my run.  I laughed at them.  When I am running with others and we come to a hill, I like to say, “Hill schmill, this ain’t no hill, we got this stinkin’ hill!”

So I ended up being happy I ran the kick-butt hill.  I went on to run for a total of 57 minutes, which is my current longest time (set this past Sunday).  Then I felt tired and headachey for the rest of the day.  What’s that all about?  I thought exercise was supposed to make you feel better!

No matter.  I ran.  I blogged.  I wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

 

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Few Accomplishments on Tired Tuesday

Posted on July 22, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not do anything bloggable today.  I went for a short run this morning, during which my legs said, “What’s up with this?  We didn’t sign up for this!” and my breathing went, well, “puff, pant, puff.”  I went shopping for a couple of things, but not to the locally owned, distinctive stores I love (sorry, folks, sometimes I need mass produced items).  My only real accomplishments were a load of laundry and two letters.  And I fear they were short, illegible, and uninteresting.

Oh dear, now it seems I am making a whiny blog post.  Let me share one of the pictures I took this afternoon.

This may be a metaphor for my life.

This is my driveway and front walk.  I have been meaning to do something about all these weeds.  I mean something other than staring at them and shaking my head.  Yesterday, I looked up (for the second or third time), a natural spray for them and mixed up a batch.

It has vinegar, salt, and dish soap.

After first starting to pour it into a squirt bottle with holes, I located an intact squirt bottle and got to squirting.  I re-squirted again this morning, then headed out this afternoon, armed with gardening gloves, a screwdriver, and high hopes.

Which were soon dashed.  I am not sure if my weed mixture did anything at all, but it certainly was not the miracle I was hoping for.  I poked and pulled and huffed and puffed.  Soon sweat was pouring down my face and my back was aching.  I bent over, I squatted, I sat, I knelt.  I had to laugh at myself.  What a crazy old lady I must have looked like!

I persevered for a half hour, maybe a little more.  I got a lot of dirt on myself and made some amount of visible progress.  However, I did not take a picture.  Oh, OK, I will go out and take a picture now (ooh, look at me, blogging in real time).

It’s a work in progress.

You can see why I did not list this among my accomplishments for the day, especially when I mention there are a lot more cracks with weeds.  Still, I gave it a shot.  People who took care of the weeds in their walks earlier in the season, I congratulate you.  I am hoping to do better next year.  In the meantime, I hope this will do for my Tired Tuesday Post.

 

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Not Scattered, Shout-Out!

Posted on July 12, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I cannot make a Scattered Saturday Post,  because I have not scattered enough.  I took a long run this morning then pretty much sat around and wished it was not so hot and humid.  YES, I am a wimpy whiner, one must put up with these uncomfortable weather situations, blah blah, woof woof.  Hey, at least I managed a long run up a major hill before wimping out.  I suppose that does not count with some of you ( you know who you are).  Hmph!

Where was I?  Ah yes, trying to make a blog post when I have not indulged in many blogable activities.  My friend Kim picked me up in the afternoon, and we went to the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer for a couple of drinks.  It was a lot of fun, as it usually when Kim and I get together.

No, I did not fall off my barstool to take this picture.

I was just scrolling through my Media Library looking for pictures of the End Zone, and I found this shot of the ceiling, complete with a Herkimer jersey.  Some of these older buildings have the best ceilings!

Always stuff to look at!

I enjoy looking at the sports and beer memorabilia on the wall.  There are also several television screens, usually with different games going on.

So I guess my Scattered Saturday Post has turned into a shout out for a local business.  Regular readers may recall that I have given shout-outs to this business in the recent past.  So sorry to repeat myself.  I also apologize for making my Saturday Post early Sunday morning (by my clock, anyways).  I can only hope to do better on Wrist to Forehead Sunday!

 

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No Sweat: It’s Lame Post Friday!

Posted on July 11, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

And yet, I am gaining weight. Go figure.

I will try not to spend this entire post whining about the heat and humidity, but no promises.  Sharing the above picture reminded me of a high school friend who used to quote Shakespeare referring to her midsection: “Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself to dew.”  Is there a problem with spending an entire post lamenting my weight gain worries?

The beauty part is that today is Lame Post Friday,  so I am going to call whatever I come up with OK, as long as it runs to 200 words.  Maybe another picture would pep things up.

I think they are pretty.

I have been watering my Johnny Jump-ups and my container garden almost every day.  The forecast keeps promising rain and even thunder storms, but they seem to bypass me.  I keep thinking I should take an updated picture but have not done it yet.  And no, I can’t run out and do it now, because it is dark out.

Speaking of dark, I will be glad when we start to get a little more of it.  I’m sure that is an unpopular opinion, but I usually am out of step with the rest of the world (you may have noticed).  Mostly I am looking forward to a later sunrise.  That way, when I go running in the morning, I can begin my run in the dark and end it in the light.  I love that.

Ooh, look, I am over 250 words.  I think I will just close with a picture.  Happy Friday, everyone!

A shot of my neighborhood being rained on, because I hear it starting to rain as I type this.

 

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