Tag Archives: running

I Thunked and I Blogged, But Not on Thursday

Posted on September 12, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, I fell off the daily blogger wagon yesterday, then I failed to post first thing this morning.  However, it is still a.m. according to my clock and I could perhaps manage some semblance of a blog post.  I’ve been running a few times this week, the longest run being this morning:  44 minutes and three miles!  Mind you, they were not fast miles, and the first portion of my run was quite thunky.  That was true of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s runs as well.  However, somewhere around the 20-minute mark, I felt great!  I love running!  I can run for MILES!  Yay!

Of course these things never least, but we must treasure them when they occur.

That doesn’t look like a hill at all!

I did not run too many nor too steep hills, but I could swear the one pictured is steeper than it looks when you’re actually on it.  Well, I will run a really intimidating hill one day soon.  As I said, it wasn’t a bad run once I got into it.  I start all these runs assuring myself that I can make it a short run as long as I get out there.  Once I get going I usually talk myself into more.

After the hill pictured, I ran into the residential area behind Valley Health.  Alas, I did not see any dogs to pet.  On previous runs this week I have petted a few.  Always a good reason to stop briefly.  As I passed various sewers, I looked for Tim Curry in a clown suit.  Most of the sewers did not look big enough, but one never knows.  Yes, I know, other actors have portrayed the clown from Stephen King’s It, but I LOVE Tim Curry.

As always, I was glad that I ran.  If I get nothing else done today, I did that.  Oh dear, I hope I get something else done today.

 

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Is It Monday Already?

Posted on August 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, late posts are the thing for the foreseeable future, as I sit here Monday morning making a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  In case you didn’t know, this is when I swoon, the back of one wrist to my forehead, onto a handy chaise lounge or other surface.  It made sense on a Sunday when I worked a Monday through Friday job: one cringes from the approaching Monday.

Is that Monday creeping up on him?

This is not Monday whispering in the driver’s ear.  It is William Hurt as Kevin Costner’s inner demon in Mr. Brooks, a creepy movie that grows on me more each time I see it.  I need to get a new DVD copy of it, because the one I have freezes up in a couple of places.  I couldn’t find a Monday meme in my Media Library, but this picture caught my eye.

So I guess I’m getting a little non-sequitur over here, but that hardly matters.  It is another placeholder post as I strive to regain my daily blogger mojo.  I need to get a lot of mojos back these days:  writing, running, cleaning… OK, I never for one day in my life had any cleaning mojo.  As it happens, I seem to be making strides in regaining my running mojo (see what I did there).

You wouldn’t think these feet could move very fast, would you?

I was looking for a more cheerful picture to end with, but all I could find was my feet encased in running shoes.  No doubt I will be making a Running Commentary post soon.

 

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Thirty-Three Minute Thursday

Posted on August 22, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I missed out on running a Two-Mile Tuesday and am not yet ready for a Three-Mile Thursday, but as I was running this morning, I realized a Thirty-Minute Thursday was within reach.  Then I decided to add another “Th” with three more minutes’ running, and felt I had a shot at a Running Commentary Blog Post.

If anybody has been paying much attention lately (I famously never do), I have not been blogging as regularly as I like to.  I like to be a daily blogger.  How I managed it before for long periods of time and keep falling short lately, I do not understand.  So it has been with my running.  I do not aim to run every day, but three to five times a week has often been doable.  Did I mention I missed a whole two weeks recently?  Oh well, these things happen.  All we can do is our best.  Or something like that.

I got a slow start this morning.  I had half a cup of coffee leftover from yesterday (waste not, want not) that I re-heated, then I made some more (I don’t have one of those fancy one-cup makers).  While it brewed, I scrolled Facebook.  A friend had posted a picture and said, “Do it anyways.”  Good advice. I commented, “OK, but I’m having more coffee first.”

Maybe it only seems steep to me.

There really isn’t much to say about the run itself.  It felt pretty good after a sluggish start.  I even ran faster at the end.  For one reason, I only wanted to go 33 minutes, not more.  I mean to start adding more spurts of faster running.  I think it’s called fartlek (teehee; I said, “fart”) or more boringly interval training.  Now, nobody needs to mansplain these to me or share helpful links. I am just going to run how I run and hope for the best.

 

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A Run to the Moon?

Posted on August 10, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oops, I missed posting on Saturday (yes, I am back to calling attention to my deficiencies).  I went for a run this morning, though, so how about a Running Commentary Post.  I don’t know if I ran by anything I have pictures of in my Media Library, but I may throw in a few random shots to pep the post up.  We shall see.

I seem to remember making a post about a run I took after a two week hiatus (that’s a fun word to say; try it!) (too lazy to go back and check, as usual).  Then I went two days without running.  At least I walked.  I was determined to run this morning. After a reheated cup of coffee (waste not want not), I suited up and set off.

The temperature was nice, the humidity was not bad.  I thought to turn right at German Street but noticed the full moon which I had not seen last night.  I love the full moon!  I turned left and ran towards it.

Not the same full moon.

It was lighter out when I ran this morning.  I look forward to starting my runs in the dark and finishing them in full daylight.  I do not rise early enough for such shenanigans these days, but Mother Nature will catch up with me eventually.

I went up one minor hill on Maple Grove and went on to the residential area behind Valley Health, which I refer to in my head as The Suburbs.  I was figuring in my head how long I wanted to run and how I would increase my times to be ready for the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K in October.  I think I will be in pretty good shape (remembering that round and puffy is still a shape).

Running felt pretty darn good.  I had to remind myself not to get too ambitious and overdo.  I pointed out metaphors for life as I ran:  you notice and lament a 10% uphill but barely feel the same percent going down.  Also, a hill looks less intimidating the closer you get to it.  At least it did today.

One weird thing:  as I ran by a sewer grate, I thought I felt a little warmth emanating from it.  Tim Curry?  He was smoking hot in some of his movie roles!  For readers who did not get the reference, Tim Curry was a clown in the sewer in an adaptation of a Stephen King novel.  Or was it a novella or short story?  How embarrassing that I do not know (I even had to check to make sure he spells his name with a “ph”).

I plan to start running more often again so may be inflicting more running commentary posts on my readers.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Not Too Far, Not Too Fast, BUT…

Posted on August 6, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

This morning I ran for the first time in two weeks.  Yay, me!  I had first spent far too much time in bed (symptom of depression) and thought I would take a walk.  I felt too tired to do even that but was willing to give it a try.  Then I decided to try running instead.  It worked!

I had told myself I only had to run for 20 minutes.  That is my usual time when I go to re-start running once again.  I thought perhaps I would manage to go a little further, but starting with a shorter goal helps get me moving.  For the first few blocks, I though I could probably manage 20.  There is a 5K in October I want to do, so I spent a good part of the run figuring how far I should run in order to be ready for that.

This is the one!

Phew!  I have an illustration!  I had been unsuccessfully looking for a picture of one of the streets I ran on.  Perhaps I will go for a walk later with my phone and store up photos for future Running Commentary posts.

My first mile was slow, and I did not complete a second mile.  However, by the end of my run I had reached the I Love Running! stage.  I don’t always hit that stage, although I usually get as far as I Can Rock This.  I wonder if there are scientific terms for these stages.  I managed to keep it up for 26 minutes, which puts me well on track (so to speak) to be in 5K shape by October.

The East Herkimer Fire Department 5K will be run Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at the Department, 193 Main Rd., East Herkimer, NY.  For more information, you can visit their Facebook page.

 

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Walking, Sharon, Walking, Snowball, Walking, Books, Walking…

Posted on July 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a walk instead of a run this morning so took my phone in hopes of making a Pedestrian Post with Pictures. I met with some success.

Lots of blooms!

I was interested to note a Rose of Sharon with a lot of blossoms.  Yesterday I spent some time trying to rescue my own Rose of Sharon from the encroachments of  the wild grape vine which has been taking over my lawn (there may be a good horror story there).  I noticed a few blooms but could not stop to admire them amidst my clipping and pulling.  I must spend more time waging the battle against the grape vines.  Why, oh why, could they not be grapes which could produce wine?

Another healthy bush!

A block or so later, I admired this snowball bush.  I would like one of those myself.  I love how the blossoms turn brown in the fall.  Also you can clip the white ones and put them in food coloring to make colors.

Alas, nothing I wanted to read.

I walked for a while with no more photo ops before seeing this Little Free Library on the road that is really a parking lot between Park Avenue and Church Street near the school.  I continued my walk looking more for shade than picture opportunities.  It was becoming warm, although I thought I had gotten out early enough.  I suppose I am more sensitive to the heat than some.  Back home I went into my own backyard to take a picture of my own Rose of Sharon.

I do love flowers!

I zoomed in.  I tried zooming out to show how tall the bush has gotten, but I had nothing to show perspective.  Another opportunity to miss my wonderful husband, Steve, who would have been happy to stand there looking cute.  But I do not mean to introduce a sad note.  My walks and runs are for my mental health as much as my physical well-being.  Being able to use them for blog posts is merely a welcome side effect.

 

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Sometimes I Do Run Backwards

Posted on July 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

It really has not been all that hot and humid lately.  I mean, no heat advisories that I heard of, and it was only in the 80s, not the 90s.  Why, then do I feel so sluggish and that my brain has been steamed?  Why, oh why, am I making another blog post about it?  This cannot be interesting!  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Anybody remember when I did that?

I participated in this race back in 2017 but not again thereafter.  I do not know why not.  However, I saw a post about it on Facebook the other day and said, “I’m doing it this year!”  Of course I forgot to write down the date or any other information about it.  However, I think I have time to find these things out.  And I am still in 5K shape from the Pride Stride 5K in June.  The beauty part is, this should be good for several blog posts.

Can you tell it’s uphill?

I think this is the back way to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC).  I recently ran up the front way for the first time in a while.  I have not run up the back way recently but I suppose it would be a good idea to.  I feel I do not run enough hills.

On the brighter side, using the two pictures from the past entitles me to bill this as a Throwback Thursday.  Once again, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow, and I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Alas, Another Tired Tuesday Post

Posted on July 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear.  I am as dreadfully overheated as I was yesterday, and I only feel up to a Tired Tuesday blog post.  I don’t have much to blog about anyways; I have done very little with my Tuesday. There was a moment as I was driving towards the grocery store when I felt an impulse to drive someplace more interesting, Little Falls Food Co-op, for example, but I couldn’t quite think what I might buy there.  I had rehearsal for Four Old Broads on the High Seas, but I need to sort through some pictures before I make another post about that (preview of coming attractions).

The Brain I Don’t Have.

I quick threw in a picture to pep things up.  This, of course, is The Brain from Planet Arous.  Looking through my Media Library distracted me from continuing the list of things I was NOT going to make a blog post about.  I once had a college professor get all mad at me because I spent a lot of a paper saying what I wasn’t going to get into about the topic at hand.  I don’t know what he wanted in a two page paper.  Anyways, he still gave me an A.  No wonder I got an exaggerated notion of myself as a writer.

For the record, I no longer have that exaggerated notion.  I am a writer who does not write enough. I keep hoping to change that.  I’ll let you know if I ever succeed.

 

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Not Too Hot to Blog, Apparently

Posted on July 8, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regular readers know I am not a fan of hot, humid weather.  In fact, I can be quite the big fat baby brat about it.  I had a pretty bratty day today.  I pause in wiping away the sweat to attempt to make some semblance of a blog post.

“But it’s a dry heat!”

This is not me, or even close to me.  For one reason, I have not been on the South Beach Diet long enough.  More importantly, the Mohawk Valley does not enjoy dry heat.  I cannot say I enjoyed dry heat even when I experienced it, but I know some folks swear by it. To each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

Well, maybe it isn’t this hot out. But I am looking forward to Halloween.

I am in a bit of a quandary right now.  I did not go running this morning (judge me if you want to be that way) so thought to walk to the post office this afternoon, to mail a few post cards.  Additionally, I want to purchase some stamps since I hear the price is going up again soon.  Then I thought I would walk to the Herkimer Elks Lodge, where they have Comfort Food dinners on the first Monday of the month.  Tonight it is a grilled burger.  I thought I would get it to go, bring it home, then go to the Herkimer Town Board meeting, which I have to cover for Sentinel Media.  A nice little amount of walking, so I thought.

First, however, I had to put out my trash and recyclables.  No problem, that.  I put away the green waste containers that were emptied this morning (perhaps you read my blog post about filling them), then brought out the other totes and filled them accordingly.  That’s two trips up and down my not very long driveway and two trips back into and out of the house.  This is not strenuous activity, even for a woman of my age and weight.

Explain to me, then, why the sweat was pouring off my body by the time I finished!  What the hell, me?  What the hell, Mother Nature?

I know, you are sitting there hoping that I will quit my bitching soon.  I did mention being a big fat baby brat, did I not?  No matter.  I see I am approaching 400 words.  I find that fine for a Monday, and I can only hope that some readers found me entertaining.

 

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Who, Me? Slack on a Saturday?

Posted on July 6, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I had an almost completely Slacker Saturday, including not making a blog post.  Now, Sunday morning, I sit, having started the day in a fairly non-slacker fashion, prepared to slack once again.

Come to think of it, I did not begin Saturday in Slacker fashion.  I ran up the hill to Herkimer College (formerly known as HCCC or H-trip-C), a rather formidable hill which conquered me earlier this year.

Why does it not look so steep in pictures?

I don’t know if it is being over 60 or being overweight, but running has become increasingly difficult for me.  It is clearly impossible for me to become any younger, and it is extremely difficult for me to lose any weight.  What’s a girl to do?  I know, try harder to lose weight.  For one suggestion, I can refrain from going to Caffe Maya in Herkimer, NY and ordering Chicken Parmesan, as I did yesterday.  Yes, I slacked when it came to cooking dinner.

Really good place to eat!

In my defense, YUM!

Today promises to be extremely warm.  As I am susceptible to heat injury, I feel justified in taking it easy.  Additionally, it has long been my contention that it is useless to think I am going to get anything done on a Sunday.  Did I say I began today in a non-slacker fashion?  Perhaps I will write a blog post about it later.  That will be two things I get done!  Sometimes I even amaze myself.

 

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