Tag Archives: running

Ready for the Reindeer Run?

Posted on December 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went running in the cold yesterday, thinking to make a Running Commentary Post, but then, well, got distracted.  This morning I realized, it is just about time to make this blog All Reindeer Run 5K All The Time.  The big race is THIS SATURDAY!  Am I ready?  I guess I have to be.

One of my all-time favorite pictures.

This was taken before the race in 2017.  I will probably wear that same T-shirt but do not know where my Santa hat is.  I suppose I could pick up another one at a dollar store, but I have another alternative in mind.

I was pretty proud of myself at the time.

In 2018 I visited a dollar store before the race and picked up the garland and bells to enhance my ensemble.  The hat was enhanced with a few things I had around the house.  I happen to know where the hat is but would need to search for the bells and garland.  A co-worker urged me not to wear the bells, saying it would drive my fellow runners crazy.  I argued that it would encourage them to run faster.  In fact, most of them run faster than me with no encouragement on my part.

Wardrobe suggestion for after the race.

Rather than share another race photo, I offer this from December 2016.  I still have the gold lame top.  I have the high-heeled boots, too, but question my ability to walk very far in them.  Some people would say, suffer to be beautiful.  I don’t know that I will dress up and go out after the run, having few places to go and nobody anxious to accompany me.  Then again, I am not shy about going places alone.  I usually find somebody to talk to, and it often makes a good blog post.

In the meantime, I have reached 300 words on this topic.  Score!  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Some Semblance of a Sidewalk, Some Semblance of a Blog Post

Posted on November 29, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title while I was running this morning.  More snow had fallen in the night, but I did not want to go yet another day without at least an attempt, so I got my stuff on and off I set.

Photo taken during cool-down walk.

These are my actual footsteps.  I see that it looks more like a walk than a run, but at no time do I claim to run very fast.  I looked at the plowed road askance (I don’t think I have ever used the word “askance” in a sentence.  Cool!).  It looked wet, slushy, and potentially slippery.  Snow, on the other hand, offers a bit of traction.  Additionally, plowing through the snow takes much more effort than running on a bare road.  Extra calories burned is an excellent idea on Thanksgiving weekend.

And then it got deeper.

Some of the sidewalks had been cleared yesterday and been re-covered,  so it wasn’t too bad running.  I prefer sidewalks anyways as being safer than roads.  Sometimes.  After a while I got to some sidewalks that had not been touched since the snow started to fall.  That was a little tougher to plow through.  I saw where the road had not been plowed as thoroughly and moved out, running in shallower snow.  I kept looking for more partially cleared sidewalks.  That was when the expression “some semblance of a sidewalk” occurred to me.

It was not a long run, but I was glad I went.  I thought I would look for a couple of photo ops on my cool-down walk.  When I got to the second picture, I thought I would walk in the road.  Then a snow plow turned onto the street.  Eek!  I walked back the way I came.

I should get a plant like that.

I do like the look of a dried plant with snow on it.  Then I saw that some people still want their yard waste picked up.

Stick ’em up!

I confess to still not feeling 100% from my illness, so I do not know how much I will participate in Shop Small Saturday.  The beauty part about running the morning and then blogging about it is that I can feel that I have at least accomplished something.  I hope you are all having a delightful weekend.

 

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Lame it Snow!

Posted on November 29, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sorry, sports fans, but this will be a Lame Post Friday post.  Winter has once again reached the Mohawk Valley, and I have not ventured out on any adventures.  I did leave the house, to help clear the driveway and  unbury a few vehicles (what, autocorrect, “unbury” is not a word?  And apparently neither is “autocorrect.” I can’t worry about these things now).

Stock photo, is that what they call it?

This is actually a picture from March 2017, but I thought I would like to share some snow pictures.  I really had not planned to go anyplace much today anyways.  I have never been one for Black Friday shopping.  I will be a little disappointed if I miss Shop Small Saturday, but I suppose I can shop small for the rest of December, so that will be OK.

At least it’s pretty!

 

I was disappointed not to go running this morning.  In the early morning hours I dreamed it was raining (I did hear it rain earlier in the night) and I was running in the rain.  I do not usually run in the rain, but with the Reindeer Run 5K approaching (I officially registered this morning!), I thought it would be a good idea.  When I woke up, I told myself to see if it was, indeed raining.  Imagine my surprise to see the world covered in snow.  And it was still snowing.  That was when my head informed me that I am still not over the illness that has been plaguing me.

The three words that best describe me are as follows, and I quote…

I was looking for another snow picture, but I like this one better.  I went out twice to help with shoveling, thus getting a little fresh air (Times Square!) and exercise.  Now I have completed a blog post of some 300 words.  I say score and once again I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Oh No! Not a Blogger’s Sick Day!

Posted on November 26, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I missed blogging and running Sunday and Monday then took a three mile run this morning.  I was set to do a Running Commentary Post!  I even purposefully ran by a few places I know I have pictures of in my Media Library so I could illustrate.  I felt rather awful after the run, wondered if I should have kept it to two miles, trudged my cool-down walk, and just managed to stretch before getting in the shower.  Still, this was going to be find.

After a shower and finding an outfit to put on, I fixed myself a nice egg sammich for breakfast, using Heidelberg French Peasant Bread (just to add a little local flavor to the post).  I had big plans in my head to go shopping and get stuff done after writing my blog post and  before covering the Frankfort Town Board meeting tonight.

Then after breakfast, it hit me.  For some days I have been dealing with some sore throat/coughing, which I thought was post nasal drip due to my ever present allergies.  This morning, it was suddenly much worse, with a banging, sick headache.

Only I feel like the real thing.

It’s no fair!  This is Thanksgiving week!  I am supposed to get together with my family and have fun!  Oh well, these things happen and we must make the best of them.  Perhaps it is a 24-hour Bugaboo and I will be fine tomorrow.  I am about to try the effects of a hot toddy.

Take your medicine, old lady!

This is actually from The Atomic Brain, a favorite cheesy horror movie.  She is actually drinking a cocktail, and that sour look on her face is natural.  My hot toddy features whiskey from Cooperstown Distillery, just to give another area business a shout-out.

Anyways, I wanted to post something, anything, so here it is.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Slacking But Still Blogging!

Posted on November 23, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am going to make a Slacker Saturday post before I continue to slack.  Full disclosure:  I slack many days.  I have always been kind of a lazy bum.

NOT a slacker.

I am looking at an episode of Columbo, which I found on Roku TV recently.  Regular readers know how much I love Columbo.  Earlier today I went on a two mile run, and after I finish this post I will walk to the post office with my usual Saturday post cards, which I have already written.  I am afraid that is the extent of my productivity today.  Well, I might work on a letter as I go.  No promises.

Good place to eat.

Maybe I will treat myself to dinner later.  There are several good choices in Herkimer. This is the first one I came to in my Media Library.

I could never do my hair this way alone.

How vain of me to share a picture of myself.  It relates to the post, however, because this is from the Ilion Little Theatre production of Prescription: Murder, the first episode of Columbo, which was also a stage play.  I was the murder victim, and I think a lot of people were happy to see me go.  It was probably the only way to shut me up.

It is easier to shut me up from blogging, and I will sign off now.  I hope to have a Mohawk Valley Adventure soon to write a blog about.  When I am done slacking.

 

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Not Too Lame for the Reindeer Run!

Posted on November 22, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Lame Post Friday post.  It looks like I last had one at the end of October.  Additionally, it is my birthday weekend; I feel I should be able to have fun.

Earlier today I ran for over three miles.  I was going to make a Running Commentary post titled, “Last Run at 61.”  I was really quite happy I made it that far.  That means I am in good shape for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  Regular readers know I have participated in the Reindeer Run before.

One of my all-time favorite pictures.

This is December 2017, the first time I ran the Reindeer Run.

I felt jolly.

My late, dearly missed husband Steven took this picture before I left for the run.  Just look at all the Christmas decorations behind me!  That was when Steve and I really went to town on decorating.  I confess, Steven did most of it.

A more elaborate outfit.

This was in 2018, when I took a little more trouble with my ensemble.  I need to come up with something fun to wear this year.

The Reindeer Run 5K, sponsored by Rock City Runners, is Satuday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m.  For more information, you can visit Rock City Runners Facebook page.

Ooh, not till the 13th!  I thought it was the 6th!  Score!  A whole week more to get ready!

 

 

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Can You See the Rainbow?

Posted on November 20, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

My first intention was to make a Running Commentary post about this morning’s run.  However, those are best done soon after the run, while my in-head narration is still fresh in my mind.  So I thought, I know, Waste Not Want Not Wednesday.  The problem with that is, I only have one photo that might go to waste, and I’m not sure it is all that good a one.

It looked much better at the time.

It is a rainbow I saw as I walked away from the post office last Thursday.  I walk to the post office almost every day, because I am trying to send more letters and post cards to family and friends.  It is my small way of trying to brighten up the world.  With my messy handwriting, it is questionable how much brightness I actually provide, but one does what one can.

Who, me? Like wine?

With not much else to say, I share a picture from November 2019, “All packed and ready for Thanksgiving weekend!”  I am looking forward to Thanksgiving.  Food, family, and fun, yes, please.

I have a few Mohawk Valley Adventures planned in the next week or so, raising my hopes that I can get back to daily blogging.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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I’m 61 and I Still Run

Posted on November 13, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that rhyme as I walked my cool-down walk after today’s run.  I’ve been 61 for over 11 months, and this is the first time I thought of it.  What the hell, me?  However, waste not, want not: I’m still 61 and I can use it for a headline for a Running Commentary post.

I did not run for the last two days, so I really felt obligated.  In my defense, yesterday it was snowing and I just couldn’t trust the roads.  I walked later in the afternoon and couldn’t trust all the sidewalks, but it is less of a problem for walking.  I did not trust the sidewalks today but stuck to the roads for the most part.  In general I prefer to stay on the sidewalks.  I like to give myself every advantage of not getting run over by a car.

I often run by the Court House.

Full disclosure:  This picture is from February 2021, but it shows a landmark I ran by and it shows snow.  Regular readers may recognize this as part of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners, a favorite place for me to walk or run by.  I was on the second half of my run by this time.  I was using the Map My Run app on my phone, making a lot of turns in hopes of mapping out an interesting shape, and saw that I was just over a mile.  Go, me!

I was holding the phone in my hand, because I could not find the strap I hold it on my arm with and was too impatient to look for it.  It made it not so easy to blow my nose as I ran, but you can’t have everything.

Also not taken today.

I could not find the picture I wanted to share but came across this one.  I was wearing that headband today.  I purchased it in Niagara Falls while on my honeymoon with my beloved dearly missed husband Steve in 1990.  My hair is not that long, but it’s growing.

My run was not too bad.  I went almost two and a half miles in 33 minutes, which while slow is faster than my recent runs.  I did not pet any dogs, although I saw a couple nice ones.  I did get to pet one of my favorite doggy friends, Pugsley the morkie on my cool-down walk (it was right after I thought of today’s headline).  I may be ready for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls this December.  I hope they have one.

 

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Back on Track?

Posted on November 6, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not only not been blogging, I have not been running as much as I like to, for various reasons.  The problem with not doing something, especially when you suffer from depression, is that the longer you don’t do it, the harder it is to start doing it again, be it running, writing, or going out with friends.  I have been saying for days I want to start running today and finally decided today would be the day.  As I went to bed last night, I thought, I can run first thing, before coffee or anything!  Could that be the reason I slept in later than I have in over a week?

Yes, I got up with absolutely no inclination to run or do anything.  However, after a cup of tea, something to eat, and waiting for what I ate to digest, I decided to take Nike’s advice and Just Do It.  As soon as I started to find some running clothes to put on, I felt better about everything.  I misplaced my Garmin, but my phone was charged and has the Map My Run app.  I did not misplace the strap I use to hold it on my arm.  Soon I was on my way.

How I felt before my run.

I ran by this skeleton as I left my house.  There were a lot more leaves around him today.  I had no plans as to where or how far to run.  I figured I would listen to my body and just keep moving for a while.  As it turned out, my body was not at all averse to running.  I felt fine!  I could keep going for miles!  In fact, I kept going for two miles.  I felt especially happy about this, because I might do the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I have run it before and enjoyed it quite a bit.

They even provide little bags!

As I walked my cool-down walk, I took this picture.  I had noticed it during my run and felt impressed.  This, I thought, is being part of the solution!  I personally try to always remember to carry a bag or two when I walk my dog (when I have a dog).  However, it cannot be denied that shit happens.

I guess that was a little digression from Running Commentary, but it got me close to 400 words.  Score!  Am I back to blogging?  I hope at least I am back to running!

 

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I Stumble in my Blogging Journey

Posted on November 3, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I started my November of posting every day by, you guessed it, not posting on November 2 (today is Nov. 3 by my calendar, although my WordPress Timestamp may say Nov. 4; I don’t properly understand these things).  However, it is only a little after 5 a.m. (ah, the miracle of Fall Back).  I had quite a stretch of making my posts late, in the morning, before I left for work.  We’ll pretend this is one of those days.

As it happens, I no longer work.  Except for almost every night when I am asleep, I dream I am at work at various places.  I must find a book on dream interpretation and see what it means, although I might scare myself.  Who wants to be inside my head?

A little fall color, at least.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I have fallen off the running wagon for one reason and another (explanations are tiresome), but I have tried to at least walk.  This shot was from a walk I took while staying at my sister Diane’s house last weekend.  I liked the look of the dark green against the bright yellow.

The road less traveled?

This is a picture I took in Ilion last week to possibly go with my story for Sentinel Media about the Ilion Town Board meeting.  It is one of the entrances to Russell Park, a good place to take a walk.  I may go there for a walk one day before it gets too cold.

So I guess this is another nothing post, but one does what one can.  I shall try to continue with a better blog post later today.

 

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