Tag Archives: running

To Trot or Not to Trot

Posted on October 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Spoiler alert:  I’m probably not going to trot, but I thought of that title while I was running this morning and I like it.  I wondered if I would ever do another Saturday Running Commentary, and it looks like I am about to.

I had actually thought about not running today.  I had an excellent run yesterday (I believe I mentioned it in yesterday’s post) and can certainly run tomorrow.  Additionally, I have been getting brutal headaches on Saturdays (regardless of whether or not I tie one on Friday night) (um, I mean, I never tie one on), and I fear running in cold air makes them worse.  It is cooler this weekend, real fall weather.  I love it, but my sinuses are less than thrilled.  However, I do not allow my sinuses to run my life.  Try not to anyways.

So I decided to run.  My thermostat said it was 47 degrees, two degrees above my usual cut off for shorts and short sleeves.  However, since I am not in really good running shape, I put on leggings and long sleeves.  I was glad I did.  For one reason, as I started out, I realized it was raining.  What was that all about?  I didn’t hear any rain on the tin roof outside my bathroom window!  I felt quite ill-used, but once I’m out there, I usually keep going.  Yesterday when I started out, I realized I had left on my reading glasses instead of switching to my running glasses.  I kept going for a blurry run. I remembered the running glasses today, but once they got rained on, the run was no clearer than yesterday’s.  No matter.  I could see well enough.

I debated running up a hill.  Regular readers may recall that hills are in short supply in Herkimer, NY (where I live).  I was inclined to stay off the incline (just to make a play on words).  But one must run hills to train properly, especially if one wants to run a 5K in Little Falls (which I do).  I was headed towards Main Street.  I could go up a hill there, if only I crossed German at the four-way stop.  I made a bargain with myself: if there were no cars at the intersection, I would cross.  If not, I would immediately turn down Main Street.  For one reason, my glasses were by now spotty enough that I could not reliably see if a driver was waving me across.  There were cars.  I was off the hook (don’t judge me) (oh, go ahead and judge me; I don’t run for anybody but myself).

It was not as enjoyable a run as yesterday, but it wasn’t too bad.  It got better as I went along.  I started out thinking if I only did 20 minutes it would be OK.  My longest run lately has been 28 minutes, and I have been plateaued there for two weeks.  My main goal is to do the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I did it last year and it was great fun.  There is a Turkey Trot 5K in Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day.  I could be in 5K shape by then.  Well, not if I stayed plateaued at 28 minutes or, worse yet, went backwards (ooh, running backwards is a good way to get in shape, but I’m not talking about that).

Another reason I probably cannot participate in the Turkey Trot is that I plan to go to Rome to my Mom and Dad’s house for Thanksgiving.  I had planned to go the night before, in case they need help getting the turkey stuffed and in the oven at 6 a.m. or whenever they need to do it.  I can also peel potatoes, something I never do for myself but know how to nevertheless.  Still, I have always wanted to do a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.  Additionally, this Thanksgiving is my birthday.  I can run 5K on the day I turn 55.  How cool is that?  But would I even be in 5K shape if I only ran 20 to 25 minutes today?  And so I debated as I ran, and that is when I came up with today’s title.

I was on my street, figuring I would at least get to 25 minutes, when I heard a voice behind me:  “I thought I was the only crazy one!”  It was a lady I had encountered on another run.

“I didn’t know it was raining till I set out,” I told her,  “and I said, ‘Oh well, I’ve got the sports bras on!'”

“It’s raining and we’re training!” she said.

Well, that kind of inspired me, and I went around the block and ended up running for 31 minutes, an increase (at least the way I did the math) of the recommended 10 percent.  I felt pretty darn pleased with myself.  If I don’t make it to Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day, I will just have to trot by myself in Rome.

 

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Cooking with Wine Tasting

Posted on October 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Friday Food does not have the same appeal as Saturday or Sunday Supper.  Yet, I feel I would like to make a cooking post today.  I had meant to do a Running Commentary, because I had an excellent run this morning (I posted a Facebook status of “THAT is how a run is SUPPOSED to feel!”), but, you know, things happen.

I was supposed to be away this weekend, but those plans were derailed by a stomach bug my husband, Steven, is currently suffering.  He has not wanted to eat much, so I thought a pot of homemade chicken soup would help.  Accordingly, I took some chicken out of the freezer. It was two thigh sections, which is a good dinner for two people when baked and served with a vegetable.  I have also found that it will also make a good pot of soup

I put the chicken on to boil about 3 p.m., when I was doing laundry and waiting till it was time for a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY (where I live).  After it had boiled a while, I used a slotted spoon to scoop some of the brown crud off the top.  I don’t think the brown stuff seriously degrades the taste of the soup, but I skim off what I can.  I was waiting for my friend Kim to pick me up for the wine tasting.  Eventually I got tired of waiting and had a small glass of white wine we had on hand (don’t judge me; I wasn’t driving).  I also thought I should progress further on the soup so peeled and crushed some garlic.  I turned off the burner under the chicken; I figured it was cooked through, and I did not want it on when I left for the wine tasting.

It was after right after this that Kim texted me that she was ready to go to the wine tasting, so I did not bother setting the timer for 15 minutes (to let the garlic breathe, remember? I’ve talked about that before).  I figured we’d be gone at least that long.   And we were.  I came home with two boxes of wine, one red, one white.  Yum!  I may do a blog post about the tasting (I have been seriously remiss in not making more posts about the wine tastings I attend).  I poured myself a glass of red and continued to cook.

I pulled the pieces of chicken out of the broth and put in the garlic.  I sliced a yellow onion, put it in the broth and turned the burner back on.   I took the chicken off the bones and put it in the broth too.  After a while I will add some frozen vegetables.  Probably some spinach (Steven only likes it in soup, dip or sauce), maybe some broccoli or corn; I’ll see what’s in the freezer.  And I will cook some pasta, probably ditalini.  Yum!

For you wine snobs out there, I will no doubt switch to white with my chicken soup.  I do not want to injure anybody’s sensibilities unnecessarily.  Anyways, this is my Lame Post Friday post for the week.  I hope you are all having a good supper and enjoying the beverage of your choice.

 

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Well, What Do You Do with Bread?

Posted on October 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Under the heading, Things That Go Through My Head While I’m Running:  I read a quote a long time ago, not attributed to anybody, “If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy violets for your soul.” I pondered that thought, liked it, and considered posting it as a Facebook status when I got home.  Immediately I thought, if I did that, somebody would not doubt comment, “If you have two loaves of bread, give one to the poor.”  Somebody always has to be that way.

In fact, when I have two loaves of bread (and I often do), I selfishly put one in the freezer for later.  Then again, how many violets can I realistically expect to buy for what I usually pay for a loaf of bread, much less what I might sell a loaf of bread for.  Who’s going to buy a loaf of bread from me, anyways?  Anyways, I don’t eat a lot of bread.

As I type this, I remember there is a non-perishable food drive for veterans at my place of employment.  I’d better grab a few cans to bring in.  But no bread, that’s perishable.

So this is my Wuss-out Wednesday post.  I had intended to make a running commentary; I really did go running and think the first paragraph.  However, before making my bog post, I had to do the final edit and polish of my murder mystery script and get it emailed out to my cast.  I still have to print out hard copies for myself and a couple others, but I can do that before rehearsal tomorrow.

In the meantime, I ponder my conundrum:  violets for my soul or bread for the poor? Discuss amongst your selves.

 

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I Can Run, But I Can’t Blog

Posted on September 25, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I went running this afternoon, specifically so I could make a Running Commentary post.  Well, I guess that was not the only reason.  I also want to get back into shape (that is, a shape other than round and puffy), lose weight, be able to run a 5K and better.  And I thought some exercise would help my mood.  I sure could use some of them there endorphins.

Obviously I did not get any.  I suppose I did not run long enough.  You’ll have that, especially when you are trying to get back into it.  I have to remember that in middle age, one falls out of shape a whole lot quicker than when one was younger.  Also, it is harder and takes longer to get back into shape.  I hope I do not appear to be whining about these things; I merely mean to make the observations.

Not actual footage of me after my run, but close.

I thought I’d better pep things up with a picture.  This lady’s face looks like how I feel.  It is Candace Hilligoss in Carnival of Souls (1964).  I got the pic from the Facebook page of that movie.

This is where I must admit, I am too tired and brain dead to make a decent blog post.  Was it the run that tired me out?  Or just the usual Monday Malaise?  No matter.  I’ll throw in a couple more pictures and hope to think of amusing captions.

I could be the old-fashioned slow-poke kind of zombie.

Actually, I walked my cool-down alone.

As I feel like a zombie, I find two zombie pictures.  Now I am done running and blogging for the night.  Happy Monday, everybody.

 

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Alas and Yay on Scattered Saturday

Posted on September 23, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is that moment of a Saturday when I want to make my Scattered Saturday Post and get on with my evening.  This will be fast if not furious.  Here goes…

I slept in till after 6 a.m.  Yay, weekend!  And I woke up with a terrible headache, which made me feel distinctly ill-used, because I did NOT tie one on Friday night.  Next Friday I may drink my head off, because if I am going to have the headache anyways, I may as well have a good reason for it.  Be that as it may, I tried not to let the pain completely ruin my day.

I went running, which makes three days in a row.  Alas, three was not the charm, because the run was not fun and did not feel wonderful.  Still, I did it, so I could feel good about that, at least.  A shower felt good, and Steven and I pondered our options for the day.  Tentative plans changed after a phone call to my Mom.  She said my sister had been going to call me to ask that I pick up rolls for a family gathering on Sunday (baptism of my adorable great-niece, Evie.  Yay!).  Suddenly a trip to Heidelberg Bakery was on the agenda.

Just to make things perfect, I saw in the Utica OD that a church in Middleville was having a rummage sale.  We love rummage sales!  Our plan was set:  breakfast at Heidelberg, then on to Middleville for the rummage sale.  That was fun, but, alas, my headache did not go away.

Back home, I laid down with my face thing on (I have this thing my Mom got me; it has herbs or something in it, you heat it up in the microwave and lay down with it on your face), and took a nap.  That helped.

After the nap and a cup of hot tea (yay cooler weather!), I went with my friend Kim to a Lambrusco tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer.  I knew Kim would like Lambrusco, because it is sweet.  She is all the time going to tastings with me where nothing but dry is available, so I was happy to go to a tasting she would like.  Then we walked all over the store looking for a bottle wine that would be appropriate to bring to the cast party of Shattered Angel.  Could we find anything with an angel on the label?  NO, of course not!  We finally settled on a bottle of Dr. Frank Konstantin Riesling, because the accused in the play was examined by DOCTORS.  Also it was a nod to our dear friend, Julianne Allen, recently deceased, who was supposed to be in the play and who loved Riesling.

Next we went to Asteroga Ale House for a drink.  Steven joined us, so that was an enjoyable interlude.  Now I am at home, looking at Forensic Files in a desultory fashion and soon to begin the movie watching portion of the evening.  I hope all my readers are also having an enjoyable Saturday.

 

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Running to Halloween?

Posted on September 21, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was determined to go running today, and to write a Running Commentary post.  First task completed!  On the the second part…

When I got home from work today, I did not pause and change my mind.  I went upstairs, gathered a load of laundry and put on running clothes. You see, I intended to multi-task by putting clothes in the washer while I ran (and felt pretty virtuous about it, since I am not out of clean underwear, nor is Steven out of clean socks).  I got the washer going, then got going myself.

I started out in the opposite direction of what I usually take, heading towards State Street instead of German.  The reason was that I had noticed a house down the street with Halloween decorations in the front yard.  I need a little Halloween!  I saw another house with a couple of scarecrows by the porch, so that was nice.

It was fine running weather:  not hot, not too sunny.  Of course, I was NOT in fine running shape.  I’m not even sure when I last ran, but I believe it was more than a week ago.  In my defense… OK, I have no defense.  It was stupid of me not to run, or at least get some form of exercise.  What can I say?  We do not always do what is best for ourselves (Oh, I suppose YOU do?).  However, I was happy I was out there moving, and I can continue to get out there on a regular basis.  I hope.

The house did not have as many decorations as some (not as many as MY house is going to have), but it did look nice.  I love Halloween.  I ran past it and turned right onto West Albany Street.  Hmm… which street should I run up?  Not Henry, that was too close. Maybe Caroline and make a BIG rectangle.  Instead I went up Margaret, because I did not feel like running around some cars I saw parked across the sidewalk.  I should perhaps mention that my body was not best pleased with me.  I wondered how long I could keep up even my slow middle-aged shuffle.

Twenty minutes.  I could go 20 minutes.  Oh dear, I wasn’t even at ten.  Never mind.  Just keep going.  I looked at different houses, envied a few screened in porches, admired some late blooming flowers, and calculated how long it was going to take me to get back into 5K shape.  There is a 5K at Cullen’s Pumpkin Farm in October, but that may be too soon.  There are usually a couple of Turkey Trots on Thanksgiving, but I might be busy that day.  Of course I intend to participate in the Reindeer Run in December (perhaps you read my blog post about last year’s event).

As I ran and figured, I started to feel a little better about moving.  Not better enough to go a whole lot more than 20 minutes, but I managed 25.  Then I felt pretty darn tired.  But that hardly matters.  The only other thing I have to do today is make my blog post (what, fold the laundry?  Surely you jest!) (and I will call you Shirley if I want to).  And here I am over 500 words.  Yay me!  Now if only I can make it LESS than a week before I run again.

 

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Labor Day Run

Posted on September 3, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had been going to call this one “Labored Run,” but that began to seem a trifle melodramatic.  The humidity is up, up, up, and I am still not back in shape.  I simply must remember that at my age, one’s body slips backward FAST.  But never mind that, I had a few good things happen on this run, so here is a Monday Running Commentary for our holiday.

I almost did not run again today, because I slept in till after six, then enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee.  Even after seven years at my current place of employment (how the time flies!), Monday holidays still feel like a big deal to me.  Shortly after seven, I changed my mind and got into running gear.  I wore my Big Sur Marathon t-shirt, for encouragement.  I did not run the marathon; I have the t-shirt because I volunteered back in 1998 (what did I say about time flying?).  I really would like to run a marathon one day.  Maybe I can make that happen in 2019.

To begin with, it was not much fun.  As I said earlier, it was humid. Oh, the humidity! (I love that joke.)  Still, one must persevere.  I ran up German Street to Valley Health and up the hill on the far side of that building.  I felt this was a necessary effort if I am ever to get back into shape (that is, a shape other than round and puffy).  I ran into the residential area I refer to as The Suburbs, knowing there were some very good hills there but making up my mind to avoid them.  I would turn right here not there… oh no, there was a couple walking along with a cute little dog.  I love to pet a cute little dog.

“Can I pet your dog?” I asked.

“You sure can,”  the lady picked him up.  “He’s a scaredy cat.”

I let him sniff my hand and petted him gently.  “I love dogs.”

We wished each other a good day and I ran on.  Soon I was feeling a little better about the run.  My legs were not complaining at all, and my breathing was really not that bad. I saw a lady running toward me wearing a bright green Boilermaker t-shirt. Regular readers may recall that I have run the Boilermaker 15K.  I thought it was cool that we were both wearing running shirts.  She called a friendly good morning.

“Good morning,” I returned.  “We’ve got to get out while the gettin’s good!”

“It’s still hard!” she said.  I felt a little better to think she was having a hard time too, because she looked to be in marvelous shape.

My run ended up going better than I expected.  I ran for 22 minutes on Saturday and missed Sunday (because I wanted to sleep in AND go to church), and did not intend to go a whole lot further than 20 minutes.  Then I thought I could go a little further than 20 minutes.  I would see how far I went.  As I approached my street, I started thinking I could actually go for 30 minutes.  All I would have to do is go past my house.  It! Could! Work! (That’s a line from Young Frankenstein.)

On my street, I heard footsteps behind me.  It was my new friend in the Boilermaker t-shirt!

“You’re faster than me!” I said.

“It doesn’t feel like it!”

“At least we’re out here! That’s the important thing!”

“That’s right, we get 100 percent for that!”

“Eat some ice cream later!” I called as she went past me.  She agreed wholeheartedly.

As I walked down the street for my cool-down, I saw her walking towards me with a man and two dogs.  I used to always walk my cool-down with Tabby.  How I miss that!

When they got close enough I said, “I have got to get a dog so I can walk with him after my run!”

“Yes, the cool down!” she said.

“Get a rescue!” the man said.  “Always a rescue!”

“Definitely!” I said.  I WILL get a rescue.

I kept going straight down my street instead of around the block, because I saw another man walking a dog and thought I might be able to pet her (it turned out to be a her).  He pulled the dog up a handy driveway and told her to sit as I approached.

“Can I pet your dog?” He said I could, and she nicely sat while I petted her.  What a good dog!

So it was a not bad run.  I petted two dogs, exchanged remarks with another runner, and went further than I thought I would.  And I’ve already written my blog post for the day.  I say it’s a good start to my holiday Monday.

 

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Scattered Halloween Movies?

Posted on August 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is that dreadful moment on a Saturday when you know you must make a post but you have already started drinking and are not at all sure you have anything to say.

So what else is new?  At least I have had a fun Saturday, so I will attempt a Scattered Saturday post and hope it does not sound too foolish.

I got up at a sort of normal hour (for normal people, which we all know I am NOT one of) and went running.  After a shower, some food,and an attempt to return to normalcy, I wrote a few postcards and walked to the post office to mail them. Steven nicely walked with me.  It was lovely weather and a lovely walk with my husband.

Much later, I got together with my friend Kim.  Our original plan was to go to Ilion Little Theatre to look for costumes for Shattered Angel, the play being presented by Herkimer County Historical Society in cooperation with Ilion Little Theatre.  Instead we went to New 2 You Consignment Shop in Ilion where we each found some great things for ourselves.  It was fun.

Then we picked up my husband Steven for a wine tasting at Ilion Wine and Spirits.  After some sipping and buying we went to downtown Herkimer.  We got a couple slices at Papaleo’s Wise Guys Pizzeria and took them to End Zone Pub across the street.  We had a delightful time eating, drinking, and chatting with folks.

Now we are home, watching Halloween movies while I make my blog post.  The best thing about that was a Freudian typo of “Scatterday” instead of “Scattered Saturday.”  I may use that next week. In the meantime, Happy Saturday, everyone, and I hope you are all enjoying Halloween movies soon.

 

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Running From an Unhappy Body

Posted on August 24, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I ran two Saturdays ago, found out I could not run the 14K I has been aiming for, did not run for a week, ran last Saturday, then did not run again for four days.  This is no way to train. In my defense… oh, never mind what my defense is, just believe that I have one, maybe not a good one, but you can’t have everything.

Where was I?  Ah yes, about to make a Running Commentary post.  It probably won’t be a long post, because it was not a very long run.  But, hey, I broke the four day streak of not running. I call that a worthy accomplishment. Let us not contemplate its degree of worthiness as compared to other accomplishments which I did not achieve, but let us continue with the blog post.

I got home and right away got into running clothes (I said I broke the streak, I didn’t say I went streaking). I also gathered a load of laundry, which is my other accomplishment for the day.  I did not plan to run very long, 20 to 30 minutes sounded good.  I put the laundry in the washer and set out.

And right away my body was unhappy.  Well, of course it was unhappy.  It had not been running regularly for two weeks.  That is, I had not been running regularly for two weeks.  There was nothing for it but to have an unhappy run and hope for better in the future.  My plan had been to run down German Street to Main Street.  Turning down Main, I usually make a big square, going down to Albany Street, then over to Caroline and back up to German.  I was not very far down Main when I decided to turn right sooner.

Through the little park by Basloe Library to Prospect Street.  Should I cross immediately and go past the Do Not Enter sign to enter Bellinger Avenue?  I do like to Enter where it says Do Not Enter.  Or should I go through Meyers Park?  I opted for the park. For one reason, I could cross Prospect Street at a four-way stop, which would be safer.  However, before I reached the four-way, I saw a tree casting shade across the street.  I crossed the street in the shade and felt clever.

It actually was not a thoroughly unhappy run.  My legs eventually settled into it and felt pretty OK.  My breathing was never great, but I was never gasping for breath or having a VCD attack (that is Vocal Chord Dysfunction, a thing I get when I overexert). I ended up last for 22 minutes, my favorite number.  The cool-down walk felt even better, as it usually does.  And I felt really pleased with myself that I went at all.  For one reason, I knew I could make a Running Commentary blog post.  It makes a nice change from posts about I Just Can’t Make A Good Post Today.

 

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Waiting for the Chocolate Shake

Posted on August 19, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

One should have made one’s blog post earlier (one being me).

I am sitting with a paused movie in my DVD player while my husband, Steven, runs to Stewart’s to get us a couple of chocolate shakes.  If there was an ice cream place on our side of State Street (which is Route 5), we could have walked for our treat, but then I would not be typing in my post, so I guess everything has its advantages (I don’t think that is a run-on sentence).

My first intention was to do a Running Commentary post this morning.  I fell off the running wagon in a big way this week.  You see, I had an awesome long run last Saturday and was all set to register for the Falling Leaves 14K in Utica, NY, on Sept. 23.  Luckily I talked to my mother first and found out a big family thing had just been scheduled for that day.  Family first!  I had not been running since.  In my defense, that was not the only reason. I had a bear of a busy week (didn’t even get all my stuff done), and the weather was SO humid.  As regular readers know, I am prone to heat injuries (which really are a thing, so quit shaking your head) (you know who you are).

Where was I?  Ah yes, nowhere but still trying to make a blog post.  I went for a short(ish) run this morning.  Steven and I went to a couple of places in Little Falls: The Old Barn Marketplace and Ruggiero’s Trattoria.  We came home, and I took a nap.  Sorry for even more whining (then again, I do always say go with your strengths), but I had a terrible headache.  It is finally easing off, so Phew!

Here are the shakes!  While I might not be any great shakes at blogging (see what I did there?), I will enjoy this!  Steven is re-starting the movie (Double Indemnity, one of my favorites!), so I am going to call this a Scattered Saturday, hit Publish and drive on.

I just happened to have an illustration in my Media Library.

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