Tag Archives: running

Wrist to Pitfalls

I had hoped to avoid a Wrist to Forehead Sunday today, but who knew I was going to get a sinus headache?  Oh, well, I suppose a lot of people might have guessed, since I seem to be plagued with them lately and can’t seem to keep myself from whining about it.

The thing is, I’m finding it a trifle difficult to write posts about my actual activities, because so many of them are Christmas present related.  I don’t want to let people know in advance what I’m giving them.  Oh dear, now I have admitted that I intend to give some people Christmas presents.  Now what if someone who is not on my list expects one?  This season is simply fraught with pitfalls.

I did go running this morning.  I did not go up the hill to Herkimer College, however, because it was still dark out.  There are no sidewalks on that hill, and I was not wearing anything reflective.  I seem to have misplaced the vest my sister nicely got me for my birthday two years ago.  Safety first for Mohawk Valley Girl!  Still, it was a good run.  I narrated in my head as I ran, thinking I could do a Running Commentary post in a pinch.  Unfortunately, I can’t seem to remember most of what I said.  Silly me.

Last night Steven and I continued our annual Christmas movie and special watching.  We can’t get through all our DVDs and videos before New Years, but we make a spirited attempt (oh, that was an unintentional play on words — spirited attempt, Christmas spirit, see what I did there?  It wasn’t on purpose).  I expect we will continue our seasonal viewing when Steven gets home from work, although I confess that part of me would prefer my usual Snapped marathon on Oxygen.

So that’s 300 words.  I call that respectable.  And I don’t think I went on too tiresomely about my headache, or do I flatter myself?  No matter, I’m hitting Publish.  I hope you’re having a nice Sunday.

 

Not Too Cold for Saturday Running Commentary

How about the return of Saturday Running Commentary?  I ran this morning.  I think I can comment on it.

I knew it would be colder today, after a week or two of lovely 40s and 50s.  For one reason, it was colder already yesterday after work.  I was running Christmas errands in my inadequate work outfit of summer BDUs, short-sleeved t-shirt and regular weight sweatshirt (there are reasons why that is my work outfit, so stop shaking your head in that superior fashion) (you know who you are).  This morning I looked at my thermostat, saw 30 degrees, and dressed accordingly.

For my birthday, one of my sisters gave me an extra warm pair of running pants.  I thought I would give them a try.  I found a long-sleeved Army t-shirt, added a hooded sweatshirt for good measure, put on winter running socks and my toque (um, as well as sneakers and sports bras, but they weren’t winter weight) and I was off.

Those pants are the bomb!  My legs weren’t cold at all!  My upper body was pretty OK with long sleeves and a sweatshirt, and my head and ears were OK in the toque.  This was going to work.  I felt rather jaunty.  Maybe I would run up the hill to HCCC (more properly known as Herkimer College these days).  The sun was up but traffic was still sparse.  I crossed German Street with no problem and headed towards the college.

Then I thought, I have a lot to do today.  I’ll run the hill by Valley Health and save the hill to the college for Sunday.  My plan set, I continued on.

And felt increasingly less jaunty as I went.  I did not really run enough this week.  Sunday, Wednesday and now today.  In my defense… oh, it doesn’t matter what my defense is, the fact is this was the hardest run I have had in a while.  My legs were distinctly unhappy with me.  No matter, I thought, just keep going.  As long as I ran at all, that was a good thing.  I could run 20 minutes and still benefit by it.  Maybe 25. I ran 25 on Wednesday, didn’t I?  Then I remembered it was 27.  Could I do 27?  Don’t think too far ahead, I told myself, just keep going.

I have previously noticed the gentle upslope of German Street.  Today it did not seem so benign.  Had it gotten steeper?  I tried not to think about it.  The hill by Valley Health was not much fun, and I had completely forgotten how the uphill trend continues after you turn the corner.  Quit complaining, I told myself.  It’ll be all downhill soon.  Except for the end of Graham Street, if I run there. Never mind.  Just keep going.

I waited in vain for the I Can Rock This stage of the run.  Still, one benefits from a Perseverance Run, as I like to call them.  I’m sure there are psychological benefits as well.  There would probably be even more psychological benefits if I didn’t spend so much of the run bellyaching about it, but as I observed in yesterday’s post, I can’t always do the right thing.

The cold was bothering my face, but there wasn’t much I could do about that.  At one point I put my hands on my cheeks in the Home Alone pose.  That helped, but it was awkward to run that way.  I probably looked less like Macauley Culkin than that painting people often use for wallpaper on their computers, I think it’s called The Scream.  One thing I appreciated about wearing a sweatshirt was that I could carry tissues in the pockets.  My nose was running better than my legs, as you might imagine.

Eventually I felt I had warmed up enough to take off the sweatshirt.  I tied it around my waist by the sleeves and immediately felt cold.  After a block or so, I thought, “Silly! Put your sweatshirt back on!”  So I did.

It was about 27 minutes into the run (I checked) that my legs began to feel a little bit better about it.  I suppose I must blame the cold.  I usually don’t warm up before my runs, because I figure I run slow enough that it can count as my warm up.  I think in the future on these colder days I’ll do some running in place and stretches before I brave the outdoors.  I imagine that is what real runners do.

As you may have guessed by the 27 minute remark, I put in a pretty good run.  I ended up doing 36 minutes, which is how long I ran last Sunday.  I shall take the liberty of feeling pleased about that.  I shall also feel pleased about completing my blog post for the day.  I’ve been getting a few other things done as well, so perhaps I’ll have a better post tomorrow than my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  As the great Fats Waller said, One never knows, do one?

 

That Street with the M

How about a Sunday Running Commentary?  For one reason, I can get it posted now and then get on with my Sunday, during which I should be getting a LOT of things done.  Oh dear, I’m feeling wrist-to-foreheady already.  Never mind, just get on with the post.

I didn’t run yesterday or Friday, so I really wanted to run today.  Mostly, of course, I wanted to stay in bed, but Steven was getting up so I thought I might as well get out there.  It was 49 degrees according to my thermostat, a perfectly good temperature for shorts and t-shirt.  I wore an ARMY t-shirt with a reflective doo-dah on the back, because the sun was not all the way up.  Safety first for Mohawk Valley Girl.  I mostly stay on the sidewalk anyways.

As I set out I thought briefly about running up the hill to Herkimer College (which I prefer to call HCCC) (pronounced H Triple C).  It is a big, impressive hill I like to run up at least once a week when I am in shape for it.  I do not believe I am currently in shape for it,  but maybe I could get into shape for it by doing it.  It would be nice to post on Facebook that I ran up the hill to HCCC.

I thought that I would like to do it before the end of 2015.  That gave me a little leeway, didn’t it?  I didn’t have to do it today, did I?  My problem was how long I’ve been running lately.  My longest time since I’ve been running again is 31 minutes.  I try to increase by a mere 10 percent each week.  That only put me to 34 minutes this week.  Could I get up that hill and back down in 34 minutes?  Perhaps, but only if I turned around and came back the way I came.  I like to run back down the back way.

Having talked myself out of that route, I decided to do my other Sunday run, up the hill by Valley Health, then to the high school, over a little bridge, then down and up streets till I got home.  I had done this run last week one day but not gone up and down the streets, because it would take too long.  Now I was running for a longer time. I could rock this.

The first street you come to after crossing the little bridge by the high school really seems more like a parking lot next to some athletic fields.  However, it is a real street called Frederick Street.  I took special note of the street sign this time.  Now I could run up Graham, down…  oh crap, what was the name of that street?

How dumb of a brain fart was this?  I run these streets ALL THE TIME!  I walk them, I drive them, for heaven’s sake, I live in this town!  The street begins with an M. I knew it began with an M.  I thought it was Marion.  Why did “Marion” all of a sudden not sound right?  I knew it wasn’t Mary, that was somewhere else.  Of course it wasn’t Margaret, Margaret was between Caroline and Henry.

So I had to go all the way down Frederick and up Graham before I could confirm that it was indeed Marion Street.  At the rate I run, that is a long time to feel stupid for not remembering the name of a street you’ve been running and walking on for over ten years.  On the other hand, I thought, I could put it in my blog post.  That would even give me a title.

Another good thing, pondering about the name of the street took my mind off how tired I felt while running. Full disclosure:  I drank red wine and stayed up late watching Christmas movies Saturday night.  In my defense, I was having a lovely evening with my husband.  And I did not let it keep me from running on Sunday.  Oh dear, I just remembered that last Sunday I was lamenting drinking wine and staying up late watching Christmas movies.  Is this what I’m going to do on the weekends now?

Well, what if it is?  I daresay many people drink wine, watch Christmas movies and go running the next morning.  I don’t suppose many of them forget the names of streets they are perfectly familiar with, but you know me, I just have to be different.

In any case, I ended up running 36 minutes, increasing my time more than the recommended 10 percent, but I don’t imagine it did me any harm.  I’ll go for the hill up to HCCC next Sunday, maybe even sooner if I get ambitious.

 

In Fact, Almost 300 Words

Well, this isn’t too bad after all.  I had a silly post on Monday, a Running Commentary on Tuesday, and a shout-out to a local business on Wednesday.  I can get away with a Non-Sequitur Thursday post today.  Oh who am I kidding?  I post as much foolishness as I write and rarely worry about getting away with anything.  I type, people read.  It is most convenient.  At least, I hope people read.

I went running again today but for once did not narrate in my head as I ran.  I had a headache all day with nausea in the afternoon and almost talked myself out of running.  The nausea had passed by the end of the day, and I can usually run with a headache.  I whined to a couple of co-workers that I didn’t want to go running.  Then one fellow expressed great admiration for my running.

“I don’t know how you run,” he said.

“Slowly and not very often,” I confessed.

“I wish I could run.”  Asthma prevents him.  After that it felt churlish not to run.  Additionally, the weather was unseasonably warm.  I could wear shorts and short sleeves.  Score!

But I didn’t mean to write a running commentary.  I see that in a previous paragraph I also complained about my aches and pains.  I did not mean to do that either.  Oh, I know, that is why they make the backspace and delete buttons.   But then  it would be a much shorter blog post.

Would that be such a bad thing, you may ask.  Possibly not.  My inner critic would agree, but I try not to listen to that bitch.  No matter.  I am well over 200 words, so I’m going to slap on a snappy title and call it a day.  Happy Thursday, everyone.

 

Now I’m Tired

I know you’re all waiting for a Tired Tuesday post in which I once again lament my inability to compose a real post.  However, I’m going to switch things up and offer a Running Commentary.  Did I mention that I went running on Wrist to Forehead Sunday?  Well I went running today (Tuesday) as well, and I’m feeling just a little pleased with myself over it.

The lying sacks — uh, I mean the forecasters who are only human and not omniscient after all —  that predict the weather told us last week that it was going to be warmer this week.  Each day the warm temperatures seem to move a day further away, reminding me of the signs you sometimes see in bars that say, “Free beer tomorrow.”   Of course tomorrow never comes.  Well, yesterday I said I would run tomorrow and that’s today and I did, so there.

It was a little colder than I like for running but I didn’t think it would be too bad.  I found leggings and a long-sleeved t-shirt.  I already knew where my toque was, because I had worn it to work.  I felt a little bad-ass going to work this morning in a short-sleeved t-shirt, regular sweatshirt and my toque.  I figure I’ll add the insulated sweatshirt when the temperature drops below 20.

I didn’t even try to talk myself out of running, and I did not employ any delaying tactics either.  It was shortly after four when I set out.  I foresightedly put a bottle of water and a sweatshirt on my back deck for use during my cool-down walk (my computer seems to think that foresightedly is not a word, but I thought it was).  I ran up to German Street and turned right, because I had turned left on Sunday.

Sunday when I ran it was still dark out, with the sun about to come up.  That is one of my favorite times to run.. You start in the dark and finish in the light.  Today the sun had not exactly set but had gone behind the mountains.  It was still light but grey.  Sometime after eight this morning when I left work to drive to an appointment in New Hartford it was almost dark.  I don’t mind a gloomy day.

Running did not seem too difficult at first, even after working a ten hour day (minus the time I was at my appointment, of course) (oh, maybe that was why running wasn’t too difficult, you think?).  I had thought earlier about running up a hill somewhere (there aren’t that many possibilities near where I live), but decided to take it easy.  I further decided that I would not to run too far.  This was strictly a mind-week maintenance run.  Anything over 20 minutes would be OK.  Even exactly 20 minutes would be acceptable.

I turned down Main Street, which I had not meant to do, but cars were turning and it was easier if I turned too.  Main Street is always interesting.  The new place that sells Greek gyros is open.  I’ll have to check that out.  I love gyros, although I believe I pronounce the word incorrectly.  They also offer souvlaki.  That I know how to say.

All the way down Main I went then took a right onto Albany Street.  Was I getting tired?  A little, but not too bad.  I didn’t think would go a lot over 20 but maybe some.  A few minutes.  There was no point in killing myself.  For one thing, I still had to write a blog post about it.

I admired plenty of Christmas decorations as I ran.  Not many lights were on yet, but I saw a lot of greenery and garland.  One window box sported a banner that read, “It’s Time for Christmas.”   And so it is.  I must get cards sent out and start working on presents.   Well, yes, I believe I did say that most of my friends and family are on the naughty list, as of course am I.  That has not kept any of us from receiving presents in previous years.

I ended up running 25 minutes by virtue of going by the house to the corner and back.  I was quite tired of running by then but decided to push myself just a little.  It didn’t kill me.  Apparently it has not even kept me from composing a fairly lengthy post about it, although I know I’m missing a few bon mots I thought of while I was running.  No matter.  If they were any good, they’ll come back to me for use another time.

 

Good Run, Dull Post

One week ago today I made myself a mental note to not take three days off from running again.  And you know damn well that is what I just did.  However, I ran today and it wasn’t too bad, so rather than dwell on my shortcomings, I offer a Running Commentary.

I felt pretty cool in today’s running outfit.  I found my leopard spotted long johns which I had worn to an evening appointment Tuesday.  This is how I get two wears out of my long johns and leggings.  The teal winter running shirt my sister gave me for my birthday was clean.  I discovered that one of the colors on my best running shoes exactly matches the shirt.  I put on a red headband for a little more color, and to cover my ears.

It was not too cold out.  Cold enough on my hands, but I could handle that.  It had rained earlier, so there were still a few puddles to run around or jump over.  Mostly I ran around them.  I don’t like to bounce too much when I run.

Some people had their Christmas lights on already.  I appreciated that.  I had neglected to turn on ours. I made a mental note to do that before Steven got home.  It is so nice to return home to a Christmas-lit house.

I did not feel too awful as I ran.  My feet hurt, because I had been on them all day for the past few days at work.  My legs felt tired for the same reason. However, one deals with these things.  I kept going.   I did not run very fast, and I did not go up any hills.  However, I kept going for 25 minutes, which was one minute less than I had run on Sunday.  I call that respectable for a mid-week run.

My only regret was that I had not put a sweatshirt out to wear on my cool-down walk.  The wind had picked up by that time and was quite sharp.  I thought briefly about skipping the cool-down but said to myself, “Oh, just do it.”  So I did.

 

Mohawk River Run

Instead of my beloved Lame Friday Post, I make bold to offer two Running Commentary posts in a row, because once again I ran two days in a row.  I’m just a little pleased with myself about it (happily glossing over the fact that I first took three days off).  Also, the setting of my run was definitely Mohawk Valley-ish.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am in Rome for Thanksgiving.  I had brought running clothes for two days but, as it turned out, not quite what I needed.  Well, who expects to wear shorts to run in November?  Yes, it happens, but one must admit, it is unusual.  No matter, my Mom loaned me a pair of shorts and off I went.

It was a little later than yesterday’s run; the sun was high in the sky, so I decided to check out the Mohawk River Trail. I picked it up off (I think) Culver Avenue (at least, one end of that street is Culver.  I suppose I COULD look it up before I publish this, but you know what a slacker I am on a Friday).  The trail head was clearly labeled, and there was a trash can at the entrance.  I always take note of public trash cans, for if I’m walking a dog and need to dispose of poop bags.

The trail is blacktop and wide enough for two or three to walk abreast.  I made note of that, because I thought I might be returning later in the day for a walk with members of my family.  Oh, I do love to be in the woods.  The trees were bare, leaves carpeted the ground, everything was brown and peaceful.  It was a cloudy, almost a gloomy morning, but my mood was anything but gloomy.  I could feel that I was running faster than yesterday, which you may recall, was faster than previously.  I’m thinking the reason was that I had been up for a while, drank coffee and eaten some toast and date-nut bread (protein in the dates and nuts!).

Just to interject another family note (it is a holiday weekend, after all), the date-nut bread was made by my sister Diane using my grandmother’s recipe.  Grandma always brought date-nut bread for Thanksgiving and Christmas; I am so pleased to have the tradition continued.  To add to the tradition (and the best traditions are built on over the years), my sister made the bread with her daughter, another sister and a niece, while having few drinks and a lot of laughs.  Laughs are a very important part of my family’s traditions.

Getting back to the run, I was enjoying myself quite a bit on the smooth, fairly level path.  I could see a few side paths that were not paved. I’m not sure if they were official or just used by some people, but I did not explore any today.  One led down to the water, possibly for a fishing spot.  The river was mostly visible through the trees, civilization less so. I was not sure where I was in relation to the City of Rome.  This did not particularly worry me.  I could always turn around and run back the way I came, but of course I didn’t want to do that.

There was a bridge in the distance.  Could I get there from here?  I had crossed a bridge to get to the trail so obviously would have to cross another to get back.  I was about half-way to how long I wanted to run for.  It was time to turn around or go another way.  Up a little bit of a hill, I came to a road.  Ah, but what road?  It did not look familiar.  Then I saw a sign for MVCC (Mohawk Valley Community College).  I know they have a branch on Floyd Avenue.   There was a sidewalk, to I got on it and turned in the direction of the bridge.

Things did not look completely familiar right away, but I was still pretty sure I was on Floyd Ave and headed in the right direction (I know it is more proper to say “Floyd Avenue” when I don’t have a street number, but we SAY “Floyd Ave” in conversation, so I make bold to say that here) (just a little grammatical digression).  Then things looked vaguely familiar, then I recognized stuff.

It was a lovely little run.  I went the exact length of time I went yesterday. Perhaps by Sunday I will increase it by the recommended 10 percent.  In the meantime, I’ll hit Publish and feel pleased with myself that I burned off some of the calories consumed at our Thanksgiving feast.  Happy Friday, everyone.

 

My Own Personal Turkey Trot

I had a dream last night in which I was walking down some stairs and my legs were killing me.  I explained to my companions that I had run for two days then taken a day off.

“Let that be a lesson to me,” I said.  Later on I woke up and went running.

I remembered the dream while running and thought, “You doofus, you didn’t go one day without running, you went three!  Don’t do that again!”  But I didn’t dwell too much on it, because, hey, I was out there moving.

I’m in Rome, at my parents’ house.  They suggested I run the Canal Trail, but since it was still dark I thought I would stick to the sidewalks.  The sun was mostly up by the time I got out the door, but I kept to my original intention.  It is always fun for me to run in Rome, because these are the streets I used to ride my bike on many, many years ago (you can tell me how many with a chortle if you so choose; I have no time to do the math).

I was quite the bike rider in those days.  It was just an old coaster with pedal brakes, but I loved it.  It took me everywhere.  It was not until much later in life I discovered the joy of gears, but we’re not talking about bicycles today.  I was on foot.

The first thing I saw was the full moon from last night.  A nephew of my husband’s used to call it the Moon-a-moolah.  It sure looked like a moon-a-moolah this morning.  I tried to run so I could keep it in sight.  The sky was grey and getting lighter.  I admired the bare trees against it.  I have a fascination with dead trees but lately have been appreciating the charm of live ones.  The limbs keep branching out till they are millions of thin twigs.  Such detail!  Really, Mother Nature is the consummate artiste.

Looking east I could see the incredible sunrise.  Streaks of pink — was that red skies at morning?  No, no, couldn’t be; we’re going to have a nice Thankgiving and take my sister’s dog for a walk.  I turned down a street looking away from the pink but going right toward the moon-a-moolah.  I clearly remembered some of the streets.  My favorites were always the alleys.  How cool would that be, to have your house on one street and your garage on the other?  Then I saw one with a screened in back porch and my envy was complete.

I didn’t exactly get lost, because I always knew the area I was in and I didn’t run that far anyways.  However, in Rome the streets often don’t come out where you expect them to.  No matter.  A couple of minutes added to a run do no harm.  I was running a little faster than I had previously.  I don’t imagine it looked like an effortless lope to anyone else, but at least I didn’t feel like I was plodding along.  Was it a trot?  No, no, I am never bouncy but strive for a smooth stride.  Still, I had thought to call this post My Own Personal Turkey Trot, in acknowledgement of the day.  Well, I still will.  For one reason, I can’t think of anything better.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

Is Jerry Lewis Still Alive?

I went running twice this weekend.  I could write a heck of a Running Commentary today instead of Wrist to Forehead Sunday, couldn’t I?  Well, maybe I could and maybe I couldn’t.  As Fats Waller famously queried, One never knows, do one?

Regular readers know I have been struggling to begin running yet again.  Yes, I have started and stopped running many times.  As long as I keep beginning again, I am reasonably content with myself.  After all, as I have often observed, beating oneself up doesn’t burns calories, build muscles, increase aerobic health or even keep one reasonably entertained for any length of time.  Running can potentially accomplish all of the above.

So I ran on Saturday and again on Sunday.  They were not great runs, more like plods, especially Saturday’s.  No matter.  I got out and did it.

And I really don’t feel like writing about it.

No matter, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday as well as my birthday.  I am now playing with a full deck, 52 years old.  I stole that joke from Jerry Lewis.  He used it at the beginning of one of his Labor Day Telethons, back in the day when it was quite the thing to watch the telethon.  Well, they say plagiarism is the sincerely form of flattery.  At least, I say it.

So that is my post today.  I told you I ran but didn’t tell you about my run, then I shared a lame, stolen joke.  And it took me over 250 words.  I’ll call that OK.  Gee, I hope I still have readers by tomorrow.  Happy Sunday, everybody.

 

Can’t Give You Anything But Wuss

Oh dear, it is SO Wuss-out Wednesday!  I am so tired now I don’t know how I’m going to get through rehearsal, which I have to leave for soon so I am REALLY rushing this post.  Steady, Cindy, steady.  You’re only the stage manager.  All you have to do is sit there with the book in your lap and feed the actors their lines as needed.  It is one thing to wuss out.  Let us keep our wrist off our forehead.

Where was I?  Ah yes, making a blog post.  I did start to write a “real” post while at work today, about another stop on the Saturday of adventures I had recently.  I need to look up a few more things about the place (preview of coming attractions).  I had planned to go running after work, so I thought I would make a Running Commentary instead.   Why do I even bother planning anything?

Oh, I did run.  If you could call it that.  It might even be good to write about my plod/shuffle/whatever-it-was.  For one reason, other runners may read it and feel a whole lot better about their own endeavors.  For another reason, it might be more humorous than my current whining.

It’s no use.  Right now I’ve got nothing but whine.  And I don’t dare have any wine or I will fall asleep for sure (no, I’m not an alcoholic, I was making a play on words with whine/wine.  Sheesh!).  All I can do is try again tomorrow. Thank you for bearing with me and Happy Wednesday to you all.