Tag Archives: running

Nowhere to Go But Up

Posted on July 28, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not been running enough lately but did not feel I could use that as an excuse to not run today. Steven left for work at 6:20 a.m. I left at the same time.

I turned toward Steuben Street, thinking to go up that hill. Full disclosure: I could not remember the name of the street till I got to it and saw the sign. That’s how little I’ve been running lately, because that is a usual Saturday morning run for me.

As I turned down German Street the sun was right in my eyes. How annoying. At least I could see the sidewalk a few feet in front of me, so no danger of tripping and falling on my stupid face. At least, less danger. I’m so clumsy I guess there are no guarantees. However, I reached Steuben without mishap (making a mental note of the name) and started up.

Who remembered that the hill was so steep and long? Not me! Oh no. There were only a couple of opportunities to turn off. Should I take the first, easier one? No! I was going to be tough!

What the hell do I have to be so tough for? I thought that hill was going to go on forever. The sidewalk ends pretty quickly and there is no shoulder to speak of. Traffic is light early Saturday morning, of course, but I encountered a few cars and trucks. Most of them at least crossed the center line for me. I suppose I can’t expect them to slow down much as they are going downhill. I at least gave them the little thank you wave for getting over.

Since, as I mentioned, I have not been running enough, I could not quite remember how far up the tough girl turn-off was. Around this curve? No. The next curve? No. Oh dear. Lots of curves on this road. Was that a hoof print in the gravel? Any observation to distract myself is useful. I looked around for deer, which you occasionally see on that road.

I started looking through trees to my right. You can see the road you turn on to through them before you actually get to it, and that’s kind of an encouraging sight. No far nothing but trees. Darn. Wait, surely that was the turn off? No, just a driveway. Well, I was certainly toughening myself up, wasn’t I?

At last! I could see the road I wanted through the trees. Now it was only a question of where the damn turn off was. The sharper the angle, the longer till I got to the turn. Damn, it must be a V! At last I reached it. Aaah!

And remembered that after a very short down-slope the road goes up again. What’s that all about? I felt so ill-used. And annoyed with myself for forgetting that little detail. No matter, I told myself. It was not all that steep an up-slope, and it was a quieter, residential area. I admired a few houses. I didn’t think I remembered any dogs on this stretch.

Then I was on the down-slope again. Which I had forgotten was so steep! It’s a little scary going down a steep down-slope. My husband, Steven, tells the story of running down a hill when he was a kid and being unable to stop. I suppose if it was a race I might throw caution to the wind and see how fast I could get. As it was, I leaned back and took advantage of gravity without letting gravity take control of me (how’s that for a sound bite?)

It was actually a pretty good run. I even encountered my friend, Nicky and his person when I got back on German Street. Naturally I stopped long enough to pet Nicky (such a good dog) and exchange greetings with his person. As Tabby graciously walked my cool-down with me, I felt pretty terrific. I might even run another hill tomorrow.

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First Summer Run

Posted on June 23, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I hope it’s not too soon for another running post, but after all, Saturday Running Commentary.

The hot weather arrived just barely in time for summer in the Mohawk Valley, so I sensibly got out early. It’s a good time to run anyways, because of less traffic. I hoped it would be an enjoyable run, especially since I spent a good portion of yesterday feeling quite awful. I had high hopes.

It seemed to go pretty well. I almost didn’t run any hills but decided I could handle the one out Main Street. Well, that part wasn’t much fun. At one point I could have stayed sedately on the left side facing traffic, made a 90 degree turn at the proper place and continued on the left side of the street. Instead I cut across the center of the intersection, feeling like quite the rebel. In my defense, there were no cars in sight or hearing.

I passed the house where I’ve seen — and pretended not to see — the lady in her nightgown letting her dog out. Neither she nor the dog were in evidence, so I took the opportunity to admire her black wrought iron lawn furniture. Not so comfy to sit it but oh so decorative, especially with a pot of red flowers on the table.

As I ran down the hill back to civilization, I heard a vehicle behind me. I wasn’t worried, because I was left side facing traffic this time. He would be on the OTHER side of the road. Well, that (insert bad word of your choice) in a pick-up truck (to add insult to injury; I love pick-up trucks) was straddling the center line! What was his excuse for that! Early though it was, I thought it was a little late for him to be still drunk from partying last night. Then again, what do I know?

Back in the village proper I stuck to residential streets with sidewalks. Plenty of four way stops when I had to cross a street, but not much traffic anyways. When I went to cross Prospect, I started to slow down to let a car at the stop sign go, but the lady waved me on. I gave the thank-you wave and hurried across.

“You go, girlfriend!” yelled the lady in the car. I think I recognized the voice as a lady from Curves, but I kept running so did not check.

When I got closer to home I saw Nicky, one of my canine friends, out walking with his person. I picked up the pace and crossed the street.

“I have to pet Nicky,” I said. “He’s such a good dog.”

“How’s your dog?” asked his person.

“Oh, she’s a sweetie. I’ll be taking her for a walk in a bit.”

“Before it gets too hot,” she said.

I agreed and ran on. Tabby was happy to accompany me on my cool-down walk. I felt terrific. I think I sweated out all of yesterday’s light-headedness. If only I don’t get another sinus headache as the day wears on, my life will be perfect.

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Practically the Middle of the Night

Posted on June 21, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know I’ve used the headline “Running in the Dark” before, which is too bad, because it’s what I did this morning, and I thought I’d write a blog post about it.

I haven’t been getting any overtime at work lately, which means I get up at a perfectly human 5 a.m. instead of 3:30. This morning, however (Thursday), my husband Steven pulled a 6 a.m. shift, which meant he wanted to get up at four. I’ve been trying to run either Tuesday or Thursday (I do Curves Monday, Wednesday and Friday) (yes, yes, I KNOW I ought to run Tuesday, Thursday and at least a couple of Curves days; what kind of miracles of dedication do you want from me?). It was supposed to be hot on Thursday, plus we had a Mohawk Valley adventure planned.

Still, I can’t say it was a no-brainer to go running in the morning, because I actually expended quite a bit of thought on my plan. I would sneak out of bed at 3:30, leaving Steven and Tabby (our dog) (I add for the benefit of newcomers, if any) to sleep on. When I returned from running to take Tabby on my cool-down walk, that would be Steven’s 4 a.m. wake up call. Perfect!

The first thing I realized on stepping out the door was that it was cold. However, I was sure this was a relative feeling. Once I got going, I’d be fine. After all, earlier in the spring I opt for shorts and short sleeves as soon as it hits 40. This was probably somewhere in the 50s.

As I started down the sidewalk, I realized something else. 3:30 a.m. is still, for all intents and purposes, the middle of the night. What was I doing running in the middle of the night? It’s scary to run in the middle of the night! I told myself there was nothing to be afraid of, and I’m pretty sure I was right. I would stick to well-lighted streets with plenty of respectable-looking houses.

I started looking around for lights on, just to feel less lonely. After all, some people have to get up at ungodly hours (like those lucky punks at my job that are getting overtime). There was a light. Probably only somebody’s bathroom light left on all night, I thought, discouraged.

Then I remembered something I read years ago in The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It was when he was making a disreputable living breaking into houses. He said if you’re going to leave one light on all night to discourage burglars, make it the bathroom light. After all, at any point in the night somebody might possibly be up to visit the bathroom. I wondered how a burglar would know which room was the bathroom. Then I figured he had probably cased the joint.

Thinking about hypothetical burglars kept me occupied for a couple of blocks. I continued to look for lights. There was a television. That could be up early or insomnia. I almost never get out of bed when I have insomnia, although I sometimes turn on the light and read a book. A flashlight is better, because it’s not too much light. Light wakes you up, and that doesn’t really help insomnia.

I tried not to think about how early it was. I felt a little sad when I realized the sun was not going to come up while I ran. I heard a bird. That made me feel a little better.

I ended up being really happy I ran. For one thing, I felt certain I could get a a blog post out of looking for lights and that reference to Malcolm X.

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I Guess They’re Not Really Suburbs

Posted on June 15, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I begin my Saturday with many things that I need to or want to do (no point in being overly dramatic and saying I HAVE to do all these things). Running and writing my blog post are near the top of the list. With the newly re-instated Saturday Running Commentary, I saw the chance to multi-task (my computer wants me to not hyphenate that, but I like the hyphen).

Of course, if I had one of them there smart phones, I could truly multi-task and post while I run. I know a fellow who at least makes Facebook posts while he runs. I am unlikely to do any such thing, even if I do ever upgrade my cellular experience. Never mind, I ran, enjoying my in-the-head narration, and now I am sitting at my computer, trying to remember the best parts for your entertainment.

I had a minor crisis before I even left the house of not being able to decide where to run. I’m not running for very long yet, so that limits my choices. I’m trying to run hills, so I can build up. Finally I decided on the hill by Valley Health, then perhaps some minor upgrades in the suburbs beyond.

At least, I call them the suburbs. It is just a purely residential area without sidewalks. None of the houses look very old. That is, not over 50 years old, I guess. That’s young in house years. I don’t really know from houses. Just that there are none of the huge old mansions I enjoy walking by in the village proper.

As soon as I left the house, I was aware of my hips. I felt like my love handles must stick out at least a foot in each direction. It made me think of some rather unsavory PSAs I sometimes hear on WVHC which postulate people’s body parts falling off due to increased exercise. I think they’re really gross. In one traffic is stopped due to somebody’s big old hips (or is it butt?) in the middle of the highway. In another a guy’s double chin falls off into the soup on a first date. That’s nasty! I know from experience that is NOT how weight loss happens. Yes, I KNOW they’re trying to make a point. Their point loses its impact by being anatomically impossible and they make at least me stop listening with these disgusting mental images (or perhaps I suffer from too vivid an imagination).

That was a long paragraph. Oh, there is one of those PSAs that I find completely realistic. A man calls a radio station to dedicate good-bye song to a relationship that didn’t last. It was with his big belly. He started doing things like taking the stairs, and they “started seeing less and less of each other.” THAT’S healthy weight loss! Thank you!

Unfortunately, thinking of all that while I ran only kept me occupied for a couple of blocks. I tried to feel happy about the definite upgrade as I ran out German Street. After all, more effort is a good thing. I ran by the turn to Herkimer County Community College (HCCC), the hill to which I aspire, and thought, maybe in a week or two. The hill by Valley Health posed no problems, and I ran on into the residential area.

I have always thought that many of these areas are laid out based on a plate of spaghetti. None of the roads are straight and they intersect each other in a strange, unpredictable fashion. It makes for an interesting run if you are not familiar with the area. Since I have not run there since last fall, that was me.

Yes, I got a little lost. I turned down a couple of streets that had a slight upgrade then went back in the direction I thought Valley Health was. Of course nothing looked familiar. Then I realized the street I was on came out nowhere near where I thought it did. Oh dear. Try this way. At last I saw Lou Ambers Drive. Yes! I know where that goes! The funny thing was, when I got to it I realized I was on the opposite side of it from what I thought I was. How did that happen? No matter, it was pretty obvious which way to turn now. I headed for home.

I suddenly see that I am over 700 words, and I thought of a lot more things to say about this run. I even left out some stuff about what happened so far! I could make a joke about being pretty long-winded for running out of breath so easily, but I actually have not had a problem breathing when I run for a while now. Instead, I’ll just end with the image of me headed home. Good run, long post. On to the rest of my Saturday!

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It Is Friday, After All

Posted on June 15, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just wrote (typed, really) a paragraph that I did not find too despicable, then realized I have probably said something quite similar on previous Lame Post Fridays. Perhaps several times. Oh dear.

A long time ago I instituted Lame Post Friday as a way to relax myself and celebrate the weekend. I had recently gone from a job with retail hours to a Monday through Friday job. The thrill of Friday has never quite worn off.

Ooh, that raises a potentially lame topic: When one has a Monday through Friday job, is the Thrill of Friday outweighed by the Drudgery of Monday? And for some people, the sadness begins on Sunday. I’m sitting here trying to think of a descriptive noun for Sunday. Not the Dread of Sunday, because that sounds like we’re dreading Sunday when we’re really talking about the Dread of Monday on Sunday, and that’s just not symmetrical enough for me. I’ll work on it.

In the meantime, I’ll finish out the post with something that amused me on a run that did not make it into the blog post. This will not only be amusing, it will make up for not having a Non-Sequitur Thursday yesterday.

As I ran through Myers Park, I wondered how “Myers” was spelled, in case I wanted to mention it in the blog post. I saw the sign that told how the space was previously a cemetery but the bodies were moved to make it a park. That naturally made me think of the movie Poltergeist, particularly the climactic scene, which I found quite hilarious, with Craig T. Nelson yelling at the real estate guy, “You son of a bitch, YOU DIDN’T MOVE THE BODIES!!!” While rotting corpses surged out of the mud. It was cool.

And that’s my post for today. I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

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Oh, All Right, I’ll Run

Posted on June 12, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Whenever I can’t think of anything else to write about, I tell myself, just go running after work and write about that. This has the added advantage of encouraging me to run. I do like to run, but there are days it’s just not that easy to get started.

Today was one of them. I sat at work and looked at the rain. When I had seen rain in the forecast, I had decided that if it did not rain, I would run. If it rained, I was off the hook. I later thought that if I left work and it was raining, I would be so happy I didn’t have to run, I would do Shawshank Redemption (you know, how in that movie Tim Robbins stands with his arms outstretched in the middle of a downpour because he is so happy that… well, I don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t seen the movie).

As I was about to leave work I mentioned this to a couple of co-workers I usually walk out with. Previously when I had been debating whether or not to run, one of them had said, “Go an extra mile for us!” I had said, “I’ll be sure to do that! If I go,” thinking I would not. Incidentally, I did run that day (it was last Thursday) and later told my co-workers I had run the first mile for them.

Today, one co-worker happily pointed out that it had stopped raining. When I got outside, I said, “Oh, no, look, it is so raining!”

“It’s just misting! You can run!”

“Yes, but Tabby won’t want to walk my cool-down with me. Then I won’t get my cool-down.” Surely any excuse would do.

“The rain will cool you off!”

“Oh, all right, I’ll run. But I won’t go an extra mile for you two!” They agreed to the stipulation.

Let me tell you, the run was not that great, whoever I was running it for. I felt like I was dragging my ass along. I was a little surprised I didn’t actually feel it hit the pavement. I told myself, a little grimly, that I could be happy that at least I was able to drag my ass along. Talk about a small favor to be thankful for!

It stopped raining, so I debated incorporating that into my headline. That kept me distracted for at least a block. Then I admired some well-kept houses, especially with flowers in the front lawns or in flower boxes. One house with a severely overgrown lawn. Now Steven doesn’t have to feel so bad about ours. Some lovely porch furniture. Wouldn’t it be nice to be sitting on a porch right now? Well, if the seat was dry.

For part of the run my legs felt quite macaroni-ish, but I persevered. For one thing, walk or run, I had to get home somehow. Running takes less time. Not a whole lot less the way I run, but what are you going to do?

I ended up running for the same length of time I ran on Sunday, so I thought that was pretty good. I had set out with the idea that I would just run. I would be happy about it even if it was a very short run. Well, I don’t know that I exactly feel happy now, but there is a certain satisfaction.

With the run if not with the blog post, actually. I realize I left out a lot of the blow-by-blow narration that was running through my head at the time. I suppose that is always the case or it would be a dauntingly long post (for you as well as for me). But is the stuff I put in as good as the stuff I left out? I suppose we’ll never know.

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Sunday Running Commentary

Posted on June 9, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Headache gone, no rain, no ideas for a blog post, everything was encouraging me to run this morning. I was alert and ready to find stuff to comment about.

It was good running temperature when I started out, not too warm, not too cold. I wanted to cross German Street and run up the hill out Main Street. Traffic was against me. Well, two trucks, anyways. What was that all about? At quarter after seven on a Sunday morning! No matter, there’s a four way stop at the intersection of Main and German.

Hmmm… no traffic now. Should I cross in the middle of the block or wait for the crosswalk? I decided to wait. Sure enough, a car reached the intersection at the same time I did. The nice lady driving waved me across. I waved “Thank you,” and she waved “You’re welcome!” I thought as I ran on that she probably thought she should encourage a middle-aged bald lady to keep running.

Then I wondered if she had noticed my bald head at all. For anyone just tuning in, last Sunday I participated in a St. Baldrick’s Day event. They shaved my head after I went around asking family and friends to donate to children’s cancer research. My Facebook profile picture is bald now, too. My mom told me that a cousin had noticed it and asked if I was sick. Well, the hair is growing back already, so I probably won’t startle anybody else.

Up the hill at the end of Main Street. The sign says it is a dead end, but a pedestrian can get through. I continued up the hill a little longer but took the second opportunity to turn off. Phew! I am working up to running the hill at Herkimer County Community College (HCCC). That is a major hill, which I used to run on a weekly basis, just to be cool. My friend Phyllis brags on me, “She runs up the hill to HCCC!” So I think I’d better start doing it again.

Oh, downhill is nice. I enjoyed the downhill part. I saw a lady in a nightgown taking her dog out for a business meeting in the yard. She quickly turned back towards the house. I pretended not to see her, being that she was in her nightgown after all. I was distracted by a profusion of peonies in a yard across the street anyways. I love peonies.

I ran on, admiring various porches with decorations. Hanging plants, nice porch furniture, little statues. I saw a very nice carved bear in a front garden. It was chained to the porch. I didn’t blame the people for that. Ooh, there was a big lilac bush. Must get me some lilac shoots. My sister who lives in Marcy has some. It takes a few years, but eventually I, too, can smell the lilacs.

My run did not get too uncomfortable till towards the end. My strength was giving out. Well, sinus medicines often have a detrimental effect on your body, and I did take some stuff yesterday for my headache. I persevered and made the time I had set for myself (ten percent longer than I ran last weekend, per advice from the guys at The Sneaker Store in New Hartford, NY).

Walking my cool-down with my schnoodle Tabby felt great. I had worked up a sweat while running, but the cool breeze through the stubble on my head was nice. We saw some neighbors who Tabby particularly likes setting up for a garage sale. Tabby insisted we stop and chat. At least, the people chatted, the dog got petted.

I was glad I had gone for my run. I looked at my week ahead to plan further runs. That hill up to HCCC is mine!

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The Return of Running Commentary

Posted on June 1, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have missed my Saturday Running Commentary. In fact, I’ve missed running. I keep picturing particular streets I used to run down and thinking, “Damn.” I have no excuse for stopping when I did. And the reason I stayed stopped for so long is simple inertia: an object at rest tending to stay at rest. In my defense, I was busy with a play, and then I got sick, and I have been going to Curves. Oh, I know, excuses, excuses. Let’s get on with the post.

That was a long first paragraph. I usually don’t do that.

Where was I? Ah yes, about to run. I got up Saturday at 4:30 a.m., actually earlier than I have to get up for work. My husband Steven has an early shift today. I thought, perfect, I’ll run as soon as he leaves. It’ll still be cool and quiet. I followed this plan.

Previously when I have written about running, I haven’t liked to say how long I run. I’m worried it’ll hurt my street cred. But today I thought, others who run similarly short times may feel encouraged. And those who are apt to point and laugh are probably going to do so regardless (you know who you are).

I hadn’t done anything week before last due to being sick. This past week, however, I returned to Curves and put in three workouts. That’s about 30 minutes of fairly intense exercise. I thought, therefore, that I could probably run for 30 minutes. After all, I do not run at an intense rate. This could work. I set out.

And almost immediately wondered if after two months off (two months? Eek!), running for a full half hour was the right thing to do. Maybe 15 minutes would be better. After all, start slow, build up. Isn’t that the right way to do it? And how about my original plan to run up the hill by Valley Health? Surely one could start out with a level run and feel good about it.

I decided to compromise. I would run the hill at whatever slow rate seemed good at the time. As for total run time, I would see what happened. 15 minutes would be acceptable. 20 would be better. If by some weird chance I made 30, well, woo hoo for me. I wouldn’t expect such miracles.

The weather report expected a scorcher today. Or maybe a steamer. You know, humidity. In any case, by 6:30 this morning the sun was up and I was soon feeling the heat. That was OK. It wasn’t too bad, especially when I could find some shade. I was going to rock that hill.

It wasn’t much fun at first. German Street goes gradually uphill as you approach Valley Health from my street. You wouldn’t think these subtle upgrades would be a problem, but I was really feeling it.

I saw another runner coming towards me, on the road. I was on the sidewalk. I prefer to run on the sidewalk away from cars, but I sometimes feel a little self-conscious about it. It seems like “real” runners run in the road. I pondered what made a “real” runner (yes, I put in in quotes in my head as I thought about it). I waved when we passed each other. The other runner said good morning in a perfectly friendly fashion.

Up the hill. Oof. I made it. Only seven minutes into the run. That was good, right? Now I was all done with hills for the day. The run got a lot more fun after that. Well, maybe not fun, but at least I reached the “I can rock this” stage.

I went for 23 minutes, followed by a 12 minute cool-down walk with my schnoodle Tabby (she won’t run with me, but she loves the cool-down walk). I thought that was pretty good. It’s a rebuilding year for me. I had no thoughts of running the Boilermaker anyways. All I really want is to be in 5K shape by the DARE run in August. I can rock that.

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Oh, For a Bare Sidewalk

Posted on February 27, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had planned to run today, and that was good news for me, because I did not have a blog topic and a run is almost always good for a post.

Was that a run-on sentence? I have a tendency to write these long sentences, then claim it is not a run-on sentence and invite doubters to diagram it and see. So far nobody has called me on it.

I put on my running clothes as soon as I got home from work, not allowing any time to talk myself out of it. I had not put out my running clothes last night, which would have been a good idea. However, I haven’t folded laundry the last couple of loads, and that was almost as good.

It was warm this afternoon. The forecast said 40. I didn’t check any thermometers, but it felt a little colder than that when I left work. Still, not frigid. I put on leggings and a long-sleeved t-shirt but not sweatshirt, hat and mittens. I was also hoping for some bare sidewalk.

It was a silly thing to hope for. Why, just the other day I was writing about Steven jumping over puddles. Did I think they had evaporated that quickly? They had not.

I skirted the long ones as best I could. Into the mud to get around this one, into the snow for that one. Watch out for that ice! Can I leap over that one? Splash! My feet got a little wet.

As I ran, I seemed to be moving very slowly. But at least I kept moving. Eventually I found whole stretches of bare or almost bare sidewalk. Bliss! I even looked around at some of the houses, envying screened in porches as usual. On one open porch I saw a row of red wooden Adirondack chairs. I’d like to get some cool furniture for my deck or front porch. Then again, I look forward to sitting outside even if it’s on dining room chairs I haul out the front door.

I ran for as long as I ran on Saturday. I even picked up the pace a little at the end. Not a full out sprint, which would have made me breathe funny. But I lengthened my stride and almost achieved that athletic lope I so envy in other runners. At least I told myself that was what I achieved. Perhaps it looked quite different to an impartial observer.

No matter. I ran, and that’s the important thing. I burned a few calories and got a topic for a blog post. Now it’s time to start pondering what I could possibly find to write about tomorrow.

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Running Commentary to the Rescue

Posted on February 24, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I started running again earlier this month but have not been having a great success of it. Among other things, the weather has turned against me.

Just as a side note: I feel a great resistance to including that last sentence. It is quite true that it got extremely cold and many people do not run in extreme weather. Yet when I admit that I am one of them, all I can see in my head are people giving me disdainful looks and getting out miniature violins.

But, you know, I think those people only live in my head, and I’m going to kick them out. I think most actual, non-head-living people can respect others’ choices to run or not to run. I know I would rather applaud people’s accomplishments than denigrate their shortcomings, especially when “shortcomings” means “failure to live up to arbitrary standards set by unreasonable people that live in their heads.”

Well, that was a digression. I had meant this to be a straight running post. I guess sometimes I can’t help but stray into a little half-baked philosophy.

Be that as it may, I decided to run today because it had passed 1 p.m. and I had neither hide nor hair of a blog post. I thought, “Running Commentary will come to my rescue!” (Oh, wait a minute, that is a much better title than “Well, I Had to Write About Something”)

As soon as I made the decision, I felt better. I have missed running. At odd moments I will suddenly think of a street that I only see when I run down it. I miss those streets! Then I think I MUST start running again and continue to work and build myself up, because most of those streets are not a short jaunt from my house (I see those streets all the time).

I got dressed, reminded my schnoodle Tabby that she doesn’t like to run with me, and set out.

The temperature was above freezing, and I could see a few raindrops in the puddles. The snow on the sidewalks was mushy but not yet slushy. I can understand why some people run in the road, but I choose not to. For one thing, on days like this it would have to be the middle of the road or I would be running in puddles. I took the mushy snow.

“It burns more calories,” I told myself. “It takes more effort.” I continued to make the effort.

As I went, I had to think that I probably did not look as if I was running at all. Slogging through the snow, dodging around the puddles — ooh, bare pavement! Awesome! Watch out for that ice. I did not look around and observe houses and yards, as I enjoy to do when I run. I figured it was a good way to end up on my butt if I hit some ice or ankle deep in water if I encountered a puddle.

Some of those puddles were like reservoirs, the snowbanks on either side making effective retaining walls. I confess, I was two blocks beyond the deepest puddle before I came up with “retaining walls.” At first I thought “dams,” but you don’t usually have a dam on either side of a reservoir (and, yes, I said, “Damn!” when I stepped in the reservoir). Well, I like anything that adds interest to my run.

It was really a pretty good run. I added a little bit to the length of time I ran (I always run for a certain length of time rather than a certain distance). I even kind of sort of sprinted at the end. At least, I lengthened my stride and picked up speed. It was awesome! My legs felt long, lean and powerful! I hoped I didn’t hit any stray ice.

Tabby graciously walked around the block with me for my cool down, as usual. When we were almost all the way around, the rain turned to snow and got heavier. How clever of me to get my run in before winter returned.

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