Tag Archives: running

I Can’t Be Tired! I Have Rehearsal!

Posted on March 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh it is a Tired Tuesday post.  It is SUCH a Tired Tuesday post.  What, I must ask, the hell is the matter with me?  I did not follow my new habit of posting early in the morning.  In my defense, I was working on an article about a Herkimer Town Board meeting for the Sentinel Media Company (I think I have mentioned my side hustle covering valley meetings for them).  Then I did some other stuff including a run (it was a pretty good run).  Now I guess I’m just being a big fat baby brat (that is an old expression of my late husband’s, invented before he even met me).

Where was I?

Not so random picture.

I have rehearsal tonight for Prescription: Murder, the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre (perhaps you read some of my other blog posts about it).  I have gone over my lines a few times, saying them out loud.  I was unable to do that for a while, due to the cold I was suffering from.  I need to get that mouth muscle memory going on.

A rehearsal for my big scene.

Earlier today I had some breakfast at the Java Shop in Herkimer, just to give a shout-out to a local business.

Must get a better picture of the sign.

Looking back at the day, I do not see why I should feel so tired.  In fact, I feel a little better now that I have completed my blog post, which I feared I would not do since I missed doing it this morning.  I guess it hasn’t been much of a blog post, but there is every chance I can do better tomorrow.  In the meantime, I think I have time to go over my lines again.

 

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When In Doubt, Add Coffee

Posted on March 14, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

And now my headache is back.  I begin my Lame Post Friday Post with a whine.  It is too early yet for wine, which might help my headache but could also cause a worse one tomorrow.  Ah, the trials and tribulations.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I go put on coffee.

I had tea instead of coffee earlier this morning, which is usually fine.  I had a headache, which got worse after I ate breakfast and took some Migraine Relief (with the magic ingredient caffeine, as a boss of mine used to say).  After lying down for a while, my head felt better, so I went for a run.  I did not run yesterday due to a back ache (YES all I do at my age is feel pain in various parts of my body.  Either you know what I am talking about or you eventually will).

Where was I going with this?    What a dull, boring post!

 

The inspirational bumble bee.

I looked for a more exciting picture to pep up the post and found this from The Mustard Seed in Little Falls, NY, thus adding a shout-out to a local business.  The bumble bee is part of their logo, because of the story that aerodynamically speaking, the bumble bee should not be able to fly, but somehow does.  Thus, the owner of the Mustard Seed never lets anybody tell her what she can and can’t do but somehow does what she does.  I have not been to the Mustard Seed in a while, but it is a very fun place to shop.  There are several fine places to shop in Little Falls.  I must take a drive there soon.

Don’t I look like a little devil?

I close with the wine I mentioned in the first paragraph.  I was wearing that shirt and drinking white wine yesterday, but my hair does not look like that these days.  I started to grow it out when I knew I was going to audition for the play I’m in (perhaps you have read my blog posts about that).  It will probably not stay long.

However, this blog post has gotten a little long for a Lame Post Friday post, approaching 400 words.  And I think the coffee I put on earlier is done.  Can headache relief be far?  In any case, I thank you one again for tuning in and hope I have managed to be at least mildly entertaining.

 

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Running Commentary Is Back! I Hope

Posted on March 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday began what is supposed to be a stretch of warmer weather in the Mohawk Valley, so I threw caution to the wind (which had died down) and went running for the first time in months.  I didn’t really throw caution to the wind; I just thought it would be funny if I added the parenthetical comment, since it has been so horridly windy lately.  In fact, I dressed appropriately, stretched a little before I ran, and ran at a pace suited to conditions.

I ran in the road, although in general I prefer sidewalks.  You just can’t count on people driving to notice little old ladies like me.  OK, I’m not so little, but I may go on the South Beach Diet, and with that and running, I may shrink.  Not Incredibly, like the guy in the movie, but somewhat.  Anyways, the roads were pretty much bare, and I tried to stick to the quiet ones.

I didn’t Map My Run but relied on my Garmin, which I tended to look at a lot, hoping for encouragement. It really didn’t feel too bad to begin with.  The frisson of virtue that I was finally running and the delight of almost springlike weather helped.  I had it in my head to run for 20 minutes.  As my body started to get a little tired, I thought I would at least do a mile, because that would probably be 15 minutes.  YES, that is a damn slow mile; one has to start somewhere!

At one point, I saw a lady walking down the sidewalk toward me.  When she got closer I asked, “Can you tell I’m running or am I too slow?”

She laughed and assured me I was doing great.  My first mile was indeed over 15 minutes.  By that time I was still at least five minutes from my house, so my 20 minute goal worked out fine.

Me feeling good about myself.

Since I had not Mapped My Run to share on Facebook, I took a selfie for my Facebook Friends’ entertainment.  Naturally I had to share my triumph on Facebook.

And now I have shared my triumph with my blog readers.  I plan to run again today.  I feel more Running Commentary Posts are in my future!

 

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Interval? Fartlek? Anyways, I Ran!

Posted on November 27, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

As I finished my run this morning, going past the house twice to make sure Map My Run agreed it was two miles, I said to myself, “This is great!  Two Mile Tuesday is back!”  Then I said, “You idiot, it’s Wednesday,” echoing Boris Karloff is one of my favorite Tuesday memes.

Tee hee!

In fact, it is like a Friday for many, because they have the rest of the week off for Thanksgiving.  I was euphoric when I finally had a job that gave me that perk (or is it “perq” short for “perquisite”?  Discuss amongst yourselves).  But I have covered the vagaries of three day weeks in this space before.  Right now I was hoping to make a Running Commentary.

I got up early, because I went to bed early last night (Tired Tuesday, remember?).  I thought I would do something different and go running right away, even before I had coffee.  For one reason, it was not raining. It was pouring yesterday morning, so I did not run, although I took a nice walk later. On Monday’s run, I started experimenting with interval training, that is, interspersing my normal slow shuffle with bursts of greater speed and effort (why did autocorrect capitalize “greater”?  And why does my computer underline “auto-correct”?) (OH, it wants a hyphen.  Who knew?) (Oh you probably did) (you know who you are) (but I digress).

Actually, from what I learned in the army, there is interval training and fartlek workouts (tee hee, I said “fart”!).  In interval training, your slower and faster periods are set; for example, on a oval track, sprint the straightaway, run slower on the curvy parts.  In fartlek, things are more irregular: “You’ll sprint till I tell you to stop sprinting!”  Of course, this may have been just some sergeant’s definition.

Oh, according to Google, it is unstructured!  I looked it up to make sure I was spelling it correctly. Also, it is meant to be fun.  I’m sure that wasn’t part of the sergeant’s definition, but I will certainly remember it the next time I put on the old running shoes!

Anyways, I ran for just over 30 minutes, doing a kind of a sprint about every five minutes. I say a kind of a sprint, because with my speed or lack thereof, an unbiased observer might not have recognized it as a sprint.  I would decide to sprint to a certain point, a telephone pole, a corner, that sort of thing, looking at my Garmin at the beginning and end.  My sprints lasted from ten to twenty seconds.  I figure that gives me something to build on.

I am thinking I will try to do the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls Dec. 14.  Regular readers may remember that I have done it before; it is a fun event put together by good people, the Rock City Runners.  I may not be in quite the shape I like to be for a 5K, but I could stretch a point.  After all, as I have often said, round and puffy is a shape.

 

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Because I Felt Like It

Posted on November 22, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

AAAaaand we’re back to late blog posts.  My computer does not like the way I spelled “And,” but it is the way I said it in my head.  Also, we learned in junior high school English class never to start a sentence with “and,” “but,” or “because,” so ha ha on two counts.  I am in a kind of a rollicking mood this morning, and I intend to make a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.

It’s not hump day either.

I looked for a random photo and decided on this camel from the Utica Zoo. I guess the picture would be more appropriate for Wednesday, so you can see what a rebel I am.

These signs should be posted on my mind.

I searched for a while to find a “Do Not Enter” sign.  As regular readers know, whenever I am walking or running and encounter a sign that says “DO NOT ENTER,” I enter.  It makes me feel like a rebel.  Oh, I know, they are talking about vehicular traffic, not old ladies plodding along at whatever pace I can manage.  Give me a break; I have to get my chuckles where I can.

Herman is horrified that I am making my Thursday blog post on Friday.

I cannot make any promises about making my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  Then again, I rarely make promises (but I often make typos) (I say that because it took me three tries to type “promises”) (but I digress).  I see I am approaching 250 words.  What, oh what, can I come up with for a headline?

 

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I Try to Run Away from Depression

Posted on November 6, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a run this morning and thought to do a Running Commentary Post.  Full disclosure:  I was trying to run away from the depression that threatens to overwhelm me. In the immortal words of Young Frankenstein:  It! Could! Work!  (If you do not get the reference, I encourage you to seek out Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein) (I would really like to insert a picture of Gene Wilder, which I know is somewhere in my Media Library, but I do not feel up to searching for it)

I set out before breakfast but after coffee.  My legs were almost immediately shrieking at me, “We didn’t sign up for this!”  I reminded them that they did too sign up for it (at least, I signed them up which is practically the same thing), that they had run for 30 minutes two days ago and walked for longer than that yesterday.  To no avail.  They impersonated overcooked macaroni for the entire run.  However, if nothing else, I know how to persevere.  To an extent.

I couldn’t blame him for taking a good look.

It was soon clear this was not going to be a 30 minute run.  However, I encouraged myself to at least make it a mile.  Maybe even 20 minutes.  All I wanted was to sit down.  I ran through Meyers Park, wondering if I shouldn’t just go home from there.  I have a picture of Meyers Park in my Media Library, I thought.  It will look good in the blog post.  Then I thought I could run past the post office and up to my beloved Herkimer Historical Four Corners.

Oh, my body did not want to! But through persuasion and stubbornness, I kept going.  I thought of cutting through parking lots in back of my four corners, to make a shorter run, but then I thought, No!  Run by the 1834 Jail and let Chester Gilette take a good look!  After some internal debate, Chester won.  I didn’t even cut a small corner and run over the memorial bricks which help finance jail restoration (note to self:  I must sponsor a brick in honor of my late husband, Steve).

So the run was just over 20 minutes, about a mile and a third.  Chester was the only picture I could readily find in my Media Library, so my blog post only has one illustration.  However, I see I am approaching 400 words.  It is much easier to type than to run, but then, I only have two legs but I have ten fingers.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Ten Finger Typing Again!

Posted on November 5, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

My Chromebook is charged again.  Phew!  I confess I am in a very wimpy state these days.  The slightest setback slays me.  However, I move forward as best as I can, sometimes one sloggy step at a time.  The Chromebook thinks “sloggy” is not a word, but I find it apt.

Previous loves.

I thought this illustration was appropriate to my title.  I do not really have much to say other than, Yay!  I got my Chromebook back!  I had thought yesterday to make a Running Commentary Post. I ran for 30 minutes, covering about two miles.  That was my longest run since this last time I re-started running.  I may actually be ready for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls, NY in December (preview of coming attractions).  I have no hopes of the Turkey Trot but no real desire to do it anyways.  I will be with family on Thanksgiving.

Coffee makes everything better!

Yes, I am still using Halloween mugs.  I find it difficult to let go of spooky season (oh, let’s be honest:  I never let go of spooky season!  I’ll probably watch a vampire movie later!).  However, as I am fond of pointing out, we can only move forward (even if it is one sloggy step at a time).  I intend to try for more Mohawk Valley Adventures in the coming days.  Maybe I’ll start this morning with breakfast out.  I realized early on in the blogging game:  it is always a good excuse to do something fun!

 

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Current Run, Old Selfies

Posted on October 24, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had thought to do a Running Commentary Post this morning, as a change from Pedestrian Posts.  I thought of it while I was running.  Unfortunately, I did not run by any places I have pictures of in my Media Library.  Ever since I started putting pictures in the blog, I hate to have a post without one.  Then I thought, I’ll take a selfie after the run.  That will do.  I forgot to.  There is no point in taking a selfie now; I ran almost three hours ago.  I’m showered and dressed.  Anyways, my phone is across the room charging.

A selfie after a run four years ago.

I am not very photogenic.  In October 2020 I took a challenge to exercise for 34 minutes every day for 34 days to raise awareness for the 34 million Americans who suffer from diabetes.  As part of the challenge, you were supposed to take a selfie and post it on Facebook with some information about diabetes.  I did not take 34 selfies, but I took a few.  Also, some days I walked instead of running.

Today I ran for just over 20 minutes.  It felt pretty good.  Before I ran, I said to myself, “I don’t wanna run!  I’m not gonna run!”  Then I put on my gear and ran anyways.  It felt pretty good, surprisingly enough.  It was still dark when I started out, so I enjoyed seeing some Halloween lights.  As it got lighter, I could see other decorations.  Sometimes a good run involves distracting yourself from the fact that you are running.  Luckily I did not distract myself so much I tripped on the sidewalk and skinned up my knee. Yes, I have done that, the last time while walking.  I am not the most graceful creature on God’s green earth.

Also from October 2020.

I add a selfie where I look a little more cheerful.  My friend is Mookie Wilson, a bat my late, beloved husband Steve won in a claw machine back in the late ’80s.  My sister Diane suggested the name.  Mookie Wilson has hung on light fixtures in many of our residences over the years.

I guess I haven’t said a whole lot about my run, but I am over 350 words.  Score!  As always, I thank your for tuning in.

 

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Once Again, The Best Lame Plans…

Posted on October 19, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I really, truly meant to make my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  They say something about the best laid plans, but my plans are almost never best laid, so never mind that.  It is early Saturday morning, earlier than I have been getting up, so that is something different.  I always say I don’t like getting up, but I like being up.

And now I have the Type It In Backspace It Out Disease!  I even backspaced out “type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease,” because I decided to capitalize instead of hyphenate.  Which is better?  Please feel free to comment or just discuss amongst yourselves if you prefer.

Weren’t we beautiful?

I threw in a picture to pep things up, one I have shared and will continue to share.  It is the cast of Fabulous and Fatal, a murder mystery we presented in 2019 to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  It would be a good idea if I started writing more murder mysteries, ahead of the time when I actually have to start rehearsals.

Another kind of fabulous.

In searching for another picture to help along the post, I found this one from October 2020.  For once I was not too lazy to go back and look.  It is from a post I made about a walk in Russell Park I took with my sister Cheryl and her daughter Jenna.  That is Cheryl, posing on a bridge for a photo op.  I should give Cheryl a call and see if she is up for another such walk.

This is what I’m talking about!

I see I am over 250 words, so I close with another fall photo.  I don’t think this is as good a year for color as others (this pic is from 2022), but I am enjoying what I see.  I hope to take a walk or run later and see more.

 

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Tired But On Time!

Posted on June 26, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

At least it is the end of the day Tuesday.

I promised myself I could use this picture if I made my Tired Tuesday post on Tuesday.  Bribery often works with me.  Unfortunately, just because I log onto WordPress and start typing does not mean I have anything to say.  I know, when has that ever stopped me?

I typed that in (I once again quote Truman Capote: “That’s not writing that’s typing”) then could not think of another word to type.  Perhaps I should not have put both the play and dinner in the same blog post for Sunday.  Perhaps I should be having more Mohawk Valley adventures to write (type) about.

They were pretty.

I threw in a picture before I got any more bogged down in “shoulds.”   This is a shot of my Black-Eyed Susans from August 2018.  The patch has since overgrown with weeds and stuff.  Not a yellow bloom to be seen. I plan to cut the whole thing down and start over again.  Not today, of course, but possibly by the weekend.  Then I can have another Lawn Order post.

 

Where will the road lead me?

Another kind of post I have not made lately is a Running Commentary.  For one reason, I have not been running.  I hope to begin again soon.  In the meantime I have been walking every morning.  Perhaps a Pedestrian Post is in order.

For today, however, I am over 200 words.  It will have to do.  Full disclosure:  I have been fighting a vague headache most of the day, and I think it is winning.  However, it is the end of the day.  We shall see what tomorrow will bring.  I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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