Tag Archives: weather

I’m Running Again!

Posted on May 11, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Saturday Running Commentary is back!  I am running again!  I know, I know, some people never stop, even if they are in a play.  Well, I can’t live up to every standard, even the ones I set for myself.  As it happens, I was not going to start running again today; I was going to content myself with a walk.  However, after a cup of coffee and some solitaire (with an actual deck of cards, OF COURSE), I thought I would give it a try.

It was 46 degrees out, above the temperature I usually go with shorts and short sleeves, but having not been running for at least a couple of weeks (I did not torture myself by figuring out the exact amount), I went with leggings and long sleeves.  I put on a wide headband to cover my ears.  I figured my ears were likely to get cold.

Right away things did not feel so good.  I was prepared for that and hunkered down for a slow, easy run.  Which way should I go?  I saw a woman walking across the road from me on German Street so turned in the opposite direction.  I did not need to see a walker outpacing me.  About a block ahead of me was a man walking two dogs.  I wanted to pet those dogs!  I doubted I would catch up with them.  Then, too, I did not recognize the dogs as any I had petted previously.  You can’t pet just any dog.  I always ask permission first.

As it happened, they crossed Caroline Street before I caught up with them, and I turned down Caroline.  That was OK.  The way my body felt, it I stopped to pet a dog, there was no guarantee I would start up again. But I persevered.  Eventually my legs stopped complaining.  My breathing was not too bad at any point.  That meant I was setting the right pace, I think.  Or maybe it was too slow of a pace, but I prefer not to second guess myself about these things.  Yesterday I got quite out of breath walking up the stairs at work carrying my bag with my lunch, notebook, etc.  I think it is a good idea I started running again.

It occurred to me that one reason the run was not completely horrible was that I have been successful at taking off a few pounds.  Not as many pounds as I want to take off, of course, but I have been doing better lately than I have in previous months.  Let’s hear it for salad! Let’s do a little better in laying off the treats!

I ended up running 24 minutes and walking 11 for my cool-down.  I really like my cool-down walk.  For one reason, it feels AWESOME to walk after running, and I drink water, which tastes SO good.  Additionally, I feel it enhances my progress toward my weight-loss goals.  I figure after running, my metabolism is all kicked up, so that walk burns more calories than it otherwise would.  If you are an expert at these things (or think you are, because you read a Facebook meme), and feel this is not the case, kindly do not disillusion me.

So I have made a blog post Saturday morning.  If I make another one before the end of the day, I will be back to one blog post behind.  Hey, that could happen.  After a good run, I feel I can do a lot of things!

 

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Finally a Mid-Week Run!

Posted on April 11, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Running Commentary post instead of me whining about how tired I am and I can’t think of anything to write anyway?  If it doesn’t work out, we can always call it a Wuss-out Wednesday.  I’m flexible like that.

I surprised myself by going on the run.  I had spent the day trying to psyche myself into it, mostly to have something to make a blog post about. Naturally I was tired at the end of the day, and confirmed in my decision NOT to run the Boilermaker 15K.  So it didn’t MATTER if I didn’t run, did it?  Well, I suppose it never matters to anybody except me.  At any rate, when I went upstairs to take a shower, I realized I did NOT feel like taking a shower.  For some reason, running felt like less trouble, so I sought out a couple sports bras and got ready to go.

It was sunny with clouds out, cool air, especially when a breeze blew.  Still, it didn’t feel too bad in leggings and long sleeves.  I could rock this.  I was glad I had gotten myself out the door.

And then I was sorry, because my body did NOT feel like running.  Well, what a surprise, after a full day at work.  I have not been running after work in a while.  I need to get back into doing it on a regular basis.  I reminded myself that I only require myself to do 20 minutes on these mid-week runs.  Then I remembered that on my weekend runs, the run only started to feel really good after 20 minutes.  What’s a slacker to do?  Just keep going, I thought.  However far you go, you go.

As I ran, I noticed that other yards were not covered with crappy brown, flat, old leaves, like mine is.  It snowed before I finished raking, although I did make attempts last fall.  Had these folks been more ambitious last fall or this spring?  We did have a lovely weekend, during which I was too busy with a murder mystery and rehearsal to rake.  I admired a few Easter decorations and wondered in a vague sort of way when I might have time and ambition to do something.  Not in time for Easter, probably.  Still, I could put some fake flowers in the box on my front porch (it gets too much sun for the real thing).  I passed one house who had a nice display of those.

I only passed one dog, which I asked to pet.  The guy walking her told me the dog was scared of people, which she demonstrated when I put my hand out for her to sniff. She did give me a quick lick, so I contented myself with that and ran on.

A couple was sitting on their front porch, something I am looking forward to doing.

“I’m going inside to take a nap!” the man told me.  “You’re making me tired!”

“As soon as I get home, I’m taking a nap,” I assured him.  In fact, I have not napped yet, but I foresee an early bedtime.

I ended up running 22 minutes.  I can’t say things felt a whole lot better as I ran, but I persevered.  The cool-down walk felt wonderful as usual.  The chocolate milk recovery beverage was even better.  Yes, that is one reason I run: the promise of chocolate milk afterwards.

As usual with Running Commentaries, this has been my longest blog post in a while.  Has it entertained?  I hope so.  Tomorrow will be another hasty pre-rehearsal post so no promises.  But I hope you are having a lovely mid-week.

PS.  I did take a shower.  I knew some of you were concerned when I said earlier that I didn’t feel like it.

 

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Walk to Wuss, it’s Wednesday

Posted on March 28, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had such high hopes for today.  I was going to walk to the post office, to mail something.  I was going to take my Tablet and take pictures along the way.  Alas, the sun defeated me.  I couldn’t see the screen for the glare.  I tried to get one shot.  I haven’t even checked yet if it turned out.

It does not look as striking in photo as it did in person.

Why, look, here it is.  I got my Tablet and found it.  It took me a minute, being me.  This was just a little way down my street.  A block or so later I saw a tree with some buds on it and thought, Score!  Well, I still couldn’t see the screen but was pretty sure it was in Selfie mode, and I couldn’t get it out. Just now I confirmed it WAS in Selfie mode, so at least I did not take a stupid picture of myself.  Anyways, I said to hell with it and took my walk.  I will have to do the walk and picture thing on a more gloomy day, which is my preferred kind of weather in any case.

In the meantime, blog posts must be made (because they are not there) (see what I did there?).  In the spirit of Wuss-out Wednesday, which I am indeed having, I will take this opportunity to announce that I have decided I will NOT be running the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY this July.  I just don’t have time to run as much as I need to with all these rehearsals.  Perhaps I would have time if I trained really hard after the play, but I can’t take that pressure.  I like to start early and build up slow.  This way, I can run purely for my own exercise and entertainment, which is what I like.  I’ll think about Boilermaker 2020 next year.

I somehow feel that I should have more than one picture.  Hmmm….

A toast to Wuss-out Wednesday?

This is a rehearsal shot from A Trivial Murder, the murder mystery we presented this past Saturday to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I think they are actually toasting a dead guy, but let’s pretend they are toasting me.  Now I think my Wuss-out Wednesday is veering into Non-Sequitur Thursday territory, which is ironic, since I am actually posting this on Wednesday (by my own clock if not my WordPress timestamp).  I’d better quit while I’m ahead.

 

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Back on the Running Wagon

Posted on March 3, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I fell off the running wagon this week.  Judge me if you must, but I had my reasons.  OK, there were no reasons and if there was they were probably a stupid reasons.  Never mind that.  I ran this morning, and it felt pretty darn good.

Yesterday I counted shoveling the driveway as my exercise.  I thought a half hour of walking back and forth carrying shovelfuls of snow was exertful enough (what do you mean, “exertful” is not a word, computer? Damn!).  In fact, I tried to take a walk later but only made it for 15 minutes, because my body was tired.  But that was then, this is now, and this morning, I decided to try a run.

It was almost 8:30 when I set out, because I had eaten around 7:20 (I checked my watch, knowing I wanted to wait an hour after eating).  It was only a banana with peanut butter and raisins, but I like to give myself every advantage.  It was below 30 degrees, so I wore leggings and long sleeves.  I added my road guard vest, because it made another layer and because I knew I would be running in the road.  Also, it gives me a pocket for my tissues.

There is more traffic than I like on a Saturday morning, but not as bad as weekday mornings or any afternoons.  I got to German Street and took my chances.  I had an idea to run up the hill by Valley Health.  As I ran, I rethought that plan.  I hadn’t run since last Sunday, I reminded myself.  Running at all was good.  I didn’t need to do hills yet.  I had spent a little time earlier in the week looking at a calendar and over-thinking my training plans vis-a-vis the Boilermaker 15K in July.  I should be fine, as long as I keep at it.  Then again, it is a good idea to be better than fine, because, as we all know, shit happens.

My last run was 25 minutes.  After taking too many days off, I did not think I would increase my time by the recommended 10 percent.  In fact, if I only did 20 minutes, I could still be in fine shape by July.  Well, just keep going, I thought.  See what happens.

It was cold.  My butt was cold.  My legs were cold.  My hands were cold.  But I kept going.  After a while my head got hot.  Fancy that!  I am not usually a hot-head.  I rounded the V corner at the high school and turned down Marion Street. I was tired.  After a while, I noticed I was running at a faster rate than my usual middle-aged shuffle.  I could slow down!  Then I wouldn’t feel so bad.  My body didn’t want to slow down.  How weird was that?  Eventually  I managed it, and it helped.

Almost 20 minutes into the run, I started to feel good.  Damn!  I could go 25 minutes!  I could go 28!  This was awesome!  I ended up running 25, to equal my last time.  After all, I didn’t want to be racked up for the rest of the day.  I felt pretty wonderful during my cool-down walk (the irony is not lost on me of having a “cool down” at 28 degrees Fahrenheit).  As it happened, I did spend a good portion of this day feeling tired. However, that might be due to the Sudafed I took for my stuffy sinuses.  No matter.  I ran, and now I’ve blogged (silly verb, that).  Happy Saturday, everyone!

 

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Who, Me? Exercise?

Posted on February 20, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Pedestrian Post instead of my usual Tired Tuesday?  For one reason, I went for a walk this afternoon.  It was not much of a walk, so I’m afraid this will not be much of a post, but one does what one can.

I have been determined to exercise more regularly.  Mostly this has resulted in me feeling guilty when I do not exercise.  If only guilt burned calories!  So I thought all day about what I would do to exercise.  My first plan had been to go to the YMCA.  Unfortunately, although I remembered work-out clothes, I did not bring a pair of work-out glasses.  YES, that is a spurious reason not to exercise.  In my defense, my new glasses are REALLY nice, and my face sweats a lot when I get on the elliptical.

So I started to think about how to exercise at home.  I would have to excavate the mini-tramp in order to run in place.  You see, in an house like mine, any flat surface that doesn’t move soon becomes covered with stuff.  Don’t judge me.  As I considered this fact, I thought, maybe I could incorporate exercise into cleaning.  I could march or lunge-walk around as I put things away.  I could do squats as I folded laundry.  I could write a blog post about it!  Maybe even a whole exercise book!  Sometimes I get a little extravagant when my mind wanders.

By the time I got home, I felt tired and discouraged.  All I wanted to do was sit on the couch.  However, I had noted that it was not freezingly cold out (what?  Isn’t “freezingly” a word?  I feel it should be).  I could, in fact, go running.  I was a bit concerned about the ice, though. Or was that just an excuse?  Then I thought: a walk.  A nice walk.  I could just about manage a walk.

So I went for a walk for nearly a half hour.  It was only uncomfortably cold when the wind picked up and was against me.  Yikes!  The ice was a problem at times.  If I had been trying to run, I’m sure I would have wiped out at least once.  Snow was also an obstacle, but plowing through snow burns more calories.  It also gets sneakers wet.  Note to self:  invest in a pair of winter boots.

Well, I am approaching 400 words, and for a Pedestrian Post, I have not said a whole lot about the walk.  However, as I observed in the first paragraph, one does what one can. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

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Short Scattered Saturday before Sweats

Posted on February 17, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh, I wanted to do a Saturday Running Commentary, but I just don’t feel up for it, so this will be another Scattered Saturday post.  If I can remember my whole day.  Well, I’ll just give the highlights.

I got up early, because we went to be early last night (the thrills of judge shows and true crime shows could not compete with the appeal of blankets and pillows, apparently).  After some coffee, Facebook, television news and solitaire (with a deck of cards on the floor, that’s how I roll), I realized I had to either eat or run.  I decided on the run.

The sun was up, but the temperature was below freezing.  It was high 20’s, so that wasn’t so bad for running, but it did nothing to melt the ice.  I ran in the road, in the middle of the road when I could get away with it.  The run itself was without mishap, but when I went to take my cool-down walk on the sidewalk, I landed on my ass after two steps.  It was a slow, stiff-legged cool-down walk after that, but I lived to tell the tale.

Back home, I wrote some post cards and called my Mom and Dad.  A family party was in the offing for later in the day, and I wanted to know if there was a plan.  Mom asked could I bring rolls.  I said I would take a quick trip to Heidelberg Bakery.  She said they did not necessarily have to be Heidelberg rolls, but what does she expect from Mohawk Valley Girl?  Of course I went for the local, distinctive product!

After being local and distinctive, I confess I went to the dollar store.  We were celebrating my brother’s birthday, and I wanted a gift bag and card.  I also picked up some party hats and favors, just for fun.  It was not until much later I realized I had forgotten to mail my post cards.  Rats!

We drove into Rome in the early afternoon.  We had a lovely time with my family, and the party favors were a big hit with at least some of those attending.  Now we are home and into the bra off, sweats on, wine drinking, movie watching portion of the evening.  Bring it!

 

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Tale of a Tired Tuesday

Posted on February 13, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am sitting on my couch listening to sleet hit the windows and somebody plow out the neighbor’s driveway.  They are taking a long time about it, I must say.  I am going to talk about the weather for my Tired Tuesday post.  “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it”  (said in an airhead tone of voice).

The weather people were threatening a winter storm for today.  I kept saying, ” They don’t KNOW, they’re just guessing.” Of course, it is a highly educated guess.  I don’t know as much as the weather people do.  My bunions are far from accurate, as are the headaches I get from barometric pressure (yes, I’m just guessing about that).  At any rate, it did start to snow right around 10 a.m., as predicted.

I told Steven I was going to come home, park in the street, and shovel out the end of the driveway so I could back in.  He said, “Come home, pull in, and come inside.”  I made no promises.  When I left work it had already switched over to sleet, rather than waiting till five or so as predicted (so you see the weather folks were not completely accurate).  As usual, I appreciated my perverse sense of humor which leads me to laugh at bad weather.  I giggled and chuckled even as it felt like sharp pebbles were striking my cheeks.

Wind had been blowing, so some cars in the parking lot were more snow-covered than others.  Based on my usual luck, I predicted my car would be one of the covered ones.  It was, but as I approached, I saw that somebody was already cleaning it off!  It was my work friend, Kathy, who usually parks near where I usually park.  Her SUV was already clear.

“What a sweetie you are!”  I started the car and grabbed my own brush.  My little car was soon clear. I thanked my friend profusely and got going.

The drive home could have been a lot worse. As it was, roads were either snow-covered or icy, mostly the former, so that was OK.  I knew I would do no shoveling when I got home.  Sleet is painful!  When I got home, Steven met me at the door, prepared to forcibly prevent me from shoveling if need be.  There was no need.

So this is the extent of my Tired Tuesday post.  I did not think to take any pictures of the snow outside before it got dark, so you must use your imagination, if you are so inclined.  In the meantime, Happy Tuesday, and I hope to see you all on Wuss-out Wednesday (or whatever kind of a Wednesday it turns out to be).

 

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One Must Begin Again

Posted on February 11, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I read somewhere that wintertime running is about maintenance, not necessarily improvement.  I told myself this as I finished a fairly short run this morning.  “It’s about maintenance,” I thought.  Then I thought, “My runs are about blog posts, weight-loss goals, health, and my own entertainment, not necessarily in that order.”  I had thought  doing a Sunday Running Commentary as I set out on my run.  I last ran a week ago and quite frankly did not feel like running today, but, as I said to Steven as I went out the door, “One must begin again.”  Then I thought, “That would be a good title for a blog post.”  So here we are.

We had a couple of days of spring-like weather last week, but I, perhaps foolishly, did not run then.  For one reason, my body was in its final throes of rebellion against 10-hour days.  I know, other people work longer days at more difficult jobs, and they don’t even complain.  All I can say is, that is them, this is me.  I was dead tired all week and not up to running through all the puddles which were the inevitable result of the warmer temperatures.  Today was cold, and it had been snowing.  Snow offers traction, so I thought.

Turns out I shouldn’t think so much.  I tried to run on the sidewalk and soon found there was a LOT of ice under the snow.  After my trailing foot zooped out from underneath me for the third time (luckily my weight was already established on my leading foot at the time), I went into the road, which was a little better.  And a little worse, because of traffic.  Sunday mornings are usually pretty tame traffic-wise, but I had waited till after eleven to run, hoping for a warmer temperature.  Well, the cars would just have to watch out for me; I was staying where I was.

I did not spend much time on German Street, which is one of the busier streets, but soon turned down Margaret. That was quieter, which was good, because it was also pretty snow-covered. I went for the barest part of the road and did now worry too much about staying close to the curb, except when I saw or heard a car coming.  It did not feel too bad, running along at my usual shuffling pace.  The air was cold, but you’ll have that.

My deal with myself was that I only had to run 20 minutes.  I can worry about building up when the weather is better.  If I worry about it at all. I mean, why should I worry?  Worry doesn’t burn calories or build muscle mass.  It is a quite useless activity.  I ran, I wrote a blog post.  Let’s leave it at that.  Happy Sunday, folks.

 

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Donation, Decongestant, and DVDs, It’s Scattered Saturday

Posted on February 3, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I almost forgot to make my blog post today. Isn’t that terrible?  Well, I will attempt a Scattered Saturday post.

It was COLD this morning!  Zero degrees, according to my thermostat.  I felt rather ill-used, since the weather reports had said it would warm up some today.  Still, I had a good reason to leave the house by ten this morning, so I did.  My car told me it was 5 degrees by then, which I was not happy about, but at least it was above zero.

My errand was a charitable one:  the Joe “D’Con” DeJohn Poker Run was happening in Frankfort, NY.  It is a snowmobile run followed by a spaghetti dinner with Chinese auction.  That is where I come in.  Last year I donated an afghan for the auction.  I had mentioned on a Facebook post I wanted to do that again, but I did not have my act together enough to call and arrange to do so before the fact (what, me not have my act together?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!).  I saw they had registration at The Brass Tack at 10 a.m., so figured I could drop the afghan off then.  I figured they would still take it

They not only still took it, they were expecting it!  They had seen the Facebook comment and thought I would drop it off. The people I saw were quite happy when I did.  There was never a better reason for going out in the freezing cold on a Saturday morning!

There was less reason for staying out in the cold.  I managed to stop at the drug store to get some decongestant that I wanted to take and stop by the post office to mail a few post cards, but then I went home to some warmth.  I did not stay more than a couple hours, however.  After a nap with my heated face mask (which I believe I have mentioned here before) and some food, I saw the temperature had reached double digits, so  ventured back out.

My goal this time was Basloe Library in Herkimer, NY (where I live, as regular readers will recall).  Steven had expressed a desire to see For Your Consideration, one of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries.   We have seen it once before and did not like it as well as, for example, Best in Show or A Mighty Wind, but lately both of us have though of giving it another view.  While looking at the DVDs, I thought of the Kenneth Branagh Murder on the Orient Express.  We have wanted to see that since before it hit theatres! I was delighted to find it.  I also grabbed a couple of Agatha Christie books and a biography of Rasputin (don’t ask me why; it just caught my eye as I went by).

After watching Murder on the Orient Express, we popped in our DVD of Deathtrap, and I am missing The Bad Seed as I type this.  It has been an enjoyable Saturday so far.  Not as lazy as last Saturday, not as ambitious as some.  I look forward to seeing what next Saturday will bring.  Or even tomorrow.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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Too Tired Today

Posted on January 30, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I was kind of proud of yesterday’s post:  pictures, commentary, local stuff…  But perhaps I flatter myself. No matter, today’s post is going to be foolish.  I am tired!  Yes, it’s Tired Tuesday!!! (fanfare, please)

No, I never thought it was Friday; I just like this picture.

We got lots of snow today, and more is falling.  I had to brush off my car after work.  I drove home and parked in the street while I shoveled the driveway.  More accurately, I removed one layer of show.  I did not hit bottom and I knew more was to fall.  But one does what one can.  I did not take too long about it but still had to brush off my windows when I went to park my car.  At least I backed in, so I have a better shot at getting out tomorrow.

Preview of coming attractions.

This was not today; it was the results of a previous storm.  I hope this is not what we wake up to tomorrow, but, as the great Fats Waller said, one never knows, do one?

“What is it? I’m a little busy here.”

And I throw in a picture of Nosferatu just for good measure.  I did mention this is Tired Tuesday, did I not?  Just as an aside, my laptop is acting up lately.  It keeps going blank for no reason.  It turns back on, then I have to log back in, bring up WordPress again, and most of my blog has usually been saved.  It happened a few times during my typing of yesterday’s opus.  It happened once so far today. I’m going to quite while I’m ahead.  I hope to see you all on Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

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