Still…

until probably Fall.

All social activities still cancelled. Missing my friends!!

Trying to get outdoors often so I do not go stir crazy in my Office (aka a room in my house). Always looking for new and interesting places to run or walk and practice social distancing. So far, I’ve been successful and haven’t run out of choices. This past week, I visited two more.

I signed up again for 6 more weeks…they are free so why not? Dreams Un-Canceled, Kindness Un-Canceled, Joy Un-Canceled, Community Un-Canceled, Perseverance Un-Canceled, Life Un-Canceled

And I actually chatted with some good friends this week (in person).

Last Week –

• Monday – A rainy day…at least no snow. It was a rest day but I wish I had gotten out before work for a walk because it wasn’t raining yet.  Fingers crossed for a break in the rain around lunch because the post work walk looked like a wash out.

It was raining and cold when I left the house at lunchtime so I wore a heavy coat and carried an umbrella. Since the trails would be too muddy, I walked around the neighborhood.

and then halfway through my walk, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Crazy weather! Hopefully you like flowers since this is what I will be posting all summer.

I was right, it was pouring when I finished work. Not able to visit a new trail today.  But after dinner, the rain did stop for awhile. Too muddy and late for a trail walk but I did squeeze in a chilly damp walk in town.

of course, more flower pictures.

• Tuesday – Cloudy, cool and WINDY but no rain.  My bi-weekly walk at lunch with my friend got canceled. I avoided most of the mud on the trail and had a nice solo walk.

lucky to have a safe and scenic place to walk right behind my house

Still windy after work but a little warmer and sunnier.  It’s always a dilemma on where to run to keep things interesting. I decided do my Un-Canceled 5k at Washington Park.

dreaming of running fast again on a day without WIND

I struggled with the wind but ran around the city first and then hit the park to finish up.

You can see those tulips blowin’ in the wind

I couldn’t leave the park before taking MORE pictures of the tulips.

unfortunately this won’t be the last of my tulip pics

• Wednesday – Hooray for some sun today.  Still windy (Come on, it’s May not March!!) Decided to take to the trails at lunch (after 2 days of NO rain) to see if the mud was passable.

too loops of Van Dyke preserve and not muddy at all

Then after work, I decided to check out the UAlbany loop since I had not been there since I started working from home.  Due to Covid19 testing there, I was only able to do a 3/4 loop so just added on the lake loop.

• Thursday – Finally perfect weather,  Sunny, warm, no wind and it was my REST DAY. I wish I had thought of getting up earlier and going for a walk before work. (Oh, you lucky folks who do not HAVE to work!!)

Today was my first real social day during this pandemic. First a lunch walk with my friend.

took a late walk and bumped into two former co-workers (on bikes) from the previous job. Small world.

Then after work my tennis friends and I gathered for BYO picnic in a park. We sat 6ft apart and chatted and ate. Can’t believe that is what my social life has come to but better than not seeing my friends at all.

Of course, my running friends and I continued with our weekly ZOOM chat.

• Friday – The second day in a row that it was nice before work and I wished that I had taken a walk.  It was another rest day (I don’t run the day before a LONG run.) Heavy rain and thunderstorm were predicted but I was able to squeeze in a short walk in the neighborhood after I dropped my car off for some maintenance.

the lilacs are coming. the lilacs are coming. Love how they smell.

Fingers crossed that the storms would hold off and I didn’t get caught in them as I  had planned to explore a new trail. Can’t believe that less than a week ago, it snowed and today it was humid and 85 degrees.

I decided to go to Hannacroix Creek Preserve.  The first trail went own to the River.

Then the second longer and hilly one went up to the water falls.

Got both hikes done and back home before the rain!!

• Saturday – The Steel Rail Half Marathon was scheduled for Sunday but I chose to run it virtually rather than on it’s new Oct 10 date.  That meant I could run it today since the weather looked better. I decided on the Corning Bike Path for my 13.1. It’s pretty flat. I lucked out on the weather. It was sunny and warm. I struggled (my feet hurt) but I took my time and walked when needed and got it done.

this may be my last virtual half marathon

After doing some errands, I got home in time for our blogger ZOOM Coffee Date.

always look forward to these chats

• Sunday – Our second spring temp day in a row. We were thinking of going boating as our marina opened yesterday. But the weather seemed to be cloudy, chilly and breezy. (Don’t trust the weather app. it turned out to be a very nice day.)

Instead my hubby went off to play tennis and I went for a long drive to check out a new preserve – Huyck Preserve. I chose to do the Lake loop and glad I did.This may have been one of my favorite hikes.

love waterfalls, obviously

When I got home, we went shopping for perennials since I decided that this year, I wanted to create a new perennial garden.  (My strength training for the year!!)

This Coming Week – 

• Monday – run
• Tuesday –  run, walk with BFF
• Wednesday – run
• Thursday – rest day, tennis picnic, running friends ZOOM
• Friday – rest day, mah jongg walk
• Saturday – LONG RUN
• Sunday – rest day, boating

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

Happy Running! How is your running going?  How is this virus affecting you and your family? Have you done any parking lot or driveway get togethers with friends or family? Please share.

May 15 can’t come soon enough…but will it be even longer?? Yes, it probably will…. It don’t see it ending for a long time. (NYS is now on pause until June 7!!)

Otherwise things are the same. All social activities still cancelled. Missing my friends!! But keeping in touch via ZOOM.

a hopeful message from my blogger friends (I’m sure you recognize most everyone)

Trying to get outdoors often so I do not go stir crazy in my Office (aka a room in my house). Always looking for new and interesting places to run or walk and practice social distancing. So far, I’ve been successful and haven’t run out of choices. I explored four new locations this week (up to 20 now).

Joined this group.  I’m a big ZOOMA fan after my Bermuda experience and it’s FREE!

my yearly goal is 1000 miles…already met a lot of runners thru FB

I think I’m postponing my birthday this year.  Why not?  Everything else is on pause lol

Last Week –

• Monday – Made the right call today.  It was sunny and calm when I got up.  The forecast was for increasing clouds and WIND. So I did my run before work for the first time since maybe last summer?

combined my neighborhood and the trails and was only a little late for work

That left me no pressure for two more walks.  Lunch time one nearby at the park

notice the mud and the change in outfit.. it was cold and windy

and after work for exploring a new trail. (#17)

I chose this one because it was not too far away. It was well marked but not as scenic as the others.

• Tuesday – A chilly breezy yet sunny day. Walked with my friend at lunch

took her to Van Dyke preserve

and then drove to the rail trail and COMMITTED to a Un-canceled 5k.

match my outfit to the theme each week.

• Wednesday – Believe it not, there was frost when I got up.  It did warm up in time for my lunch walk.  I decided to drive to the rail trail and then realized that it was farther than I thought and if I walked, I wouldn’t get much exercise so I ran.  Then I was too warm to run so I walked.

at least got in those flower pics..chose a road alongside the rail trail rather than on it

These days, if it’s not raining, I feel like running. Basically it is not overdoing it if you run slow and stop and take loads of pretty pictures.  So I drove to Washington Park and finished my lunch run and then of course, did a tulip progress check. The tulips,for the most part, were lacking (either no care due to the cancellation of the tulip fest or today’s hard frost). I did meet a running friend there so that was nice and got in some miles and quick pics.

• Thursday – I went for a walk again during my lunch with my friend

on the fit trail in the local park

and I had planned to run today as well since it was warm and the sun was shining. Of course, after work, the sun was not shining as brightly and it got very windy. Still it was warm and I wanted to go to Trader Joe’s so I decided to run at the Crossings.

excited anytime it is skirt weather and I bought myself FLOWERS at TJs.

Also had a double ZOOM chat with my local running friends.  This has become a highlight of my week. Miss running with them. I piggybacked on Miranda‘s collage message idea and created my own:

We support each other & can’t wait to bRUNch together again ❤ my “sole sisters”

• Friday – No lunch walk today due to a dentist appointment.  Yes, they are open once a week and have put so much in place to make you feel safe. (Now if only the nail salon and hairdresser would open…)

But even on a rest day I wanted to celebrate Ahmaud with 2.23 miles:

I was hoping that the rain would hold off so I could do it in a new location (#18). But with the rain predicted, I need to find a trail not too far away.  So I chose Papscanee Island Nature Preserve (about 20 min. away.) First I parked at the South entrance because the trail was a loop.

It was poorly marked if at all and the path along the Hudson was strewn with garbage

Then I drove to the North entrance because I wasn’t yet at 2.23 miles.

it was just an out and back, very flat and boring (good for running, though) so I turned around before the rain started.

• Saturday – MY BIRTHDAY. In recent years, I was either in Florida celebrating with my tennis friends or home, running a race and celebrating with a visit to the Tulip Fest (with my mentee and her sons) and then out to dinner with the hubby.

Well, obviously during this pandemic year, none of the above could be happening. And the weather (as usual) did not cooperate.  I woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground (many nearby places got a few inches), feels like 20 degrees and insane winds. I even decided to postpone my long run until Sunday.

That made it convenient to take a ZOOM yoga class for runners in the morning.  This month’s focus was on the hips. Very hard but worth it.

So as I said above and to my hubby, I am postponing my birthday celebration to a nicer day when I can go up to the lake and eat outside (with others) in the sunshine.

But when you work from home all week, crappy weather or not, you want to escape (at least I do) so I dragged the hubby on a road trip.  South cuz I thought it may be a little warmer.

First was Artists Falls (about 45 min. south)…not sure if we found it because it was not labeled as such but it was near the Clove Inn so maybe.

I was freezing and it snowed on and off…the trails were a little too technical but the waterfall beautiful. (new trail #19)

On the way home, I spotted another waterfall which was even more impressive – near Tumbling Falls House (c1880).

no trail just a BnB

And when we got home, I needed to stop and get my FREE birthday Starbucks which just happened to be not far from another preserve that had a waterfalls.

even colder and more snow, I’ll return here when it is warmer – for more pics and videos, check out my IG posts @dsc59 (new trail #20)

So my coldest birthday ever… dinner out and cake with family and friends TBA

And thanks!! I do appreciate all those who remembered and called, sent me cards or online wishes. ❤ you all.

But I do have to add today one of my favorite memes:

• Sunday – Often, it’s a Mother’s Day 5k but today it was a Mother’s Day long run. I decided to taper and only run 8 miles. It was a really nice running weather day – at least in the morning… I was still thawing out from Saturday so overdressed a bit. I drove to the Nisky bike path and everyone must have been visiting their moms because it was practically empty.

shed my jacket early on and could have worn a skirt…but did wear a shirt from a previous Mother’s Day 5k

My post long run treat was a FREE birthday pastry from Paneras and a latte. I enjoyed both while walking around the Pine Hollow Arboretum.

I may be obsessed with flowers this year

We did do a drive by to wish my MIL Happy Mother’s Day. I planned on doing some more gardening but it clouded up, got colder and windier….

This Coming Week – 

• Monday – rest day, walk
• Tuesday –  run
• Wednesday – run (un-canceled 5k)
• Thursday – rest day, tennis friends social distancing picnic, running friends ZOOM
• Friday – run, mah jongg (SS virtual 5K)
• Saturday –  rest day, walk
• Sunday – STEEL RAIL VIRTUAL HALF MARATHON

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

Happy Running! How is your running going?  How is this virus affecting you and your family? Are you having  hard time finding safe places to run? Are you running in places or are in a running route rut? Please share.

May 15 can’t come soon enough…but will it be even longer??

Otherwise things are the same. All social activities still cancelled. Missing my friends!! But keeping in touch via ZOOM.

Trying to get outdoors often so I do not go stir crazy in my Office (aka a room in my house). Always looking for new and interesting places to run or walk and practice social distancing.

So happy to read this – https://www.businessinsider.com/you-can-still-go-outside-while-quarantining-sheltering-in-place-2020-4 

I know many of you do not agree and are staying close to home and even staying indoors (having groceries delivered, eating only take-out, etc).   Everyone has different levels of comfort.

I am not sure I even enjoy Virtual Races but I keep signing up for them!?

trying to run one of these each week…

I’ve run the 5k and 10K and the 13.1 !!

some friends are trying to raise $$ for their NYCM charity and you get a really cool glass.(Runners and walkers complete any time between May 17th and May 31st.)

another free one

You will have between Saturday, May 23 at 6 a.m. and Sunday, May 31 at 11 p.m. to complete a 5K run by yourselves

It’s not too late.  You can still register the the Virtual FRW 5k until May 5 at  https://freihofersrun.com/virtual-5k/.  Use the code AMBSS5 and for $20, you will get:

• 42nd annual virtual Freihofer’s Run for Women t-shirt (you can even choose between two different colors) & bib
• A finisher’s certificate that can be printed out at home
• Commemorative finishers’ medal
• Coupons for Freihofer’s products
• Automatic entry into Virtual 5k Sweepstakes with great prizes!

The t-shirts, medals and coupons will be mailed to participants the first week in June.

Last Week –

• Monday – Another cold, windy rainy day. I was hoping to get out early for lunch but that didn’t happen (Darn work!) So instead of waiting until after work to do my run (in case it started raining harder), I squeezed one in at lunch instead of my walk.

yes, that’s a banana on the side of the road…it was raining but not too hard.

Then after work, it was still cold, windy and RAINING.  I planned to go for a walk but just couldn’t drag myself out the door. So unlike me 😦 Some days are like that.

• Tuesday – Hooray for a dry day. Still chilly and breezy but as I mentioned last week, I have a friend who is now only working 3 days a week and she has agreed to DRIVE to my house to walk with me on her off days.  So nice to have adult conversation with someone other than my hubby. (Now that is a good friend.)

The sun was shining and now near 60 degrees after work so I was anxious to get out there. I decided to actually run a 10k at the Corning Bike Path.

It felt hard…well all my runs feel hard these days… but at least it was skirt weather. Wearing purple to summon up the courage to finish this run.

• Wednesday – Ok, another dry day (before 3 days of predicted rain). I couldn’t wait to get outside for my lunch walk. I quickly drove to one of the closest preserves. (Where I go depends on my afternoon work schedule and how long I have for a break.) Although it was the same temps as yesterday, it was windy and cloudy so felt chilly.  Still enjoyed this time away from my desk immensely.

discovered some new flowers and that someone moved the painted rock

I didn’t really feel like running 3 days in a row but in the NE during April, if it’s not raining, you go for it. I decided to go to Washington Park to check the progress of the tulips. Guess what? I forgot my phone. Please believe me without photos that a 2.5 mile run took place and that the tulips are about a week away.

last week’s pic – same exact route but zero sun today and more wind.

• Thursday – Yup, rain in the morning. Fingers crossed that it wouldn’t rain or rain hard all day long. Even on a rest day, I do like to go for a walk or two. It was pouring at lunchtime so walking was a no go. After work, it had stopped but was insanely windy. Still I needed to escape my house and continue on my quest to explore new places. The Stevens Farm Trail was different than the other preserves. It wasn’t really a well marked loop but it was very interesting. There were empty farm buildings dating back to the 1800’s, a K-9 training unit, a llama farm, a closed very old metal bridge and of course, a muddy trail along the creek.

Isn’t the llama cute? I wanted pet her but the owner said that she was a spitter so… NOPE!

Thursday nights are our weekly running group’s ZOOM night.  I’m not sure if we even talk about running lol.

• Friday – Day 4 this week with clouds.  Rain was predicted for the afternoon so I was hoping for a lunch walk (although my work schedule would make this one a tight squeeze.) Never believe your weather app, it was pouring around lunch time.  Since it wasn’t that cold or windy, I decided to take that walk in my neighborhood.  Wrong choice.  Even with an umbrella and raincoat, I got soaked!!!

should have stayed home

It was still pouring when I finished work. Only water, right? So I grabbed my umbrella again and drove to Washington Park. The trails would be too muddy and I figured no one else would be there taking photos of the tulips in the rain. Well, I wasn’t alone (other crazy camera buffs like me) and eventually the rain did stop for a few minutes. Most of the tulips have not bloomed but I was treated to some early bloomers.  Definitely worth the trip.

• Saturday – Long Run Saturday. I was tired and tempted to sleep in but I like to get my LSD out of the way and enjoy the weekend.

12 miles was on my plan as prep for my Steel Rail Virtual Half Marathon. It’s always a challenge on where to go.  I don’t like to run in the same places. And of course, most runners abstain from running on crowded paths. This doesn’t bother me so I drove to Zim Smith. I ran the opposite way from what I normally do just for a change.

and then I walked 1.1 miles so it would count as a half marathon

Of course on a nice day, there were walkers and bikers.  Everyone was cautious, polite and friendly. And for my post run I was hoping for a treat from Leah’s. They were closed so I had to settle for extra thick milkshake from Stewart’s.

I spent the rest of the afternoon pulling weeds until our our 3rd ZOOM Blogger Coffee Date. As with the others, it was so fun to connect with everyone.

• Sunday – Another dry day.  Not as sunny as yesterday but warm. I was excited to take a long walk on another preserve or two, do my weekly grocery shopping and even get in some more yard work.

loved this place but sooo muddy

a short unmarked trail

Today my tennis friends and I would have been in Naples, Fla. We always get together one night during this trip to discuss a book that we have all read in advance.  So instead, we used ZOOM tonight for our book chat.  We all read the mystery The Turn of the Key.

we starting out discussing the book and then kept talking and talking and talking…

This Coming Week – 

• Monday – run
• Tuesday –  run
• Wednesday – rest day, walk
• Thursday – run, ZOOM running group chat
• Friday – rest day, mah jongg walk
• Saturday – LONG RUN, MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!
• Sunday – rest day, walk, Mother’s Day

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

Happy Running! How is your running going?  How is this virus affecting you and your family? Are you having  hard time finding safe places to run? Are you running in new places or are in a running route rut?  Are you having nice spring weather?  How many VIRTUAL races have you signed up for? Please share.