2:15am alarm set on my iPhone – early start to marathon day. Struggled to wake but left Jackson on time & hit the road, destination Ashton Idaho & the Mesa Falls Marathon. Kept the radio dialed to KJAX Country 93.5. An hour half later I pulled into Ashton Elementary school’s parking lot, picked up my racing bib & potato sack 🙂 then scored a free bowl of oatmeal before boarding the Marathon Start bus at 5:15am.
Lotta rain in the Teton Valley, resulting in bumpy travel as we travelled over dirt & gravel roads in Targhee National Forest. Still dark with temps in the low 40’s; I was happy snow stayed above 11,000ft – first snow of the season. Lover of the white stuff but hadn’t planned on winter precip when I packed my bag 3 days ago in Colorado (jeez, it’s August).
Was concerned [re: training] coming into the race. I had tapered 2 weeks before Ironman to focus on swim & bike. Ironman fail, a week of recovery, a week of the blues, then BAM it’s Idaho marathon time. Fingers crossed.
Smallest marathon field to date – less than 200 runners – but one of the most organized events I’ve entered.
First 9 miles all trail. After days of rain & flash flooding, dirt trail = lotta mud. That said, trail running felt really good.
Transitioned to highway & the sky opened – heavy cold rain until mile 17. So saturated that my shorts drooped – whole lotta water. Brief rain reprieve, one mile more of trail then a 3 mile hill just before mile 18. Trail running was slow going, requiring runners to closely watch footing but gotta say, body still felt good.
Legs started to tighten & my mind panicked – “the Wall” – but instead of mentally collapsing at mile 20 or 21, I had already passed mile marker 24. Brief water break, another mile, another water break…and I’m running mile 26. Sweet.
Either I’ve made a serious break thru mentally or it was the rain but…either way, finished strong.
By far the highest elevation I’ve ever raced, over 6,000ft. Raced the last 5 miles aside golden farm fields in Idaho’s potato country – something simple, yet spectacular to see.
9th consecutive marathon month — that’s stamina baby! 6 long weeks ’til Nebraska — expecting good things in September.
Bib 97 K R HAGA Marathon » Louisville, CO Finished 04:38:08 Overall 63rd
Awesome job. My next marathon is November 1, Rim Rock Marathon(Grand Junction area), which is supposed to be challenging. Can’t wait to have a bit of run fun. Keep up the great job of racing along.
Have fun at Rim Rock! I’m running in Indianapolis same day — first marathon running with my younger sister. Super pumped!