Monthly Archives: February 2015

Fast learning during my 50 State Quest — winter travel can be precarious.  Have experienced both flight delays & cancellations due to inclement weather & plane mechanical problems.  While travelling East Coast on red-eye flights, have mastered sleeping in airports across chairs or against poles, propped against my backpack & running shoes.  In Dallas, Skylink was down due to a security breach, leaving few options to transfer between terminals.  Not only a Marathon Maniac, but fast becoming a travel warrior.

Received the following email late last night, cancelling this weekend’s Hyannis Marathon in Massachusetts.  ARGH!  Race fee – gone.  Air travel – salvaged 50% of cost.  Hotel – salvaged deposit (one-night stay) by moving reservation to October.

50 State Quest in jeopardy?  Heck no.  Kept cool, put on a happy face & juggled.  Registered for the Cape Cod Marathon in October (Massachusetts salvaged), then added Charlottesville Marathon in April to cover Virginia.  Everything happens for a reason.

Visiting Cape Cod in October makes much more sense than February plus I’ve always wanted to see Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello [in Charlottesville] so…although not ideal financially, I’m better off & remain on track to finish 50 States in Steamboat, June 2016.

No Hyannis, weekend’s open — gonna hit the mountains…this Colorado transplant loves the snow 🙂

 

Hyannis Marathon, Half Marathon, 10Km & Marathon Team Relay – HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CURRENT AND EXPECTED WEATHER

 

I am sorry to report that this year’s event has been canceled due to current and expected weather conditions this week and on race weekend in Hyannis respectively.

 

I was informed this afternoon that top Town of Barnstable officials, including Police, Fire and DPW, met and decided that the town roads and parking would not be safe or adequate for a large event, and that this year’s event would have to be canceled.

 

There will not be a reschedule date.

 

Please keep in mind that all tees, medals, insurance, and food have been purchased; beneficiary organizations have been paid; hundreds and hundreds of hours have been put in to get the event off; and there are contracts to honor.

 

Thank you for your patience in waiting for this call. As I am sure you understand, after waiting for word from the town of Barnstable, we have hundreds of volunteers to inform, as well as vendors, contractors, and so many others.

 

Hyannis Marathon

National Geographic: People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year

Always partial to climbers & mountaineers, but couldn’t be more inspired by kayaker, Aleksander Doba. At age 67, this retired engineer kayaked SOLO across the Atlantic – from Portugal to Florida – paddling primarily at night (when temps were cooler), sleeping no more than 6 hours a day (in multiple installments).

“If 67 years young can do it, you can do it, too.” —Aleksander Doba

Absolutely anything is possible – Aleksander’s journey keeps me focused & charged.  Super inspired!

 

The votes have been counted—a record-setting 521,000 of them.  They’re a testament to the inspiring quests of all our 2015 Adventurers of the Year.  But there can only be one People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year, and that award goes to Aleksander Doba.

 

At 67 years old, the Polish adventurer made the longest open-water kayak crossing of the Atlantic in history. Using just his arm strength and considerable willpower, Doba paddled 7,700 miles in his 23-foot kayak, OLO, departing in October 2013 from Lisbon and arriving six months later in Florida. The retired mechanical engineer, now 68, is the only person to kayak across the Atlantic, continent-to-continent, alone, unassisted, and under his own power. He battled 30-foot waves and got entangled in the Bermuda Triangle. His engineering skills were tested time and time again.

 

Doba is not hanging up his paddle yet. In spring 2016, at 70 years old, he plans to attempt crossing the Atlantic Ocean solo by kayak again, this time starting from New York and finishing in Europe.

 

favourite 2 excerpts from his story:

When he was too far from shore to see any birds, Doba was surrounded instead by marine wildlife, from fish and dolphins to turtles, whales, and sharks.

 

Dozens of sharks checked on me, but one was ready to attack me, and I had to whack his head with the paddle really hard to make him leave,” Doba remembers. “On the warmer part of the Atlantic Ocean, flying fish were a big, unexpected attraction. When a few landed on my kayak, I didn’t have to eat my lyophilized food for dinner that night.”

This was not Doba’s first transatlantic crossing in OLO. In 2010, Doba spent 99 days of the First Transatlantic Kayak Expedition paddling 3,400 nautical miles (3,913 miles) across one of the narrowest points of the Atlantic, between Dakar, Senegal, and Acarau, Brazil.

 

“The First Transatlantic Kayak Expedition was to check myself and my kayak. The second trip was to ‘raise the bar,’” Doba says. “I have two sons and two granddaughters. I hope they will learn not to be afraid to dream, turn dreams into plans, and bring plans to reality. Then there is satisfaction of great achievements.”

 

Aleksander Doba, 2015 People's Choice

Aleksander Doba, 2015 People’s Choice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

530am bus pick-up from Breakers Resort – early start, still dark & 28 degrees.  Not as originally thought when I signed up for my South Carolina marathon run.  That said, I’m a cold weather runner.  28 degrees – bring it on!  Laced up, ready to run.

Lotta locals in parkas & an announcement this would be Myrtle Beach’s last Valentine’s Day race start – moving the event to March next year, in search of warmer weather.  Today’s finisher’s medal would feature flip-flops – uh…no beach attire this day.  HA!

Donning a thermal wrap (Las Vegas Marathon leftover), ran 2 miles in my cape before disposing in a municipal can.  Sunshine & the Atlantic Ocean were visible early – cold but SPECTACULAR!

Flat course so folks had me thinking PR all day.  In hindsight, think I need hills to mix up pace or find I run flat-footed, lose form – running solely from my calves, not utilizing enough quad & hip strength.

Made the turn at mile 18 & met strong [ocean] headwinds the last 8 miles. Tough on pace, tough on the spirit – but whatta beautiful course. Pushing hard, wind blowing – felt I was running in place, making no forward progress at times.

Slogged in my last 2 miles, no PR, no sub-4 this day – but marathon 20 done & in the books, 3rd 26.2 of 2015.

Couldn’t think of a better way to avoid Valentine’s Day 🙂

Congratulations K R Haga
on completing the
Marathon
Your Finish Time:
04:12:09.263

Woke Sunday 3am – hour half drive to Florence SC.  On & off 2 planes, neither actually left the airport.  High winds cancelled all air travel – U.S. Airways moved passengers by bus to Charlotte, 2 hours away.  Missed my connection but thankfully arrived home same day – Charlotte to Dallas, Dallas to Phoenix, Phoenix to Denver.  Crazy travel day.  Several of my running family spent Sunday night stranded in Dallas, Houston & Memphis – woes of winter travel.

Walked thru the door – crazy wildly, greeted by Ro.  Home, sweet Colorado, home 🙂