Monthly Archives: July 2015

With recent life changes (& the onset of summer), haven’t stayed super consistent with marathon training. “You’ve done so many, your body is conditioned to run marathons.”  Some truth to that, but I tell ya – getting up & randomly running 26 miles after throwing 6’s & an 8 over the past 2 weeks, is a struggle.  Still coming to terms with dropping gym membership (eff July 1st).  Started finding my groove again last Wednesday – tight timing for Sunday’s marathon (kinda late in the game) but mentally feel I’ve turned a corner & I’m back.

Up early Saturday, caught a flight to San Francisco – my 35th marathon, my 35th different state.  Landed in dense fog, temps in the upper 50’s – San Francisco norm for July.  Packed long-sleeves & a jacket – my kinda summer weather 🙂

No rental required in SF, great public transportation.  Air train to BART to Embarcadero station – 0.7 miles from my hotel, half-mile from tomorrow’s marathon start/finish.  At Embarcadero, located the free Marathon Expo shuttle – BAM, easy peasy.

Bib & shirt pickup.  Check, done.  Explored Fort Mason & caught my first views of SF’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge – the reason I chose this marathon for my California run.  Truly stunning.

Early night – 5:30am marathon start tomorrow, one of my earliest.

Quick shower, dressed in layers, running gloves & a hat – not your typical July attire.  HA!

Arrived early, waited for my wave start – almost 15 minutes after the Elites.  Lungs breathed water from the dense morning fog.  Easy 5 mile, 8 minute-pace approaching Golden Gate Bridge.  Yep, would be running OVER the Bridge to Marin County & back.

(bridge approach – one of the steepest hills I’ve marathoned.  That said, better at mile 5, than mile 25 🙂 )

Got all nostalgic during the 3-mile Bridge out-n-back.

Have crossed the mighty Mississippi, run alongside both Atlantic & Pacific Oceans AND three Great Lakes (Michigan, Superior & Utah’s Great Salt Lake).  Raced thru Nebraska & Iowa cornfields, Idaho potato farms, Louisiana bayou, Saguaro cactus in Arizona, down the Las Vegas strip at night, thru Kentucky’s Churchill Downs, viewed lighthouses in Maine, Wisconsin, Rhode Island & Michigan.  50 State Quest has been quite a life journey.  Crazy proud of my country, our people & our national diversity.

Lotta hills in San Fran – I knew in advance, but still…a lotta hills in San Fran.

Fatigue set in early – lactic acid build-up near mile 12 (inconsistent training).  4-hour pace group passed soon after.

Haven’t run a large city race since Miami – enjoyed running with folks all 26 miles. While generally a HUGE fan of small-town America, latter miles can often be lonely.  You wonder – does anyone know I’m out here?

A bit unorthodox but cell-phoned friends/family at miles 17, 19, 22 & 24.  I would finish today.  Last hill at mile 23, slogged in the remaining three miles.  My 3rd 5-hour marathon – not particularly proud of that stat, guess it’s all part of the journey.  Good days, bad days, sunshine/rain/snow/ice/heat/wind – and fog.

Pretty amazing day.  Today I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Beautiful city San Fran — I’ll be back 🙂

 

San Francisco Marathon 2015
Bib: 30741
Name: K R Haga
Hometown: Louisville, CO
Finish: 5:07:45

 

Having exposed Ash to her first Sharknado two years ago, felt a proud family moment being invited to her home for a cookout & the premiere of Sharknado 3 (know what you’re thinking, where does the time go 🙂 )

Fans don’t watch for the sharks.  Campy story lines & corny dialogue – that’s why we LOVE these films!  Sooo campy & far-fetched, guessing absolutely nothing is considered a “bad idea” when crafting scripts.

 

This year’s sequel follows Fin (Ian Ziering) & April (Tara Reid) from:

  • Los Angeles (Sharknado 1) – when they were ex’s, Fin (& later his son) dated Nova, who dropped homemade bombs into Sharknados, fell out of the helicopter & later miraculously rescued from the belly of a shark via chainsaw
  • to New York (Sharknado 2) – where Sharknados mixed with East Coast cold, produced summer snow & sharks in Jets Stadium & April lost her hand to a shark (attacked while on an airplane, held on with the other hand ‘til the plane landed)
  • to DC, Orlando & Outer Space (Sharknado 3)

 

Sharknado 3 recap provided at link below:

https://www.today.com/popculture/sharknado-3-tears-through-east-coast-9-moments-talk-about-t34066

In the final scene, April — who now has a chainsaw hand — manages to deliver her own baby inside a shark while falling from space.  The couple names it after Fin’s dad [David Hasselhoff], who sacrificed his own return to Earth for the cause.

 

No worries if you missed last night’s thriller – this series isn’t ending anytime soon.

Sharknado 4 is slated for July 2016.  Mark your calendar! 🙂

 

 

What started with tree trimming & a long-term goal to add ‘colour’ to my home, culminated into 6 weeks of change.  Comingle that with Ash & Tom’s move & my sister’s visit in early July – and we’re talking one solid month of crazy 🙂

All said & done, HUGE thanks to my family for giving me a much needed nudge – and to my friend Cliff for tutoring me on room design, interior paint, thrift store finds, art walk shopping, proper picture hanging (tape measure usage vs eyeing a good spot on a wall), wood blind samples & catalogues, AND front porch green-thumbing.  THANKS!

  • Front Porch: scaled back & pruned my spruce; added wind chimes, holly bushes & “Cody Coyote” (in addition to this year’s annuals planting); fixed outdoor outlet (Christmas light need)
  • Downstairs: 2 shades of green; removed dining area (electrician extracted light fixture, transplanted table near the front window); cable & cable box no more; purchased my first sectional; brought bar stools up from the basement; picture swaps throughout the house; new ceiling fan – AND wood blinds (now that’s a process, who knew?)
  • Office/now Gym: shade of sunshine on the walls; donated everything ‘office’ to Ash & Tom; moved everything ‘gym’ upstairs; electrician added an outlet & transplanted downstairs ceiling fan; installed my first SmartTV; an antique cabinet hides home modem & wireless router – AND moved marathon medal display (34 states complete; on track to finish 46 by year-end)

LOVE LOVE my ‘new’ Colorado home!

(No upstairs painting ‘til Winter/Spring 2016 – mental respite required.  Home Projects are a true labour of love — LOL>)