Early rise, caught a ride to my 16^th Marathon start & located Maniac village.

Route 66 would be my 2nd in our trademark yellow-n-black racing shirts.  Enjoyed a pre-race toast with a runner celebrating his 50^th state marathon – fast forward 2 years, this will be me 🙂

Full & half marathon combined start meant a jammed race for 12 miles – but not as bad as Vegas.  I now have a barometer to gauge against.  Lotta runners in Tulsa…but not 44,000.

Went out a bit fast on a hilly course.  Mentally, got to remember to run my own race.  Matching fleet footed half-marathoners is not helping the back half of my race.  1:48 half is quick.  Until I finish sub-4 consistently gotta keep folks outta my head.

Memorable – campus run thru University of Tulsa.  Love marathons routed thru universities – crowd supported & visually easy on the eyes…beautifully landscaped, virtual botanical gardens.  Seen a lotta road this year so I appreciate flora & fauna.

Hills.

Not the Colorado variety where you dig in, blast BIG, let it burn & soon you’re flying downside.  Deceptive hills in Oklahoma – gradual inclines which can last for 3 miles.  ‘Mess with your head’ hills – “I’m on flat ground, what’s wrong with my legs” hills.

Heading into mile 26, looked forward to seeing family.  Not sure if they’d be waiting near the Finish but just the possibility was motivating.  Nearing the end I heard them – WOW.

Received my medal, Finisher’s photo, grabbed a chocolate milk.  I could hear Mom, my family behind the gates.

I reached up, she touched my finger tips, I heard her voice, I heard all of their voices now – one gets crazy emotional after pushing the body to extreme.  Amazing, unerasable experience.

Shower, food, airport – time goes by so fast.  Ash texted a pic of geese wintering on Waneka Lake.  Home.

Bib                                                   Chip Time

1958   K R Haga   Louisville CO     4:32:41