Early to bed, early to rise — woke marathon morning to FOG.  Dense, thick, ‘can’t see 10 feet in front of you‘ FOG.

Layered up — 2 shirts (long sleeves under yesterday’s ‘Run WV’ purchase), shorts, running tights, ball cap & gloves.  35 degrees, pretty much perfect conditions.  All signs point to marathon EXCELLENCE!

Drove in early from neighboring Barboursville, stadium parked, pre-race porta-potty’d, patiently waited for my run sister Carolyn.  BQ — all about HER this day.  Months of texts back-n-forth; I’m just the lucky guy signed up to enjoy the ride.  Flat 2-lap course — notta fan of laps, never been…but a flat course in West Virginia?  That I dig.

Crowded field.  Could not connect with Indiana.  Hovered ’round the 4 hr pace group.  Cannon pop, we’re off.  Two/three minutes, happy upbeat Carolyn tags in.  No tunes, no playlist.  Passed the morn with runner banter.  Whole lotta chatter.

Slow first mile, then paced up.  8:20, sub-8, 8:35 — slow down she says, voice of reason.  My best chance for sub-4 would be a quick first half.  Not steady enough to run 9 minute/miles the entire duration, haven’t finished a strong 2nd in over a year.  We agree on 1:55 — “it’s a marathon, not a 10K”…I know, I know.  Chilly weather, good sleeps & remembered my meds — popping anti-nausea at 9 & 15…no pain pills ’til the end — dulls the pain but zaps the adrenaline…sweat a lot, jacks my breathing.

No head games, steady easy run.  STRONG today.

St. Mary’s Marathon:
K R HAGA crossed the 13.1 Mile at 08:54
Course time: 01:53:37
Pace: 08:41 min/mi

2nd lap: slowed our pace 2 miles in.  Quads, legs tight.  Hadn’t run this fast all year.  No giving in to pain, best chance at sub-4.  Stopped briefly at mile 18, hydrated.  Carolyn shed layers; I chose to run warm.  Lagged a step behind thru 19 — and said our goodbyes.

Running empty but knew I had 7 ‘1st Half‘ minutes banked.  10 min, 10:20, pacing too slow.  Puked at 23 — come on man, dig deep!

Aid station straight ahead.  Stopped for water, 4 hr pace group bounced by…with one mile to go.  Super frustrating.  9 minute/mile no longer possible.  Nothing left.  Laid on a park bench, wrecked.  5 minutes.  Blew my nose, deep breath.  Ok, it is what it is.

Steady jog to Joan C Edwards Stadium, grabbed a football & did my lap.  Marathon 75.  Check, done.

St. Mary’s Marathon:
K R HAGA crossed the Finish at 11:08
Course time: 04:08:18
Pace: 09:29 min/mi

my friend Carolyn?  sub-3:55, new PR, Boston 2018.  Couldn’t be prouder.

40 minute drive in rural Appalachia for a true West Virginia celebration.  Hillbilly Hotdogs.  Highlighted on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”, had this joint scoped out before leaving the Rockies.  Picnic tables outside, school bus seating inside, a true dining destination.  If ever in Lesage WV, gotta/hafta/must go.  Highly recommended.

Next weekend, family weekend — DisneyWorld…but first, marathoning in nearby Winter Park, FL 🙂

 

Marshall University Marathon

 

Hillbilly Hotdogs, WV