UP with the sun, 50 State Day.  Two lonely people remained in the casino downstairs – looks haggard/unkempt, appear they pulled an all-nighter.  5:15am.  Trolley stop outside each downtown hotel.  One destination: Days of ’76 Rodeo Grounds.  Second string of buses lined the Rodeo.

Sunshine, morning chill.  Huddled an hour outside a country church in Rochford.  8am marathon Start.  Chatted it up with a group of Maniacs.  Party center was a lively gal from Jersey.  Roz.  South Dakota her state 48, finishing this summer in the Nevadan desert (ET Midnight Marathon).  Only running halves afterward – or so she said.  Ya know runners & promises.  Never say never.

Asphalt first mile-half, then single-filed onto Mickelson Trail.  It’d widen-up soon after, more dirt  road than country path.  Elevation almost a thousand higher than home.  Slow start.  Hips/quads still achy/sore/trashed from last weekend’s Wyoming ultra/Bolder Boulder combo.  Just a matter of working out the kinks.  One foot in front of the other.  Mentally on board.  My day, my finish.

Shed layers at the next Aid Station.  Double-layered, overdressed.  Sun burned warm.

Antarctica flash.  No penguins but same Florida ultra-runner on my left.  Seth!  Dude marathons 30+ annually, but here, this day in South Dakota?  Great conversationalist – I found my pacer!  Steady, even, guy never stops.  Running 50+ MILES at Comrades in South Africa – in 6 days!  Kismet.  Right guy to tag this day.  My golden 50 State finish.  Perfect mix of chit-chat, quiet & NO walking.

Continued to push UP thru the Half.  Long hill grinder mile 18, then downhill/flat remainder of the day.  Ticking off the miles.  I’d hang with Seth thru 25, Last Aid Station.  Water, short heat break.

Finish, finish with a smile.  And POSE.  South Dakota LIFE memory ❤️

Sign HIGH & PROUD overhead, 50 States Round 2!

Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon

Congratulations on finishing the 2019 Deadwood Marathon!

 

NAME: K R Haga
OVERALL PLACE: 129

FINISH TIME: 4:49:05
HALF MARATHON SPLIT: 2:18:48