Late nite touchdown.  20-minute ride Downtown.  Been a long day.

Charleston to Charlotte, Charlotte to Atlanta, Atlanta to Mobile.  Fever gone, marathon medal still hangin’ round my neck.  Almost 1am now… still gotta shower.  Argh.

Hotel lobby still full of revelers, traffic buzzin’ outside as my head hit the pillow.  Think Mobile’s probably a naughty town during summer season… tamer kid sister of N’ Orleans.

Phone alarm set, 5am comes early.  Slow crawl outta bed.  Change of clothes, fresh shoes, it’s Day 2 – in Alabama.  Late check-out granted (thanks Hilton).  Guaranteed a quick shower post-run 😊

Pre-dawn to Government Plaza.  Circumference-walked the building’s perimeter.  Open-door located, bib pick-up achieved.  Hotel digs mere steps from today’s Finish.  Location, location, location.

Day lighting life up, drunks slumber behind big block buildings – and I’m a-running, 26.2 miles in Mobile ALABAMA.  Whoop!  whoop!  Hydration vest stuffed full of tissues.  Cooler weather, head cold raging, but spirits HIGH.  NO was not received; I found a way.  Lined-up with a thousand others.

Day 2 of my first 2020 double.  The body’s an amazing instrument.  Literally ONE day after my fever-riddled slog in Charleston – new life.  And the mind? …can will a man to walk fire.  Ok, ok.  no fire-walking today.  Just a lotta head drain & tissue disposal.  LOL>

Chatted it up with the 5-hour pace guy.  Nope, not really.  Just a random guy holding his stick.  I’d warm on the ‘real’ dude, first 2 miles.  Mississippi’s his home.  Met his wife marathoning; proud new parents of twins.  The people you meet.  Stories we share.  No sport more exposed, more HUMAN.  LOVE our sport ❤️

LOVE LOVED my pace group.  5-hour pack starts small, gathers those falling off goal times.  Probably 5-6 of us constant from mile 8 on.  That’s a lotta life stories… who needs tunes?  Chipper single-digit miles, dark-clouded mile 20.  Biggest party, most I’ve ever drank, craziest place I’ve woke up unexpected.  Later miles – other times I’ve cheated death, real food or banana at finish?  BEER.

Dropped off at 21.  Short walk, regrouped.  Back at it soon after.  Good day, great group of runners… 20 minutes faster than Day 1.

Pace brother awaitin’ at the FINISH LINE, cheering us in.  Classy dude.  2 days, 2 states, 2 medals.  FOUR marathons this year already.  Top of the roller coaster.  Ready as I’m ever gonna be.  Tick, tick, tick.  5 days my life adventure begins.  Triple 8!

Next stop: New Zealand 🇳🇿

19TH ANNUAL Servis1st Bank MOBILE MARATHON

Presented by Infirmary Health

JANUARY 12, 2020

 

****** MARATHON OVERALL RESULTS ******

 

K R HAGA   M     LOUISVILLE  CO   5:10:30

Mobile Marathon