“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” – Dean Karnazes

Quote sums up my 5^th FULL:

• first marathon in USA Eastern Time Zone (never adjusted to the 2 hour time difference)
• last marathon in the South for several months (temps are already heating up in Dixie)

Race Highlights:

• the Omni Hotel (marathon started at CNN Center – super convenient)
• Martin Luther King Nat’l Historic Site (mile 4)
• the Carter Center (mile 6)
• Emory University (mile 16) – super positive student volunteers
• Georgia Tech (mile 24) – universities are always mighty scenic, runner eye candy

Paced well for 14 miles – up and down, up and down, one hill after another.

At mile 16, I grabbed water.  At mile 17, I started walking up the highest hills.  At mile 23, my quads ceased – too many hills, serious lactic acid buildup, began walking.  Pulled it together & produced a slow crawl for the final mile thru Atlanta’s downtown.

Not a fine moment but I finished.  Tough day – my 2^nd worst time to date.

1575     K R Haga     Louisville    CO        4:45:14

UPDATE:

4 weeks ‘til my April marathon in Salt Lake.  Only 2 days after Atlanta I biked 17 miles (indoors), followed by a 1000 yard swim.  Wednesday 545am, I biked another 17 miles & on Thursday (only 4 days after the Georgia Marathon) I ran 10 miles.

Already solved my calorie count in March (now eating 5 small meals a day).  In April, I start outdoor cycling AND train for marathon #6 (my first in altitude).  Colorado winter almost over, time to fully commit.  No more excuses.