MyCOLORADOLife.net
Marathon morning. Slept later than norm – stayed at the event’s host hotel, short walk to Narragansett Pier. Dark red ball burned over the Atlantic, smell of salt, sunrise. Beautiful marathon start.
The Ocean State Marathon has a long history in Narragansett as the site of the ORIGINAL Rhode Island Marathon. It has been our goal to honor this tradition and bring back a GENUINE Rhode Island Marathon. Not only does the race start under the shadow of the iconic Coast Guard house at beautiful Narragansett Town Beach but the course itself boasts sweeping vistas of Narragansett Bay, beautiful windy roads, historic homes and awe-inspiring bridges.
20 degrees warmer than Saturday – not crazy hot, but should finish before the sun cooks. Biggest concern today? Left my meds at last night’s dinner spot. No anti-nausea, no pain pills, nada. Suck it up buttercup – cancer or not, gonna/hafta hit it hard like everyone else. Steady hydration, stay mentally strong. 26.2 miles. I’ve run 70+ of these, one foot in front of the other. Ready ready to go.
Cool morning air, nice flat couple of miles. Oceanside run, miles 5 & 6 – big seasonal waves pouring over the surf, shared road with locals walking their dogs. Pretty sizeable hills at miles 7 & 10. North Kingston [Amtrak] station at marker 14.
[#DNF’d three weeks ago at 15 – yep, that’s still crowding my head. Breathe, move on.]
Stomach cramping, dropped pace. Eyed a 50 State cap ahead – caught the ‘flower lady’ & stayed with this early-start veteran thru mile 21. Run buddy Carolyn often thinks she’s a talker. Nope…’flower lady’ now she was a talker. Turned off my tunes & appreciated her candor.
No emergency vehicles, no aides to flag down, no options, no excuses. Hurled at mile 22. If I wanna stop, gotta find a way to the Finish. Jogged/walked/slogged the course remainder. No bobble-head trophy, no top 10 Finish – yet worthy of a medal & marathon finish #74 🙂
Ocean State Rhode Races
SUN OCTOBER 30 2016
NARRAGANSETT, RI US 02882
79 K R HAGA M Louisville CO 5:15:09
Hotel shower, late check-out, return flight outta Providence – but not before a quick 20 minute trek to Point Judith. Over time, have seen more ornate/unique lighthouses on both US coasts but Point Judith was my first. Will always hold a special place in my heart.
Next weekend: Huntington, West Virginia
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- smell of salt, ocean sunrise, beautiful Start
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- marathon #74, second in Rhody
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- Point Judith strike-a-pose
Started the month with a marathon #DNF. However after 2 late race additions & tomorrow’s 26.2 mile trek in Rhode Island, October’s shaping up to be one of my strongest. On track for a third 200+ mile month.
Friday night flight to New England. Started Saturday admiring fall colour, spent the afternoon beachcombing.
As many times I’ve started my weekends in New Hampshire, you’d think I’d run out of new adventures. Breakfast at a local sugar house? FAAANNNTASTIC idea! (thanks Stephen) pancake of the month or stuffed French toast? cinnamon rolls or donut holes? So many choices. HUGE gift store – every imaginable use of maple sugar. Sasquatch – yep, he’s there too.
Parker’s Maple Barn in rural Mason NH. Add to your must-do list, well-worth the country drive.
Quick hour thru Massachusetts – cut right thru the middle, Worcester to Woonsocket. I-95 to Providence, Highway 4 past URI (state uni), hugged the coast to ‘Poor Man’s Newport’: Narragansett RI. One of my favourite NE haunts – LOVE LOVE this place.
Hotel check-in, marathon bib pick-up. Check, done. Spent remaining daylight walking the Bay.
Coast Guard House to Town Beach, North Beach Pavilion to Pettaquamscutt River (where the Narrows empties into the Atlantic). Cool overcast day. Neither I nor the gulls seemed to mind ‘jacket weather’. Watched a local ocean-cast for bluefish. New England LOVE.
Early to bed, early to rise…but little sleep this nite. TV trapped/Halloween [movie] marathon. Cut it off after Halloween 2…just not the same without Jamie Lee Curtis. PLUS got my own Halloween marathon scheduled in the a.m. 🙂
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- all roads lead to New Hampshire
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- YIKES!
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- pancake or stuffed French toast?
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- New England sugar houses — highly recommended 🙂
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- covered country bridge
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- first bib pick-up, then beach
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- LOVE LOVE this place!
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- bluefish ocean-cast
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- gulls didn’t mind ‘jacket weather’
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- early to bed, early to rise — marathoning tomorrow a.m.
bluefish ocean-cast (Narragansett RI)
5+ years living in Colorado, never attended a concert.
Red Rocks in September, then Stevie Nicks at the Pepsi Center – what luck! Received a phone call at lunch asking if I was available to attend same night. Yep, that’s the way it went down. Stevie Nicks, FREE ticket, seriously? ABSOLUTELY!!
Rode to Denver with a neighbor…so didn’t even have to drive. (but not a complete moocher, I did pay for parking 🙂 )
Will Call’d my ticket – 5th row. Opening act? Chrissie Hynde & the Pretenders. Are you kidding me?!! First time in ’the Can’ (as locals call the Pepsi Center) – FAAANNNTASTIC – great music, great venue, great night. Entire evening, almost too good to be true.
September quote repeat: Don’t be afraid to say YES to the unexpected. Be spontaneous, life is meant to be lived.
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- first concert in ‘the Can’
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- Chrissie Hynde & the Pretenders
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- Stevie Nicks
the Pretenders
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks *FINALE*
