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Long 7-hour haul from yesterday’s trail marathon in Nebraska. Fitting I had tickets the following nite to this year’s Trail Running Film Festival in Boulder. My 2nd year attending, 4th year festival has been in existence.
Back at the Dairy Arts Center, arrived to a sold-out event. Guess word’s got out – HA!
12 films, 3+ hours of sit-down. Sat 2nd row – packed, crazy full auditorium. Festival organized by runners, for folks who appreciate trail running & adventure. Well done. Tough to pick ONE fave film this year.
All 4 feature documentaries were unique in their storytelling. “One step at a Time” followed 3 ultra runners as they attempted the FKT (fastest known time) on the Oregon section of the PCT. “Outside Voices” featured outspoken runner Jenn Shelton, an entertaining, train wreck of a gal. “2016 Orcas Island 100” documented a 100-mile ultra-race on Washington’s scenic San Juan Islands.
…but for me, this year’s fave: “The Hard Way”
inspirational story of Bob Hayes, an 89-year-old who runs 30 races each year, cuts his firewood by hand & does things the hard way to remain active and alive. The film takes us on a journey that’s about more than running, it teaches us to live life with purpose and momentum.
LOVE LOVED this guy’s determination. Absolute anything is possible…at an age.
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- Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center
The Hard Way (2016) by Jeremy Lurgio & Erik Petersen
While researching last week’s make-up marathon, noticed another late addition to the Maniacs calendar. 7 hour car ride. Long haul but would be trail running the Oregon Trail. Late registration, body feeling good…road trippin’ to Hebron, Nebraska.
Run history. Run beauty. For the Oregon Trail Run of Nebraska, we have combined a run on the route of the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Pony Express route with one of the most picturesque roads in Southern Nebraska. The first half of the Marathon will travel parallel to and intersect with the route that settlers took as they crossed Nebraska on their way to points west. The first half of the route is mostly flat and offers a view that stretches for miles. You can imagine the trail of “prairie schooners” keeping to the hilltops as they headed west together.
The second half of the route drops down into the Little Blue River valley, the gravel road that follows the river takes you on gently rolling hills through the cottonwood, oak, locust and ash canopies, by beautiful and fading farmsteads and limestone cliffs. The trees should be in their peak fall color on race day and the surrounding landscape and abundant wildlife offer up photo opportunities around every bend.
Out of work late, didn’t reach the [Nebraska] border ‘til past 9pm. Listened to a high school football game over the radio – like going back in time. Open highway last 4 hours, just me & a trail of truckers. Planned on camping near North Platte or maybe Kearney. Camping? Yep, marathoning on a budget. HA!
fun fact: Nebraska is in the Central Time Zone. ARGH! unexpectedly lost an hour. new plan: sleep in my Prius for 3 hours, then back on road – Hebron at 5:45am.
Race attire change (Maniac jersey, shorts & Newtons) in a gas station restroom (very classy LOL>), bib pick-up at a local church, back under blankets for one last 30-minute power nap.
Small group of runners racing today’s FULL. Piled into a school bus. Cool temp start, clear, no wind, perfect conditions. Flat dirt farm road. Tractors & farm combines would soon choke our shared path. Summer rain plus warm Fall weather = late grow season, good year for farmers.
Went out quick. Big FAN of the landscape – rows & rows of corn. No trees in Nebraska. Should the sun warm quick, I’m gonna cook. Stark difference from my Colorado panorama.
Dodged 4 BIG machines (stirred up a lotta dust), made the turn at mile 8…had the rest of the road to myself. Stayed top 3 thru mile 10, dropped to fifth at the Half. Cottonwoods intermittently dotted dry (seasonal) river beds. Rolling hills, more corn.
Field of runners grew as late-start Halfers caught [me] on the final 10K.
Entered Hebron, passed Thayer County High on 10th Street, finished downtown in Roosevelt Park – SUCCESS – marathon #73, 6th place overall.
Results
1 Wesley Hochstetler Oregon Trail Marathon M 3:41:42
2 Troy Pruett Oregon Trail Marathon M 3:46:23
3 Laurence Burnsed Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:07:41
4 Tim Pratt Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:11:33
5 Shane Sundermann Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:13:01
6 KR Haga Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:27:36
7 Gale Dingwell Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:34:08
Showered in the high school gym (much appreciated), then highway-trekked home. 7 hours up, 7 hours back. Marathoning on a budget. Listened to college football (Nebraska-Purdue) on the ride home. Nebraskans LOVE their Cornhuskers.
Next weekend: Narragansett, Rhode Island
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- Prairie sunrise
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- cornfields & tractors: ‘NEBRASKA’
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- marathon #73 (24th of 2016)
UPDATE: Purchased corn-on-the-cob popcorn while road trippin’ ‘cross the Prairie. Ash contends the instructions were vague. Nothing said to cover the bowl while microwaving. LOL>
After last weekend’s marathon fail in Boulder, wasn’t sure when I’d next long-run. Down a day depressed, whole lotta sleep – then like most, licked my wounds & got back on the horse. Short run Tuesday, 8 miles Thursday…head back in the game.
Thursday morning identified a last minute race addition on the Maniacs calendar – only an hour-half from my home. Late registration thru Friday night. Done; meant to be.
Laid low Saturday, short hike in Eldorado Canyon, bed by 9pm, up again at 3:15am. Quick shower, walked/fed Ro…on the road north by 4am – marathon meet-up at 530am in downtown Fort Collins. Late instructions, Race Director greeted participants – in particular, a large Fort Collins Running Club contingent – all car-journeyed to the Canyon, parked at Picnic Rock Rest Area (mile from the Finish), then van-pooled another 2,000ft UP the Canyon to today’s high-altitude start: milepost 94 on Poudre Canyon Road.
Super scenic landscape. 15 miles course-shared with the Colorado Marathon. Lotta memories there – race where I finished my 50 State Quest. Cool temps ‘til the sun rose – but not as cold as last May…was literally snowing last time I ran this route 🙂
Start time: 713am…yep, that specific (daybreak)
Pre-race pic; pretty much on my own after the first 4-5 miles. Course spilled between large canyon walls, Cache la Poudre River on runner’s left…saw maybe 2 vehicles total. Surrounded with views of the Rockies ALL day. Quiet & isolated. BIG smile.
(last 10K) Picked off by a few runners but finished 12th overall (super small field). 4:30 finish, not bad at 7,000ft. AND for the first time ever, won my Age Group & scored a bobble-head. Marathon 72 RE-DO SUCCESS!
No marathons for 2 weeks but…maybe/might have located another last-minute race, just 7 hours away in Nebraska. LOL>
Cache La Poudre Canyon Marathon – October 16, 2016
20 Keenan Haga 4:33:07
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- Goodnight Moon: 7:13am Start (daybreak)
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- (pre-dawn) autumn colour
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- won my Age Group
