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Baltimore Marathon

Published October 17, 2015

Cool morning; wrapped in Mylar, walked to Camden Yards – mile-half from my Baltimore Harbor Hotel but fastest way to reach today’s marathon start.

8am start – only marathoners, halfers delayed ‘til 9:45. Was forewarned course would be hilly. This year has been all ‘bout running hills. No fear today.

Easy, early – surprise run highlight: mile 3 thru Maryland zoo, ‘keeper holding an African penguin. Don’t see that every day, super unexpected.

From Johns Hopkins, ran south 3 miles to Inner Harbor – retraced my pre-race Friday tour; passed the Nat’l Aquarium at mile 12. Looped Bay Harbor Peninsula another three miles before pushing north on Washington to Clifton Park.

Flood of half-marathoners joined the course in Clifton Park. Mixed emotions here – good not to feel course-abandoned late in the race (happens more than it should after 13 miles) – but honestly, there were just so many [runners]. Overwhelming. After marathoning 20 miles, found myself side-stepping late-race walkers 4-across.

Lost mojo somewhere ‘round Lake Montebello, slogged the next 2 miles. No big time goal today – but wanted a hotel shower before hitting the highway early afternoon.

Saw pedestrian Eutaw Street ahead – and its red brick pavers – only a mile to the end.

Picked up pace, finishing marathon #42 in front of Ravens Stadium. 15 years of Charm – nice medal, celebrating the city’s 15^th marathon anniversary. FAAANNNTASTIC!

Baltimore Running Festival Oct 17, 2015

K R HAGA Bib 1864

Marathon » Louisville, CO

Finished 04:37:28

Navigated thru an endless maze of people barricades but eventually located my rental in hotel parking; made my way ‘cross Baltimore city traffic. Maryland west to Frederick, dropping just south of Hagerstown on I-81 to Martinsburg WV.

Extracting my idle marathon-stiffened body from the car, suddenly felt twice my age. 30 minutes late – yikes – but luckily, dining with family tonite. Hadn’t seen cousins Regina & Kenny since Granddad’s funeral, Summer 2014.

Happy Birthday Aunt Joyce! Many thanks for sharing YOUR day & coordinating everyone’s comings & goings.

As we grow older, seems only weddings & funerals bring extended family together. Super appreciative of every opportunity to see kin. Reminder of who we are, from where we come. Beard, hippie hair – family love you, no matter what.

Have always carried a strong sense of family. Grandparents belief-stamped this trait; parents drug us multiple summers to visit cousins, aunts & uncles – developing [family] bonds, despite growing up geographically far from one another.

Forever appreciative, full heart 🙂

: BALTIMORE STRONG

: Ben & Jerry’s share

: always been my fave, cuz Regina

: appreciative of every opportunity to see kin

Posted in Family, Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Leave a comment

Charm City

Published October 16, 2015

SD – WV – OH – NH – CT – next up, Maryland. 6th consecutive weekend marathoning, running state 42 Saturday 🙂

Hotel stayed in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor – GREAT location. Day’s first stop, the National Aquarium. HUGE building hugging the Chesapeake Bay – 5 levels of wonder. Black tip reef to Shark Alley, well done. Time constrained, unfortunately had to cut out early – still needed to fit in lunch & bib pick-up downtown.

Long jot down Pratt, opted to walk by Yankee great Babe Ruth’s Birthplace Museum before righting myself toward the city’s two premier sports stadiums, Camden Yards & Ravens M&T Bank Stadium.

Much of downtown Baltimore is uniquely designed in the region’s locally harvested red brick – including tomorrow’s mile 25 paver path to the Finish. Welcomed BIG at Camden Yards: “This Land is Birdland”. Tomorrow’s marathon wraps Orioles Stadium – finishing down pedestrian Eutaw Street, connecting Camden Yards to the city’s NFL home.

Snapped a pic of the marathon ‘Finish Line’ – classy, Baltimore.

WOW whatta day – whole lotta, whole lotta before a 26.2. To anyone who thinks of Baltimore only as the city jungle portrayed during last year’s riots – think again. Much to see & do!

Early start tomorrow a.m. [MARATHON DAY] then hitting the highway – dinner plans with Aunt & my Virginia-based cousins (2 hours away in Martinsburg WV). Livin’ life with no regrets – FAAANNTASTIC!

: Thursday nite flight — next stop, Baltimore

: 5 levels of wonder, highly recommended

: sand shark

: horseshoe crab (ranger presentation)

: sea anemone — specifically, a plumose anemone 🙂

: the mighty pint-sized sea horse

: jellies

: Yankees great, home in Baltimore?

: MLB’s Baltimore Orioles

: Eutaw Street — mile 25 red brick paver Finish

: ‘Charm City’ loves their Birds

: bib pick-up in NFL Ravens stadium

: Baltimore’s famous football son — Colt, not a Raven

: eye on the prize

Posted in Northeast | Tagged aquarium, baseball, football | Leave a comment

Hartford Marathon

Published October 10, 2015

#41 done – next weekend: Baltimore

Having lived in Connecticut for 9 years, two things I remembered ‘bout the Hartford Marathon: (1) scenic Bushnell Park finish & (2) it always, always rains – cold, heavy rain…not just a sprinkle.

Fast forward to 2015 & my first Hartford Marathon – woke Saturday to SUNSHINE & cool morning temps. FAAANNNTASTIC!

8am start — lined up across from the Capitol dome (7th dome on my journey).

Started out fast, crossed the Connecticut River at mile 4 into East Hartford, then out to South Windsor on Highway 5 just past the half. Least scenic portion of today’s run, 10 miles of out-n-back highway (mentally zoned out, time suffered)…returned to East Hartford at mile 23. Back over the river, climbed up Hartford’s historic Founders Bridge at mile 25 before re-circling downtown.

Whole lotta memories. Worked downtown at Deloitte & Touché (CPA firm) just outta college; Hartford Whalers (NHL) played across the street. 100 years ago, never pictured myself finishing a marathon. Running down Pearl, passing the City Place II Building, remembered that first ‘real’ job.

2 long blocks more, left on Trinity, then crossed under Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch into Bushnell Park. Not my strongest finish but 41^st state complete.

K R Haga at Eversource Hartford Marathon 2015 (short complimentary race video)

one race, 2 medals – Hartford Marathon & the New England Double (completed Vermont & CT same year)
Marathon Maniac family — TITANIUM, baby — 30 marathons, 30 states, in 365 days! WOW! WOW! WOW!