MyCOLORADOLife.net

Route 66 Challenge (Sept edition)

Published September 30, 2018

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~ Mark Twain

September 2018 update: 3 marathons, year’s first DNS – missed my miles, by a bunch.

Physical not yet resolved (pancreas likely). Biggest struggle: Mental. Not knowing, dropping weight, no plan of action – just pills. Pain meds & enzymes. MRI in October.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Worry isn’t gonna solve things. One step. Next day, another step. And another. And another. Building on the positives. Everyone has a story. Life deals unexpected outcomes from time to time. All part of the journey. I’m not a victim.

SUPER SEPTEMBER. Newfoundland, North Dakota & Maine. #lucky in life

EVERY day of October I’m gonna move. Good days, bad days, 2 miles minimum. Stretch goal: 50 training miles AND a weekend marathon. EVERY single week of October.

Don’t expect to wish the Physical away – but moving EVERY day of October, is a Plan. Something I can control, step in the right direction. Cooler October temps, all weather possibilities. Easiest time of year to log miles, Autumn. Can’t fail if you don’t try 🙂

Race ReCap: 3 marathons, 3 different time zones. Huffin’ Puffin Marathon/St John’s NEWFOUNDLAND (my 5th Canadian province), Bismarck Marathon (NORTH DAKOTA) & the Maine Marathon (Portland MAINE).

Marathoning Streak: 58 months

Mileage ReCap: ended September at 598 miles (142 miles behind GOAL)

: ended September at 598 miles

: Mile 598: Webb City, MO

: first day of FLANNEL

: bro’s Tough Mudder

: diet FAIL in Philly – YUM!

Marathon Calendar:

10/07/2018 Twin Cities Marathon (Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota)
10/14/2018 Prince Edward Island Marathon (Charlottetown PEI)
10/21/2018 Atlantic City Marathon (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
10/28/2018 Marine Corps Marathon (Arlington, Virginia)
11/04/2018 Broomfield Trails Marathon (Broomfield, Colorado)
11/10/2018 Nashville Marathon (Nashville, Tennessee)
11/17/2018 Magnolia Marathon (Meridian, Mississippi)
12/01/2018 Falls 100 Trail Marathon (Falls of Rough, Kentucky)
12/08/2018 Kiawah Island Marathon (Kiawah Island, S Carolina)
12/29/2018 Run for the Ranch Marathon (Springfield, Missouri)

Posted in Run Challenges | Leave a comment

Maine Marathon

Published September 30, 2018

When ya dine in a 19^thcentury Methodist church Marathon Eve, how can you go wrong Marathon Day? Stained glass windows, massive organ pipes, cathedral arch – and fresh seafood. Ace up my sleeve? Convinced Stephen today a necessary training run. He’d Uber 6-8 miles from the Finish & run me in. Marathon path BACK on TRACK, guaranteed.

7:30am drop off at Sullivan Gym (U of Southern Maine), single loop out n back course, quarter-to-8 start. No frost on the pumpkin but cooler autumn temps 😊

Hit it hard early, deceptively hilly. Didn’t drop pace for 10 miles. Porta-potty regroup, 2:07 first Half split. Plan: keep pushing ‘til 15, pop a pain pill/ease late-race stomach woes. PLENTY of FALL COLOUR – New England foliage: reds, orange, yellows. USA’s brightest/most diverse hues. BESTEST place to leaf peep.

Electrolytes, water – complete refuel, doing it all this day. Unfortunately, found I’d dropped my magic med solution. Argh. “Pain just mental, keep pushing.” Legs like lead by mile 18. Electrolyte sugars initiated day’s dry heave show. Walk/jog. Walk/jog/run. Expected Stephen soon, would help motivate a Maine finish/lift my spirits.

No seacoast grin repeat (re: yesterday’s lighthouse 4-miler) but moving forward. Phoned-a-friend at 19. ‘Training’ partner would meet near marker 21 (last relay exchange). No drama, just no gas in the tank. Walk, jog. Walk, jog, run. VERY MUCH appreciated!

3 hour+ second half – but I finished. I showed up, I medaled. University shower & a flight home 2 hours later. Portland to Philly, Philly to Denver, work in the morning. Despite the slow familiar finish, Colorado-returned upbeat, improved attitude.

ALL IN. 1^st day of October. LOVE October, LOVE the temperature swing. Fave month of the year.

Diet, consistent training miles, improved hydration – 100% effort next 30 days. Diet is the answer/will provide long-term relief. Swollen pancreas, meds for the pain. Bread, sugar, dairy, most fats – not my friend, not on October’s deal-a-meal plan.

Now to New Year’s, I’m moving. Every day, every single day. Antarctica driven!

Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay
Sun September 30, 2018
Portland, ME US 04101

Congratulations on Finishing the Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay!

K R HAGA Marathon Louisville CO BIB #142 CHIP TIME 5:23:52

: autumn in New England

: BACK on TRACK

: Mainer SWAG ❤️

: 5 mile ‘training’ run – HUGE thanks, Stephen!

: Robo Ro 🙂

Maine Marathon

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Leave a comment

lighthouse shakeout & Frogmore Stew

Published September 29, 2018

Late Friday nite flight. Midnite. Not always possible to office-scoot early Fridays 🙃 First red-eye cross-country trek in THREE years. Notta HUGE fan of overnight travel & sleep deprivation but mighty good to have options. Touchdown 9:30 Saturday morning: Welcome to Maine.

Toughest part? Staying awake during the 3-hour layover in Newark. Overslept a flight ONCE – my first marathon return from Alaska, 2013. Still remember the panic of waking in Anchorage, at my gate/all alone ‘xcept for the humming of vacuums tidying terminal carpets overnight. Yikes!

This trip, slept every opportunity/every flight. Whole lotta sightseeing planned, sunshiny New England day. AND FOOD of course. LOVER of all sea creatures. Lobstah, get in my belly! 🦞

Early hotel check-in, quick shower refresh, change of clothes, diner breakfast – Dutch’s.

Lotta diet change since Sunday’s gut wrenching DNS in Cheyenne. Consistent pill popping, abdominal pain down, mind again engaged. Not running this past week – that’s a fail – but food planning, big SUCCESS! No bread, no dairy, no sweets/sugar, minimal fat, no alcohol. SUPER restrictive me thinks; however month of October, all in. Doc went to med school, not me – gonna give it a try.

Eggs, lean protein on the good list. Diner fed. Ready, ready to roll.

Scenic walk downtown, Portland Harbour slow stroll. Did not disappoint. Race expo at Southern ME University. Bib pick-up, 50 Stater reunion site. Next up? Cape Elizabeth.

Think of Maine, ya think of lighthouses & rocky beaches. Short 20 minute drive, Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth. Gotta/hafta/must go. Day’s WOW spot – Maine expectation met. Bonus points? Dropped to shorts & partner-in-crime’d a scenic/HILLY 4-miler. Training miles for Stephen (half-marathon planned in Nashville), whoopie pie reward.

Hotel dash, ‘nother shower, dinner reservations at Grace. Former church. Stained glass, church organ, vaulted ceiling. STUNNING. What’s on the tonite’s menu? Roasted clams & Frogmore stew. Not exactly starving on October’s restrictive diet 😊