End of holiday breaks are always kinda sad – sharing one chalked full of adventure with my Canadian bestie, definitely bittersweet. Ballooning, hiking, high altitude fine-dining, plus tourist trekking in Manitou Springs & Garden of the Gods – EPIC! Thanks again Sar 🙂
Weekend concluded with a rare Monday marathon – a Labor Day urban-trail run thru Colorado Springs. Early morning start in America the Beautiful Park. Saw many of my Maniac running pals before Race Start. Haven’t run a ton of marathons this summer, 6 total. In perspective, guess that’s not so bad. HA!
One of my most patriotic marathon starts – Star-Spangled Banner sung proudly by many this day.
Went out fast, hung with the 3:45 pace group for 10 miles – finished my first Half in under 2. Relearning to run with pace this past month. Have a PR goal in mind for November (Marshall University Marathon).
Nice mix of bike path & dirt – not overly hilly either. Altitude is always an element when Colorado running but today’s late race obstacle: HEAT. Forewarned temps would kick up to 80, no trees mile 18 to Finish.
Popped a pill at 15 – my first experiment at marathoning with meds. Consistent & beefed-up training are gonna reduce my need for Western medicine. In the meanwhile, plan to stay ahead of nausea – not altering my life, will continue to marathon…even with cancer.
Slowed pace to a 10:30/mile jog from mile marker 18. Sun was there, sure – but I stayed steady/consistent, stopped for water/doused my head, but didn’t walk. Not my fastest, not my slowest – mentally however, HUGE victory. 2nd consecutive week marathoning & FINISHED feeling GREAT.
American Discovery Trail
September 05, 2016
166 K R Haga Louisville CO 4:56:23
Post-marathon DINER dinner celebration – [presently] diet-restricted from red sauce, but not 1950’s Americana fare 🙂 Shared a few last laughs with Sarah; chauffeured my Toronto-based friend to DIA morning following.
Busy 3-day weekend. Think I need a vacation from my stay-cation. Thank goodness for work days. LOL>
-
- Colorado LOVE
-
- marathon #69 (20th finish this year)
-
- post-marathon DINER dinner
Last time I saw Sarah, she set up a sweet hike above scenic Lake Louise in Banff Nat’l Park. Hike day culminated in a high-altitude tea aside an alpine lake, Lake Agnes. Set the bar mighty high, huh? Well…she IS Canadian after all.
Early morn hot air balloon, diner breakfast – next up, one of my hike faves, Brainard Lake.
Alpine lake, lodgepole pine, glacier snow on the peaks – all at 10,300ft starting elevation…pretty SPECTACULAR. Ever Google the elevation in Toronto? 249ft. True flatlanders. Whatta sport – thin air, little oxygen, yet not a peep of negativity outta Sarah. Hiked to Long Lake – pic I use as my website cover art. LOVE LOVE this place. Sharing the experience with friends, no words. Full heart.
Anything any better? uh…Cue, wildlife. Chipmunks, pika, black squirrels, elk – easy. How ‘bout MOOSE? FAAANNNTASTIC! Shower, change of clothes, night trek up Boulder Canyon to Gold Hill Inn. Fine dining at 8,000ft. Kinda hard to match Banff but folks – an alpine hike, 2 moose & a 5-course meal at 8,000ft – I attempted to reach that bar. WOW, whatta day!
(whole lotta photo credit: sarahontheroad.com)
-
- 5000ft higher than my Colorado home
-
- perfect day for a hike
-
- lodgepole pine & glacier-fed water
-
- Ponderosa pine
-
- thin air & cool temps – LOVE it!
-
- Aspen yellow, the beginning of Fall
-
- photo credit: sarahontheroad.com
-
- website cover art revisited (Long Lake) — my blog’s now 5 years strong
-
- Ro’s a smilin’ — sign of a mighty good hike
-
- FAVE shot of the day!
-
- alpine pallet, so much colour
-
- wildlife alert: MOOSE!
-
- a drink & a soak before heading home
-
- photo credit: sarahontheroad.com
-
- high-altitude fine dining
-
- a rare non-hike, non-marathon, freshly-showered dinner pic 🙂
Sunday: [marathon] bib pick-up day in Colorado Springs. 10 minute chore – check, done.
Garden of the Gods. Monolith red rocks curtained by mighty Pikes Peak in the background. 2 ½ hours from home, but I visit this Park at least twice a year. Any excuse, friend/family visit to Colorado – Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park to the North, Garden of Gods to the South. Both treks highlight every itinerary. AWESOME amazing acts of God.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Something old, something new – well, at least new to me. LOVE history, LOVE everything Native American. Visited the three-story Pueblo-style Cliff Dwellings, descendants of the ancient Anasazi (existed 1100-1300 A.D.) Honestly not a ton to see & do, but happy to have gone once. Museum’s a bit dated – more walk-thru placards than actual artifacts.
Dinner & a short tourist walk downtown. Highlight: the healing waters of Shoshone Spring & a random local releasing their pet sugar glider (small, nocturnal gliding possum). Startling, unexpected but pretty cool experience.
Night sleeps in Manitou Springs, tomorrow another 26.2.
(even more photo credit: sarahontheroad.com)
-
- Colorado road trippin’
-
- next stop: Manitou Springs
-
- Pikes Peak — LOVE this shot!
-
- whole lotta folks had the same idea
-
- this Canadian is crazy STRONG!
-
- photo credit: sarahontheroad.com
-
- super FUN day
-
- feelin’ all Native
-
- surprise, surprise — it’s a sugar glider (an omnivorous, nocturnal gliding possum)
-
- small body, crazy long tail
-
- room with a view
-
- tomorrow morning: marathon #69
Labor Day 2016 (Colorado mix)
3-day Labor Day weekend – where to go? How ‘bout a stay-cation? Lame. Well…not if your favourite blogging pal Sarah is flying in from Canada. Super fun, right?
Set the alarm for 530am – ’cause it’s Saturday of course. LOL> Reserved two spots for a hot air balloon ride – couldn’t be a better way to show off my home state, Colorado.
Not a lotta prep required for newbies – just hold on!
Daybreak. Watched the team first fill the balloon with cold air, then switched on the fuel. 8 of us jumped in, then up up & away we sailed high above – AMAZING views of the Rockies.
Beautiful experience. WOW!
Activities complete? Heck no. High elevation hike, fancy eats at 8000ft, Garden of the Gods & a Monday marathon in Colorado Springs. Just started with a balloon ride – wait & see 🙂
-
- Colorado sunrise
-
- turning up the heat
-
- up, up & away
-
- our local Flatirons
-
- WOW, WOW, WOW!
-
- LOVE LOVE my Colorado life!
-
- GREAT day to share a ride HIGH in the Rockies!
Ballooning in the Rockies
