Family

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

before Colorado, there was Connecticut

Published October 10, 2015

Flying to Hartford for this weekend’s marathon was like flying home. Before Colorado, I lived in New Haven & worked NYC for 9 years – whole lotta memories. Family, friends, marathon, friends, more friends – that was the plan.

Once Upon a Fairytale CT

Started Friday with breakfast at the Cosmic Omelet, then shared the day with family – FAAANNNTASTIC! Bib pick-up 20 minutes away in Hartford, then watched Michaela doll it up for a neighborhood character lunch, promoting her entertainment company, Once Upon a Fairytale CT. After months of following her progress on social media & the web, was super fun to see the girl the action. Well done, so very proud!

What happens when you combine a professional makeup artist with a lifelong obsession with storybook characters? You get Once Upon a Fairytale CT.

Our story begins with a young autistic boy named David. Who has spent most of his life in love with his fairytale characters and visiting the world they live in.

The story continues with a woman trained in the art of makeup and transformation. A beauty and special effects makeup artist, Michaela was trained at Marinello School of Beauty and Chic Studios NYC. In 2012 Michaela launched her own freelance makeup artist company “Glam It Looks”. And in 2014 started Once Upon a Fairytale CT. Using her skills our characters leap off the pages with the most accurate looks in the business….

Late dinner, even later to bed, tough a.m. marathon start. No regrets – 50 State Quest is much more than a running journey.

Fast forward to Saturday nite – still tight from the day’s marathon finish, my 5^th consecutive weekend running – drove an hour south to Guilford, home of my Connecticut bestie, Dawn. Why do I love Dawn? Big heart, no soul more honest, loves life, loves to laugh, amazing chef & horse passionate. Her farmhouse in southern CT is something out of a magazine. You ever need to get away & recharge, spend a weekend with Dawn. Hot tub, dinner, laughs – movie, conversation, cards, more conversation.

Hate to waste hours sleeping. Up early; at the barn, watched Dawn feed Rudy & Spot. Special treat: Dawn harnessed Spot & showed off the new carriage (rode alongside Quonnipaug Lake). Whatta experience! Thanks my friend.

Late flight return to Colorado meant one more stop before the airport – 30 minutes shoreline-south to Branford, where we met up with Andrea, Betsey & friends for brunch & a walk along the beach. Ocean breeze, sea gulls, sunshine, peace.

Returning to work Monday morning, gonna be a struggle. New England vacation in 3 days – friends, family, food, horses, beach AND my 41^st marathon – lot more to Connecticut than folks give credit, not simply a halfway point between Boston & NYC.

: marathon weekend #41

: family, friends & marathoning — good to be back in Connecticut

: New England autumn

: entertainment entrepreneur, Michaela

: my Guilford gal: love & respect this pic — raising horses is a true labour of love

: weekend WOW pic — doesn’t get anymore Connecticut than this

: showing off the new carriage — whatta experience!

: love this gal – her smile, her laugh, her passion — truly AMAZING individual!

: Andrea & Stephen sharing a laugh

: ocean breeze, sea gulls & sunshine

Connecticut weekend Getaway

Posted in Family, Northeast | Tagged autumn, beachcombing, horses | Leave a comment

Sioux Falls Marathon

Published September 13, 2015

Woke tired, body stiff – pre-marathon activities didn’t serve me well this morn. Train hobo Friday night; drove 4 hours thru 3 Midwest states to see Little House. Would I do it again? Heck yeah – it’s the journey I’ll remember, not missed sleep 🙂

Early 6:30am marathon start made it easier to coordinate a post-marathon shower. No begging the hotel for a late check-out this go-around. PLUS ya’ll know, I’m not a fan of running in summer heat. Thanks Sioux Falls!

Arrived early at Howard Wood Field. Struggled to locate the Start (parked on wrong side of the Arena).

Minute to go, ran across a field, hopped a fence & bang – we were off.

Started slow, real slow. ‘though I stayed active all August, hadn’t run 26.2 in 5 weeks – not since marathoning at Crater Lake (Oregon). 4:15 pace group passed at mile 2. Sloooooow start, real slow.

Lotta loops & turns – course reminded [me] of Casper. Entered Falls Park at mile 5 – again, lotta loops & curves (notta fan) but mighty scenic. (Finally) picked up pace & hit stride after looping Downtown. Sioux Falls has an extensive trail system – course stayed on paved path. Nevertheless, appreciated Sioux Falls’ extended Greenway, off and on from mile 8 to mile 21. Well done.

Tagged a runner early at mile 8, caught him on a hill, then stayed close. Mile after mile we jockeyed for lead. Goal: stay close the first half, then to mile 15, then thru 18 miles. Never caught the 4:15 pacers, but wasn’t passed by the 4:30 group either. I could live with that.

‘Tag’ finished mile 19 a tenth-mile ahead, never saw him at 20.

Slogged the last 6 – sluggish 10-minute/miles but didn’t walk. Miles 21 thru 25 were a mix of sun & breeze – not a lotta trees along Kiwanis Avenue. Quads tight, legs heavy – wouldn’t sub-4 or PR today, but mentally a-ok.

Lapped the final point^2 around Howard Wood Field. Nothing like a stadium finish – FAAANNNTASTIC!

1002 HAGA, K R 04:35:06.8 LOUISVILLE CO Marathon

Showered, post-marathon lasagna in Sioux City [Iowa] – then caught a movie (‘A Walk in the Woods’), before travelling another hour-half to Council Bluffs for BBQ & casino hopping. Not a gambler – but I’m a HUGE fan of BBQ 🙂

Denver 7:15am Monday (overnight train), then bus returned to Boulder. Got a nod from a homeless guy also unshaven, long hair, toting a backpack. Would need to pull off ‘restroom sink magic’ to be work-presentable in 10 minutes. All part of the journey, folks. LOL>

Next week – Morgantown, West Virginia.