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.
-
- Fall marathoning begins. 37th state, 20th marathon of 2015.
-
- every mile not corn, cropped with soybean
-
- not a gambler — but a HUGE fan of BBQ
-
- next weekend: Morgantown, West Virginia
UPDATE – Tuesday, Sept 15th
Back from SD just in time to meet Tom’s family visiting from Jersey. Summer fun celebration at La Rev!
La Revolución Taqueria y Cantina
Happy September!
Woke early, long walked Ro, breakfast PB&J (’cause I’m grown-up & I can 🙂 )
- organic seed bread
- coconut water
- groovin’ on 70’s tunes
Brand new, hippied out, lovin’ life. 4 years in the making – fixing inside & out.
2011: scary crazy leaving NYC, move 2 time zones away, no job, career change.
4 years later, absolutely no regrets. Trust yourself.
Finally a day set aside for man’s best friend!
Ro, Sno’ Ro, Rowan O’ Roark, Rolo Cup — I love ya to the moon & back 🙂
National Dog Day serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.
“Millions of dogs are killed each year because they’re simply unwanted, says Colleen Paige, founder of National Dog Day. They’re unwanted because no one realized how to properly care for the demands of the breed. They’re unwanted because they were bought as a Christmas gift for a child that didn’t keep their promises about caring for the dog…unwanted because they shed too much…unwanted because they bark too much. UNWANTED…simply because someone changed their mind. All a dog wants to do is love and protect you. That’s all. Dogs are amazing, courageous, sensitive and sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider bringing what was once considered “unwanted love”, into your heart and home on National Dog Day!”
National Dog Day can be marked as many a dog’s birthday for those rescued on the day and for all of them it will be akin to a “K9- 4th of July!” Even citizens who are not dog owners will be encouraged to donate $5 to their local shelter on National Dog Day.
