Can’t expect to run 6 straight weekends without eventually having a work conflict. Threw a few bucks at the Race Director & had my race bib mailed (most marathons require bib pick-up in person day before the event). Worked Friday, boarded a late flight to Chicago, picked up my rental just before midnight (closing time). Hour drive to Wisconsin – then like a bum, slept at a rest area just outside of Kenosha. Wrapped in Mylar retained from a previous Finish, set an iPhone alarm, locked all doors, UP at 5am. Changed into race clothes, brushed my teeth – 2 hours later, my 28th marathon start. Yep, kinda ghetto – but I achieved work/life balance 🙂
Parked downtown & walked half mile to the Start. Caught the most AMAZING sunrise over Lake Michigan against a double lighthouse background. Just what I needed – helped remind me why I do this & how incredibly lucky I am.
Miss Kenosha struggled a bit with the Anthem (high notes) but still felt it in my heart. Go USA!
Shared the course with Halfers thru mile 12 in SUNSHINE. First race in weeks where I haven’t slogged thru rain. Coursed miles of road along Kenosha’s Lakefront. Crazy beautiful. The Wisconsin Marathon brands themselves as the Cheesiest Marathon – HOWEVER, BIG shout out to their lighthouses & scenic Lake Michigan. That’s what I’ll brain-log when I go.
First marathon in months without hills. Unfortunately, suffered a muscle pull in my left calf near mile 11 – first injury in 2 years. 7 weekends, 7 marathons, 7 different states – tough mental challenge (travel fatigued)…now also taking a physical beating.
One mile marker at a time. Just like tennis – gotta focus on the point being played, don’t look too far ahead/to the next game. Shifted weight to my right side, kept an even steady stride – didn’t speed up, didn’t slow down.
Stopped at mile 25, stretched. Teared up re-starting the machine. Mile 26, only two-tenths to go. Dropped my ear buds & let the crowd bring me home. I RAN & RAN hard. Could hear folks cheer as I sprinted – sprinted – thru the Finish Line.
Laid lazy in the grass, caught some sun & ate a post-race brat (better than any banana, hands-down).
Shower, lasagna (it’s tradition) – then off to Mars’ Cheese Castle for Wisconsin cheese curds. Purchased 2 bags, jalapeño & horseradish. [Ya’ll know I like my foods spicy.] Unfortunately, had to cancel all other stops, pop Advil & prop the leg.
Early to bed, early to rise – will be good to get home. Home, sweet Colorado home.
Place Bib Athlete Name Finish Time
423 290 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE CO 4:34:06
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- Good Morning from Kenosha!
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- sunrise start on beautiful Lake Michigan
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- State #28 done, digging Wisconsin. Shower, lunch, then Mars’ Cheese Castle. Happy Saturday! — at Kenosha Lakefront.
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- Wouldn’t be Wisconsin without cheese curds, right?
Greetings from Home!
Dropped off social for 10 days – sorry folks, life got in the way.
My partner in crime, Ro was poisoned 2 Saturdays ago. Wasn’t sure if this was a subject I’d blog about – sometimes bad things just happen…and to everybody.
pre-Colorado life – couldn’t imagine caring for a pet. Huge COMMITMENT. Couldn’t understand why folks would willingly spend so much time & cash on their pets. Why they cared so much. Just animals, right?
Let’s just say ‘I totally get it now’.
Instead of spewing hate, taking the high road here & focusing on my own growth…as my pet’s companion.
Your dog is seriously ill. We’re not sure how you would like us to proceed.
I slept on the couch with Ro every night for 8 months (to ensure he was 100% potty-trained – first dog, yeah I was a nut). Same dog accompanied me on my hike quest 3 years ago – 52 different hikes in 52 weeks. Same dog crazily/affectionately/enthusiastically greets me every time I come home – tail a wagging…hugs, kisses, ready to play? nothing patient about my Ro, always ready for tug o’ war.
Your dog is seriously ill. We’re not sure how you would like us to proceed.
You need to do everything humanly possible to restore my companion’s health.
Travelled back n forth between 2 hospitals & the vet office. Whole lotta money spent.
The worse part? Going home…alone.
When filing the police report, Ro was referred to as property. how archaic is that? I get they’re not humans – but property? He’s not patio furniture. You’d think in 20-14, we humans could come up with a better legal term for our fur babies.
My workplace was awesome & let me house Ro after being released Tuesday morning. IV gone, but needed to be closely watched – that he could maintain outside of the hospital without 24/7 supervision.
Cancelled plans for Aspen this past weekend.
2 mile walk around Waneka Friday night, 5 mile hike on Saturday. Slept hard each day but little guy is gaining strength fast. Back on regular food, will finish meds tonite – one remaining script for 30 days. Stomach ulcer complication healing.
To the coward who laced beef with rat poison inside a public dog park – I believe in karma.
You will lose everything & everyone you love. You will go hungry. You will wander homeless. You harmed an innocent creature – only God above can save your empty soul.
Joannie So sorry to hear about Ro! You are much more tolerant than I….I would hunt him down for sure! That is just insane and cruel to say the least. Glad he is on the mend…
Leslie Glad to hear Ro is doing better. I had tears in my eyes reading your blog.
Bill No words other than wishing healing
Kanako I believe in Karma. Karma is a bitch!!! I’m glad your partner in crime is getting better! Can’t imagine life without our 4-legged baby especially now Senna and Saf are the best buddies!!!
Amy I’m so relieved that Ro is getting better. I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through, Keenan.
Erin Awwww K* so sorry to hear this! Glad Ro is feeling better. And I hope the POS who did this gets what coming to him/her!
Monica I seriously want to injure someone right now! I’m so glad Ro is okay! I believe in karma too.
Sarge So sorry to hear about Ro being poisoned. What type of person does that crap? Ugh, humans are so much worse than dogs.
Carmel OMG what “dog” does that??? absolutely shocking. soooo so pleased to hear Ro is on the mend though, and yep these fur babies are part of your family and how could you not do everything and anything no matter the cost to have them back being their normal selves again….. we have decided not to have anymore dogs for the time being…..can’t do the heartbreak when something happens. hope you are okay too keenan.
Nivedita 🙁 sending a whole lotta good wishes to Ro to get well soon!
Beth So glad Ro is doing well again. You are a better person then me taking the high road. Can’t stand the thought of this. How sick people can be. So glad you have joined the animal side. How my animals make me laugh!!
Krissy So glad that Ro is on the mend!!!! So sorry for you having to deal with a sick person doing something like this.
Regina Oh no. I hope Ro is going to be ok. Love and prayers sent to you.
Keenan Many thanks for everyone’s kind comments & well wishes. Ro took a bee sting yesterday after attacking a swarm at lunch. Yep, typical dog stuff – life’s back to normal. Love this guy 🙂
Office Ro
I can honestly tell you [that] I had never heard of ‘Gotcha Day’ until 8 or 9 years ago when my friend’s cousin Patricia began celebrating this day for her adopted daughters. Both girls had a birthday and both girls had a ‘gotcha day’ – and I just couldn’t get it right (utilizing the limited brain space God provided).
Fast forward to 2012 & Ro’s first ‘Gotcha Day’. Yeah, I’m a total hypocrite 🙂
Happy 1st Gotcha Day Ro!
Gotcha Day (sometimes called Gotchya Day, Adoption Day, Family Day, Adoption Anniversary Day) is a day celebrated by American families of adopted children to recognize the day they received the child. The Gotcha Day is the day that the child was placed into the family’s home for adoption, in other words, the day the family Gotcha. It is the most celebrated of adoption related events. In her book, The Joy of Family Rituals, Barbara Bizou wrote, Gotcha Day “is designed to show your adopted child how much you wanted him and that every year you continue to cherish him.”
Families who adopt animals, particularly dogs, will often refer to the day they adopted their pet as the animal’s “gotcha day.”
Gotcha Day 2012
