Wisconsin, state 48.

Chose Sunday’s race [after] passing an Expo booth in Twin Cities (last October).  Trees, great hometown support & one of our country’s top 3 accents – LOVE it, LOVE them, sign me up!

Saturday mid-day flight.  Easy hour-half to Minneapolis.  Rental car pick-up.  Another hour-half to Eau Claire.  Interstate & farmland.  Easy, peasy.  Bib gather, early dinner, downtown digs at the Lismore.  Sleeps have come a long way since Antarctica snow-tenting my first 2019 run.

Sunday morning SUNSHINE.  Rain forecast all week.  Held off 3 hours, providing welcome overcast skies.  National Anthem, thanks to the Toutant family (race organizers), and a long loud MOO.  Unique to Eau Claire, unique to Wisconsin?  Either way, unique to ME.  My first pre-race cattle call.  LOL>

No huge time goal, 4:45 in my head.  Chest cold all but gone.  Lung capacity stronger, week following Missouri’s 50K (near 7 hour) finish.  Smiles and green trees today.  Soaking in the season.

No intention of starting out fast, just digged the 4:15 pacer guys’ shtick.  Corny 2^nd grader jokes & random running trivia.  Helped tick off the miles.  Goal to hold on thru the Half; didn’t drop pace ‘til marker 15.  Fastest marathon by a US President?  George W. Bush, sub-4 marathoner.  Who knew?

Light rain miles 21, 22.  Precip energized, provided relief.  Walked/jogged/slogged last 5 miles.  WHOLE LOT BETTER than week prior.  Finished, finished with a smile.  Well-organized event, 8,000 runners strong.  AMAZING community support.  HAPPY my 50 state-journey took me thru Eau Claire.

Shuttle to parking, much appreciated UWEC university-shower.  Kicked back an hour.  Convenience store bottle of Cola, bag of salty lime-flavoured chips.  No judgment.  Did the body good.

5 hours ‘til my Southwest flight home.  Driving app set, destination: Pepin, Wisconsin.

Afternoon ‘long the Mississippi, visiting my Little House family – Ma Pa Mary & Laura, the Ingalls ❤️

 

Eau Claire Marathon

K R Haga     Residence: Louisville, CO

 

Finish  4:50:37,  20M  3:25:32,  13.1M  2:05:36,  6.2M  58:33

 

 

Cinco-Seis de Mayo

 

Eau Claire Marathon FINISH

 

About the Eau Claire Marathon

 

When our family first learned that The Eau Claire Marathon had been canceled, we were disappointed because we had enjoyed participating in the past. In an instant, conversation turned to the exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference in many lives.

 

To me, running has always been about the journey: A journey that leads people to a healthier lifestyle, that endorses the fact that dedication and discipline yield results, that demonstrates that you don’t have to win the race to have a personal victory, and a journey that should remind us all of the power of encouragement, particularly when directed at another person. So you see to us, it has become more than just a race!

 

My daughter Emi and I share a passion for making the race a success. We believe through the coalition of others we can make the Eau Claire Marathon a very special event with many meaningful and significant contributions for years to come. Simply put, we want to provide a beautiful, high-quality, well-run, fun venue that will attract runners at all levels and, in turn, will provide revenues to be directed toward various charities and causes.

 

Since 2014, we have donated to over 120 Charities.

 

Myself, my daughter Emi, my wife Kerry, and our other children and their spouses are all dedicated to keeping the Eau Claire Marathon a healthy and vibrant event for many years to come!

 

After the tragic passing of Emi’s mother in law, Cheri Uelmen, in a bike crash in September 2014, we added Cheri Uelmen’s Fantastically Fun Kid’s Run on Saturday Night! Cheri was a very important part of our family, and we know that this race will keep her spirit alive.

 

– Pat Toutant and family