Any other year, no way I could take off the 31st from work…end-of-month in Finance, gotta/hafta work requirement. That’s of course unless New Year’s weekend is a rare Saturday/Sunday combo 🙂 Google-searched (then promptly registered) for a New Year’s Day marathon in Spring Hill FL. Direct flight to Tampa – couldn’t imagine a better way to kick off 2017. FAAAANNNNTASTIC!
Lazy pre-race day, 2-mile run ‘cross the Causeway [bridge] to Clearwater…breezy, humid conditions. 82° forecasted for tomorrow’s 26.2. Early to bed, early to rise – except for, a powerful midnight firework display celebrating the start of 2017.
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- last flight of 2016
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- ocean digs next 3 days
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- Clearwater Memorial Causeway
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- last run of 2016 — whatta view!
marathon #79, first of 2017
Hour-15 north from Clearwater – not a soul on the road at 6am…most folks snoozing late this Sunday holiday. Same day bib pick-up at Anderson Snow Park, a local ball field. Small group of local runners gathered – 10K, half marathon, 26.2 mile options. No more than 50 registered for the Full.
Comfortable temps gave way once the morning sun broke. Today’s course – the Suncoast trail – an out-n-back bike path built parallel to a northbound toll road. Flat paved path, not super scenic, no trees.
Ran strong for 12, walked/ran at 15, called my Sis at 21, death-marched or slogged the final 5. No good excuse, complete mental fade – let the day’s heavy humidity exaggerate today’s marathon collapse. I’ve run in hotter…most affected by the January temp swing, been snowscape training in Colorado.
Not the way I envisioned my 2017 start – 5 hour finish, not a great run…but I finished. Marathon #79, first of the new year, 9th consecutive run day. No chemo, weaning myself off meds & running EVERY SINGLE day.
High hopes for 2017 – New Year, New You. Gonna live HUGE.
Spring Hill Marathon Mania – Jan 1, 2017
Haga, K R LOUISVILLE CO 1664 5:14:14
Post marathon plans? beach, Frida Kahlo, dinner at Guppy’s. Lovin’ me some fresh seafood. Watch out New England – Gulf Coast oysters, they’ve got game. YUM!
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- 5 hour finish — not the way I envisioned my 2017 start…but I finished
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- Gulf Coast oysters — YUM!
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- January beach day 🙂
last marathon of 2016
Thursday night flight thru Dallas – Friday marathon? Heck no, Saturday 🙂
Week before Christmas, no better time of year to mix ‘love of running’ with ‘love of family’. No direct flights to Fort Smith, Arkansas – but can always count on family to pick me up at the airport. If you can’t count on family, who can you count on?
Friday noon hitched a ride with my niece to the best lunchette in the world – my Mom’s lil’ sole proprietorship, Williamsburg Kitchen. When did my nieces & nephew all learn to drive? And why again was my niece not in school…on a Friday? HA!
Post-work day, family loaded in my brother’s SUV — destination: Little Rock. Mom sprung for a set of hotel rooms, night before my final marathon of 2016. Over-the-top nice, huh? Thanks Ma.
Crack of dawn wake-up (345am alarm). Last trolley to the Start: 5am. Shed layers before I left my brother’s truck, already 64 degrees…gonna be cooking by noon.
‘3 Bridges’ Marathon so…should I assume three actual Bridges? Yep, pretty straight forward.
The course crosses the Big Dam Bridge at Miles 1 and 18, the Clinton Presidential Bridge at Mile 9, and the Two Rivers Bridge at Miles 19 and 26. The course is mostly flat, except for the three bridges.
Tagged 2 runners early, consistently pacing 8:40/miles. Would coast off these dudes to the Clinton Presidential Library. 9 miles, totally doable. Heavy humidity early on, like breathing in water (yep, it’s the South)…luckily, skies above stayed overcast so I didn’t bake.
the course? Urban trail. the view? Miles & miles of river. my attitude? FAAANNNTASTIC.
Lost my pacers a mile past the Library. Slowed waaaaaay down but didn’t stop, didn’t walk…and most importantly, no pills. Sub-2 first Half. Crazy muggy but didn’t really struggle until marker 20-21; puked at 22. Finished the day with ‘Boston’ Jim – guy wore a Tough Mudder tee & spoke fluent Yankee. Great attitude; made the last 4 miles completely bearable.
And my Finish? Sprinted it out with Boston Jim. Check out the pic – mighty close, you be the judge 🙂
K R Haga, Congratulations on Finishing the 3 Bridges Marathon!
Time: 4:35:41
13.1: 1:59:39
Post-marathon? Shower & fancy food with the Fam; insta-weather change. Outdoor temps dropped from 78 to 34 degrees during our 2 hour drive to Fort Smith. Guess I brought a little Colorado with me 🙂 Evening plans: Game night. Mighty good to be home.
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- count ’em, 3 Bridges
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- photo finish: me & Boston Jim — you be the judge 🙂
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- marathon #78, 2nd in Arkansas
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- 50 Stater, Dan Ruiz
Signed up for today’s trail run almost a year ago. Sells out every year, marked my calendar.
Why Death Valley? Fave of my 50 State runs: Crater Lake [Oregon]. fave Half: Rocky Mountain [Colorado]. Opportunities to race in a National Park come far & few between. Not letting this opportunity pass.
biggest concern? Intense HEAT. Cracked dirt, sand, salt flats & record 130+ degree summer highs. Ya’ll know I’m not a hot weather runner…but the quest to ‘park-run’ overruled any worry. It’s December, how hot could it be?
Chilly morning wake-up. Ironic, huh? Cap, gloves, hydration pack. Hydration pack? Yep, trail run. Park rangers trucked in water at miles 7, 15 & 23. Oatmeal breakfast; backpacked Fritos & an apple.
Race Director provided last minute instructions (& a few laughs), then boarded chartered buses to the Start. Probably a 60/40 split marathoners/halfers. Hour-15 minute drive; soaked in the desert landscape. Lucky in life.
Steady climb in elevation, steady drop in temps. Folks piled off the bus, I stayed behind. Not leaving ‘til I’m forced outside. 33 degrees & blowing wind. Over the next half hour, bus slowly refilled with weather-beaten runners. Not my first rodeo 🙂
8:30am start. Popped off the bus & trekked dirt road for 4 miles. Sand, gusting wind. Kept my head down while I pushed thru the long stretch of flat. Neck gaiter pulled over my mouth. Adapted well.
Looped thru Titus Canyon, would spend remainder of the day here. Tall canyon walls provided protection from the wind. Shade (gloves on), sunshine (gloves off). Desert climate created insta- 10-15 degree temp swings.
Miles 8-10: WOW whatta climb! 1700ft to 5400ft elevation. Didn’t even attempt to maintain pace. Unpacked Fritos, slow-ate my Gala [apple], and hiked UP a series of switchbacks…Colorado style. Whatta view! LOVE LOVE our National Parks!
Posted a 2:47 first Half – maybe an all-time worst. But then…I grew STRONG. Down, down, down multiple miles of dirt & boulders – felt like home. Runner ahead, I’d lock him/her in, match pace, speed up, barrel by. Began passing tens of runners.
Refueled at mile 15. Popped 2 anti-nausea pills & quickly re-tagged 3 runners who caught me at the water stop.
At mile 17, passed my first Halfer. Entered the most memorable stretch of course in many a month. Trail no more than 20 feet wide, path’d thru high rock 6 continuous miles. Canyon exited at 23; met rangers equipped with water & a porta-john (first all race).
Stopped, regrouped. Restarted slow, last 2 miles re-upped my pace. Caught sight of the Finish & kept pushing. Marathon #77, just under 5 hours – my 2nd best trail time. Hour later, back in Furnace Creek: shower, dunes & dinner.
One more Nat’l Park day & maybe Hoover Dam 🙂 #noregretlife
2016 Death Valley Trail Start List
Saturday, December 3, 2016 8:29 AM (GMT-8) – Final results
Bib Racer name Finish time
204 K R HAGA, Louisville CO 4:56:28.3
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- pre-race JOY
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- cap, gloves & hydration pack — ready, ready to run!
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- Titus Canyon
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- STRONG 2nd Half FINISH
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- marathon #77, 3rd in California
Death Valley (Race Director quip)
