While researching last week’s make-up marathon, noticed another late addition to the Maniacs calendar. 7 hour car ride. Long haul but would be trail running the Oregon Trail. Late registration, body feeling good…road trippin’ to Hebron, Nebraska.
Run history. Run beauty. For the Oregon Trail Run of Nebraska, we have combined a run on the route of the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Pony Express route with one of the most picturesque roads in Southern Nebraska. The first half of the Marathon will travel parallel to and intersect with the route that settlers took as they crossed Nebraska on their way to points west. The first half of the route is mostly flat and offers a view that stretches for miles. You can imagine the trail of “prairie schooners” keeping to the hilltops as they headed west together.
The second half of the route drops down into the Little Blue River valley, the gravel road that follows the river takes you on gently rolling hills through the cottonwood, oak, locust and ash canopies, by beautiful and fading farmsteads and limestone cliffs. The trees should be in their peak fall color on race day and the surrounding landscape and abundant wildlife offer up photo opportunities around every bend.
Out of work late, didn’t reach the [Nebraska] border ‘til past 9pm. Listened to a high school football game over the radio – like going back in time. Open highway last 4 hours, just me & a trail of truckers. Planned on camping near North Platte or maybe Kearney. Camping? Yep, marathoning on a budget. HA!
fun fact: Nebraska is in the Central Time Zone. ARGH! unexpectedly lost an hour. new plan: sleep in my Prius for 3 hours, then back on road – Hebron at 5:45am.
Race attire change (Maniac jersey, shorts & Newtons) in a gas station restroom (very classy LOL>), bib pick-up at a local church, back under blankets for one last 30-minute power nap.
Small group of runners racing today’s FULL. Piled into a school bus. Cool temp start, clear, no wind, perfect conditions. Flat dirt farm road. Tractors & farm combines would soon choke our shared path. Summer rain plus warm Fall weather = late grow season, good year for farmers.
Went out quick. Big FAN of the landscape – rows & rows of corn. No trees in Nebraska. Should the sun warm quick, I’m gonna cook. Stark difference from my Colorado panorama.
Dodged 4 BIG machines (stirred up a lotta dust), made the turn at mile 8…had the rest of the road to myself. Stayed top 3 thru mile 10, dropped to fifth at the Half. Cottonwoods intermittently dotted dry (seasonal) river beds. Rolling hills, more corn.
Field of runners grew as late-start Halfers caught [me] on the final 10K.
Entered Hebron, passed Thayer County High on 10th Street, finished downtown in Roosevelt Park – SUCCESS – marathon #73, 6th place overall.
Results
1 Wesley Hochstetler Oregon Trail Marathon M 3:41:42
2 Troy Pruett Oregon Trail Marathon M 3:46:23
3 Laurence Burnsed Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:07:41
4 Tim Pratt Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:11:33
5 Shane Sundermann Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:13:01
6 KR Haga Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:27:36
7 Gale Dingwell Oregon Trail Marathon M 4:34:08
Showered in the high school gym (much appreciated), then highway-trekked home. 7 hours up, 7 hours back. Marathoning on a budget. Listened to college football (Nebraska-Purdue) on the ride home. Nebraskans LOVE their Cornhuskers.
Next weekend: Narragansett, Rhode Island
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- Prairie sunrise
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- cornfields & tractors: ‘NEBRASKA’
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- marathon #73 (24th of 2016)
UPDATE: Purchased corn-on-the-cob popcorn while road trippin’ ‘cross the Prairie. Ash contends the instructions were vague. Nothing said to cover the bowl while microwaving. LOL>
After last weekend’s marathon fail in Boulder, wasn’t sure when I’d next long-run. Down a day depressed, whole lotta sleep – then like most, licked my wounds & got back on the horse. Short run Tuesday, 8 miles Thursday…head back in the game.
Thursday morning identified a last minute race addition on the Maniacs calendar – only an hour-half from my home. Late registration thru Friday night. Done; meant to be.
Laid low Saturday, short hike in Eldorado Canyon, bed by 9pm, up again at 3:15am. Quick shower, walked/fed Ro…on the road north by 4am – marathon meet-up at 530am in downtown Fort Collins. Late instructions, Race Director greeted participants – in particular, a large Fort Collins Running Club contingent – all car-journeyed to the Canyon, parked at Picnic Rock Rest Area (mile from the Finish), then van-pooled another 2,000ft UP the Canyon to today’s high-altitude start: milepost 94 on Poudre Canyon Road.
Super scenic landscape. 15 miles course-shared with the Colorado Marathon. Lotta memories there – race where I finished my 50 State Quest. Cool temps ‘til the sun rose – but not as cold as last May…was literally snowing last time I ran this route 🙂
Start time: 713am…yep, that specific (daybreak)
Pre-race pic; pretty much on my own after the first 4-5 miles. Course spilled between large canyon walls, Cache la Poudre River on runner’s left…saw maybe 2 vehicles total. Surrounded with views of the Rockies ALL day. Quiet & isolated. BIG smile.
(last 10K) Picked off by a few runners but finished 12th overall (super small field). 4:30 finish, not bad at 7,000ft. AND for the first time ever, won my Age Group & scored a bobble-head. Marathon 72 RE-DO SUCCESS!
No marathons for 2 weeks but…maybe/might have located another last-minute race, just 7 hours away in Nebraska. LOL>
Cache La Poudre Canyon Marathon – October 16, 2016
20 Keenan Haga 4:33:07
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- Goodnight Moon: 7:13am Start (daybreak)
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- (pre-dawn) autumn colour
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- won my Age Group
Felt a bit chained to my work desk this week – month’s first week is always a busy one.
Needed to get in an outdoors fix…but couldn’t imagine another 4am alarm buzz. Settled on a nearby glacier hike – snow, thin air, just over an hour away…yep, that’d do.
Would be my 4th trip to St. Mary’s Glacier, 20 minutes off I-70: Idaho Springs exit 238. 10am start – still early enough to secure a spot in overflow parking. Warm, sunshiny day…MUCH better weather than the trek last summer with my Sis & family. Cold rain fell all week that July (rare summer precip in arid Colorado)…luck of the Grecos 🙁
Seven-tenths mile UP. UP boulders, ‘cross thin dirt trails thru evergreen cover, more boulders…then clear, pristine St. Mary’s Lake, edges iced – lake located just below the glacier, ringed by bristlecone pine & thick willow. Snapped Colorado landscape, then started the next trek UP…thru a long willow thicket, glacier loomed LARGE ahead. Scaled loose rock & scree ‘round the lip of St. Mary’s.
Hiked another half-mile, peered down at decades old ice, thinly covered by the previous day’s snowfall. Early season snowboarders skimmed the glacier’s rough surface.
Air breezed cool. Kicked back & lunch snacked. Napped 20 minutes..little piece of heaven.
Glissaded a short stretch & made snow angels on the hike return. FAAANNNTASTIC!
Short 15-minute drive away, mineral soaked in nearby Indian Hot Springs. Dated enclosure but the springs’ hot water muscle-soothes whatever ails ya. Great day end. Head back in the game, tomorrow a.m. marathoning local at the Rez.
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- edges iced on St Mary’s Lake
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- glacier snow angel #noregretlife
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- chilly sip: glacier melt-off
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- hot soak before tomorrow’s run
SUNDAY – early start…but the closest commute of my marathon journey to date. 20 short minutes away, running the Boulder Reservoir today (the Rez). 4 laps ‘round, home before noon.
Unfortunately wasn’t feeling it this day. Good first 10K, started puking between miles 11 & 12. Finished the first Half; took a prolonged sit-down in nearby port-a-john. Felt dizzy/unsteady, morning sun & nausea zapped. Walked, jogged, started lap 3. Struggled mentally, tough time. Called it a day before mile marker 15. DNF (did not finish). Returned my timing chip. Dejected, headed home.
Quick shower, hunkered down with Ro, slept the afternoon away. LOVE LOVE my pup. Would reset & regroup the ego tomorrow. Whole ton of excuses – but at the end of the day, I didn’t finish. Failing is a tough pill to swallow.
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- all smiles Start
St Mary’s Glacier (melt-off sip)
