Have become super sensitive with my run schedule since April. Learning balance. Consistent training & rest, now a key part of active marathoning. PR goal this Fall – leg fatigue or re-injury would limit that.
Ever since my first Fall snow hike 4 years ago, Steamboat has always tugged at my heart. Returned the following year for my first (& only) Half Ironman. It was there I was humbled by my first open water swim – BIG difference from lap swimming at the gym. HA! Steamboat Springs was also my initial 50 State finish destination. 3 hours from home however; added Fort Collins last minute to better share the experience with family & friends. No regrets…but still love me some Steamboat, not missing Sunday’s 26.2.
Been heating up all week, start of our 4 month summer season. Not a hot weather runner – but who doesn’t love summer? 14er hike season 🙂 Left Ro with Ash on Saturday, drove US36 to Denver, I-70 West past the Divide. Snow garnished the landscape just past Idaho Springs. Last hour-half north from Silverthorne, summer heat gave way to snowy meadows as I upped elevation & crossed Rabbit Ears Pass. Haven’t seen winter precip since my Evans hike last month. Kid giddy.
Bib pick-up, light dinner, 8pm hunkered down. Early start tomorrow.
Pre-dawn parked downtown, caught the marathon Start bus. Point-to-point course, 8100ft elevation.
Chilly arrival, almost an hour early – watched the sun rise over Hahn’s Peak. double WOW! Fought the urge to double-shirt & slabbed on extra sun block. Temps would soar +30 degrees by Finish.
Small marathon field – less than 300 – & similar to Coeur d’Alene, jacked with elites and tri-athletes. Another high altitude training hub. Hilly start, first 4 miles. Long slope decline thru 8 – fairly flat going forward. A few rolling hills but nothing to wake the quads.
sub-2 first half, another fade to the Finish. Heat cooked. Flagged down an aid truck at 18 but changed my mind & waved him on. Followed a group of young runners next 2 miles, then iPhoned Ash at marker 20 for inspiration. Last miles to town, a mix of jog, walk & slog.
I live in altitude (5600ft) but add a 1000ft & my lungs beg for air like a flatlander. Not enough high altitude marathoning in my war chest.
Stopped digesting water at 24. Rinsed my mouth last 2 aid stops for hydration – anything swallowed, I spewed on the highway. Physically I’ve got this – mentally, I still struggle in heat. Determined to succeed.
Last half-mile finished strong. Medics applied ice [to the] back of my neck, poured water over my head. Hot, dehydrated – up and on my way in 20 minutes. Not pretty – I get that – but it’s all a process. Thin air & summer heat, not a strength…yet.
McDonalds splash bath, 3 hours open highway. Colorado marathoning: home before dinner, still gotta walk the dog 🙂
Steamboat Marathon – June 5, 2016
K R Haga Louisville CO 5:07:30
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- June I-70 snowscape
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- Rabbit Ears Pass
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- Steamboat’s always tugged at my heart – LOVE this place!
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- Hahn’s Peak
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- temps would soar +30 degrees by Finish
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- Steamboat Lake State Park
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- Mile 20 inspiration — Marty: Thinking about giving up? NEVER!! You can do it!! — Ro: 2 Waneka walks? Jealous! YOU CAN DO IT!! — JoJo: Finish human
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- home before dinner
Slept in ‘til 6am, didn’t leave resort lodging ‘til 6:30. Marathon morning? Perks of staying at The Coeur d’Alene, host hotel for today’s marathon. Small field of runners grouped near the Start, at McEuen Park. Perfect weather. Cool, sunny, upper 40’s. Beautiful country. Deep greens, huge pines, reminiscent of Oregon’s Crater Lake.
Gun pop; started out quick. No more than 2 miles of town, then spent the next 9 hugging the expansive lake perimeter – same Lake I cruised open water yesterday afternoon. Inclines at miles 4 & 7 but nothing noteworthy. Unfortunately, felt sluggish this day – no special reason, just no mojo.
Found out Saturday, today’s course was a double-loop trek. Mentally checked out at mile 12; toyed with the idea of only finishing a Half. Ultimately, indecision worked to my marathon advantage. The Half turn-off came & went – I circled out of town for a 2nd tour of the lake. Sun kicked up as did the temps. A long sleeve hoodie maybe wasn’t the best race attire decision I’ve made. LOL> Sure I was styling, but also heat-zapped by mile 18. Ho hum…live & learn. Scenery – still mighty amazing 🙂
Sub-2 first half, 3 hour 2nd lap – not ideal, but collected another medal, gained more experience & finished marathon #63. Generally don’t read runner reviews. Haters are gonna hate…first three comments however, fairly summarized my CdA marathon experience.
marathonguide.com
Small race (243 finishers) so not much company – During the last 15 miles, I passed 5 or 6 people and was passed by one person, and had no one with 300 meters at the end. Same story for my daughter. It’s a lot like a solitary training run.
The course – four trips over the same piece of pavement is about 2 too many. I realize it’s all about the half-marathon, but making the marathoners run 4 repeats over a significant hill was a bad idea.
Starting at 5:30 or 6:00 instead of 7:00 would’ve meant cooler temps and lots more shade. With temps over 70 and bright sun like this year, the last half of the race was a lot harder than it needed to be.
Aid stations should use bigger cups – Dixie cups that hold maybe 4 ounces before spillage during hand-off and drinking aren’t very useful. It would also be helpful to have water and sports drink in the same order from station to station, or not intermingled at the same station.
Post-race foodstuffs were nothing to get excited about – oranges, bananas, and 1 free beer if you were so inclined and had time to wait in line. We had to head to the airport so didn’t mind that the post-race stuff wasn’t anything special.
Coeur d’Alene Marathon • 2016-05-29
230 Participants • 105 Women • 125 Men
K R HAGA • Marathon • 4:58:36.4
Shower, fancy resort massage, lunch.
Spent the next 18 hours vacationing at a local B&B. Talk about exceeding one’s expectations. 20-minute drive in the woods. Relaxed in lush green forest amongst towering pine, sipping herbal tea, eating homemade pie. Why don’t I B&B more often? WOW, WOW, WOW!
Memorial Day Monday, back in Colorado. Who doesn’t love 3-day weekends?
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- my room: Chambre Rouge
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- post-marathon relaxation
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- outdoor MAGIC
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- across the lake, far in the distance, the Coeur d’Alene Resort (last night’s home)
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- spinach & artichoke omelette — breakfast’d like a King!
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- back home, relaxing with my pup; who doesn’t love a 3-day weekend?
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- Home, Sweet Colorado Home
Coeur de Lion B&B
Unexpectedly, received a package at work today from my Sister – commemorating my 50 State finish. Letting this one play out below…just as it happened over social media. WOW, just WOW! LOVE LOVE my family; such a lucky guy 🙂
Keenan
May 24 at 3:27pm ·
completely over-the-top floored – received the most AMAZING gift today from my Sis & family. 50 State book – finisher pic from each state, marathon name & time, plus tons of state fun facts. LOVE LOVE LOVE the effort involved in making such a priceless gift. Just WOW!
Like 76
Tammy · iMessage · 3:43pm
The facts are actually pretty cool so read all the little captions. I enjoyed it. All the trivia and famous people. I wanted to circle where you ran but like I said I also wanted to get it done. You went to most of the highlights. It’s super cool.
I loved the book when it came in. I couldn’t believe how perfect it was!! Lucky me.
Sent from my iPhone
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- WOW, just WOW!
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- best sis ever – LOVE my family!
Keenan Tammy, Victoria, Paul & Jack – thanks so much! Absolutely unbelievable. WOW WOW WOW – no words. Just incredible. I only finished my 50th a couple weeks ago – and BAM. Thanks so much.
Tammy Wanted the other gifts to totally freak you out. That’s why I put it at the bottom. Saved the best for last. Hee hee hee.
Keenan Yeah, started with beet juice & the ping pong paddles…assumed this was a family challenge for 4th of July. HATE beet juice – I’d be all-pro ping pong by the 4th if a beet juice chug was spoils to the loser.
Tammy No way was I punishing myself. I suck at ping pong.
Victoria Finding some of those times weren’t easy! Glad you liked it! Tammy is super creative.
Tammy You should really tell him what you said every time you wrote down a time. That was funny.
Victoria I feel like I wrote the same number over and over and over and over again.
Esther What a wonderful, thoughtful gift. You must be loved.
Keenan AMAZING family. I’ve always been lucky in life.
Tammy that’s why I was giving you a hard time about no picture for Illinois. I was panicked I would only have 49 pictures. Sneaky.
Keenan Wasn’t gonna even post Illinois — ’cause who wants to see #49, after you’ve run #50 the next day. Very sneaky sis.
Paul Yes she is an expert sneak….for sure
Seth That’s very cool!
Gwendolyn That is an awesome book can you ask your sister where she had it done I’d like to make one for myself.
Tammy I made it myself. The book came from Amazon and then I added to it.
Keenan Gwendolyn – fair warning…this book includes DC. One more to add to your calendar 🙂
Benjamin So, so, so fantastic! A perfect keepsake to a wild adventure you’ve had.
Jason Congrats!! AWESOME!!
Scott Oh, wow! I can’t think of a better gift, actually, very personalized and will memorialize memories for a lifetime!
Toni How cool is that!
Stacy I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!!!
Keenan Me too! So thoughtful – most AMAZING gift. Also friend, happy I got to share #50 with you. Training consistently again, healthy again, lotta positive endorphins flowing. Life is good 🙂
Heather What a thoughtful family you have!
Stephen Wow! Awesome gift!
Leslie [heart emoticon]
Ellen Wonderful! Love you all!
Erin What an awesome gift!!!
Tina What a thoughtful gift!
Tara That’s awesome.
Arun A lovely gift!
Sara That’s pretty cool! You have an amazing family!
Amy Now THAT is perfect. Love it.
Jill What a thoughtful, most perfect gift for you. Like the haircut.
Carolyn Funny, you said storybook ending and your sister made you a book.
