Finishing the 50 States was a HUGE personal achievement.
35 months from the time I ran my 1st marathon in Alaska, I completed 26.2 miles in every U.S. state plus DC. Not remotely on my ‘goal radar’ after I finished that first run in Anchorage – honestly, first thought was…one & done, never gonna do this again.
Received congratulations at work today – in the form of cupcakes PLUS a swanky gift certificate at Boulder Therapeutics (sports injury specialist). WOW – what a surprise, super appreciative.
Accolades also came from the 50 States Marathon Club – plus confirmation that I officially finished (all results verified). Planning my trophy presentation at our next reunion, being held in late August in Santa Rosa CA.
Newspaper coverage kinda fell through. My fault. Nothing, nothing – then 4 days before the Colorado Marathon, emails & phone calls. Solely focused on completing my final 50 State weekend (3 weeks after injury), I failed to follow-up. Didn’t meet the reporter at the Expo (because I was running state #49 in Illinois). Didn’t remember to look for him at the Finish – so caught up in the moment, I completely forgot/blanked entirely. In the big scheme of things, public recognition was never my run motivation.
Folks been asking, what’s next? Another round of 50? Heck no. I’ll continue to marathon – I’d like to see all the Canadian provinces & finish a marathon on each continent…but I miss climbing & the big peaks, miss backpacking, my dog, laughs with friends, rafting & kayaking, x-country skiing. So…I’ll get there, but no rush. Living a no regret life – but on my own time schedule 🙂
Keenan Haga in Boulder, Colorado.
May 4 at 11:35am ·
Look what happened at work today. Red velvet cupcakes – super nice!
Noel Amazing….Congratulations.
Preston Now they have to fatten you back up lol
Keenan HAHAHA — putting on pounds, that’s the easy part.
Laura Awesome!!!
Jill Virginia Did Ashton make those?
Keenan Yep — can’t beat homemade. Complete surprise!
Beth Ashton made them??? Wow that is phenomenal!! 🙂
Tammy Those don’t look gluten free so they were probably moist and delicious. Sigh.
Toni Congratulations!
Arun Superb. You deserve it Keenan. I am really happy!
Gwendolyn That’s great!
Joyce Congratulations!! 🙂
Hi Keenan,
I have kept track of your progress towards your 50 State finish, and I see that you just finished this weekend in Fort Collins, CO at the Colorado Marathon. I have printed up your results from that race. Congratulations on having finished the states!
What will happen now is I will let Paula know that you are a certified finisher. She will list you as such on the club website and will place you on the list for the next order of trophies. You can then bring it to any reunion to have it presented to you in front of the group.
Beth
Touchdown from Chicago at 930pm, 1030 home, asleep by 11. Alarm sounded at 245am, Maniac pal Stacy rang my doorbell at 315 – car pooling north to Fort Collins to finish my 50 States Quest, marathoning all 50 in under 3 years.
Knee wrapped, body banged up from yesterday’s 26.2 in Illinois – but mentally in a good place…today, the journey ends. What started as a ‘one and done’ marathon in Anchorage evolved & spread across the whole USA. Maine to Miami, Fargo to Falmouth, Sioux Falls to San Francisco, New Mexico to New York City. After today, I will have marathoned every American state – all 50 plus DC.
50 States Finish
430am bus departure – north up Poudre Canyon, point-to-point trek finishing in downtown Fort Collins. No accident I would end my Quest in Colorado. May 1st in Colorado. Temps in the 20’s, light snow falling on canyon boulders & lodgepole pine. It’s like the gods knew – it’s his 50th – make it PERFECT!
Layered up, descended the bus with hundreds of other eager runners, John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High blaring on outdoor speakers. This was REALLY happening. WOW WOW WOW! Snapped more than a few snowy pre-race pics. I never started with the dream of finishing all 50 – one of the biggest personal accomplishments of my life.
Queued up with the 5 hr pace group. Slow n steady. No failing today – run, walk, crawl – but finish before the 6 hour cutoff, gut out 26.2 miles. Made insta-friends with 1st time marathoner, Jen & trekked together the first 15 miles. Easy, forgiving course, mostly downhill to the Half. IT band stung by mile 7 but kept trucking along.
HUGE smile, enveloped by snow – 100% in my element. 2:30 Half, one of my slowest…but on track to Finish.
Said my goodbyes to Jen at mile 15. Walk, run – but kept moving, Mile 18: shooting pain. Not proud, but popped a pain pill. Getting thru today’s run doing absolutely whatever needed to finish.
Left leg completely stiff – same recurring injury – just 3 miles more. Not gonna sugar coat it – I hurt. Each pounding step, nerve strikes from my weakened left knee (like bone grinding on bone).
Entered Fort Collins. Focused. Mile 24.
Pain was frustrating – constant, pulsing. Crossed a long wooden bridge. Mile 25. I can do anything for a mile. Felt better to slog than walk, drug my left prosthetic along.
Two-tenths to go, saw people, saw the Finish. Bent the tin-man leg, willed it to move. Music blaring in my headset, eyes tearing, pounded my chest – each step closer, folks cheering me on. Kept pushing. Would not stop.
Joy, relief. So much emotion. I DID IT – I finished.
If I never run again, this day I set a goal, met a goal. I walked the talk. I did the impossible. No excuses, no regrets, nothing left undone. Proud to have family & friends see me finish. INNER PRIDE – absolutely anything is possible.
Congratulations #50 K R HAGA!
Here are your results for the 2016 Colorado Marathon:
Your final time is 05:23:27
Post-marathon lasagna. Next stop: dessert – at The Chocolate Café. Shower, (‘nother) pain pill, change of clothes, Dinner Theatre in Boulder. Notta lotta sleep – 4 hours spread over 2 days – but tonite we celebrate. B-I-G. #noregretlife
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- all 50 plus DC
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- taking in the moment (ironically, wearing a jacket from my first state marathon, Alaska)
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- pre-dawn: Poudre Canyon
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- it’s like the gods knew – make it PERFECT!
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- body banged up from yesterday’s 26.2 in Illinois – but mentally in a good place…today, the journey ends
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- Manic pal Stacy
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- Othman from my Vegas marathon
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- made insta-friends with 1st time marathoner, Jen & trekked together the first 15 miles
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- next up: mile marker 25
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- 50 States FINISHER!
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- cold day shared with friends & family
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- notta lotta sleep – 4 hours spread over 2 days – but tonite we CELEBRATE!
May 1 • Fort Collins • Colorado Marathon
pre-race clip in Poudre Canyon — will never forget this day, snow/mountains/Colorado, storybook ending to my 50 States Quest
Woke to rain, finished in rain.
Hitched a ride to the University of Illinois, my Saturday morning marathon Start. Cold drizzle; car camped 15 minutes from gun time. Glad yesterday was ‘Land of Lincoln’ tourist day, ‘cause today’s forecast: 100% rain. Grey day.
2 light runs earlier in the week – only non-swim or bike exercise since St. Louis. Concerned ‘bout the knee of course but not about the distance. Despite the rain, mentally in a good place. picture in my head – Bib #50 – Maniac friend Stacy picked up my Sunday marathon garb in Fort Collins & iPhoned an image. It all suddenly got real. Run, walk, crawl…whatever it takes, gonna finish state #49 today – 50 State finale lined up tomorrow morning. I’ve run a double before. I can do this. Today, Champaign-Urbana.
except for a 4-loop Canal run in DC last November, this course would my 50 State flattest – only 85ft elevation change. I’d be hard-pressed to post news ‘bout any hills this day 🙂
illinoismarathon.com: “…run through crowd-filled neighborhoods and tree-lined parks, and finish on the 50-yard line of historic Memorial Stadium.”
Yep, that’s what happened.
Hung with the 4:30 pace group most day. No pain ‘til mile 20. Left knee stiffened, IT band. Hydrated at mile 21, walked a tenth-mile, dropped my pace to an easy jog. Not winning any awards today – double marathon weekend, another 26.2 tomorrow. Slow & steady.
Stadium finish – LOVE all stadium finishes – Fargo Dome [in North Dakota] still my fave, but today also mighty memorable.
CHRISTIE CLINIC ILLINOIS MARATHON Results
K R HAGA LOUISVILLE/CO 1142 4:45:14
Post-marathon shower at U of I’s gym ($5 well spent), located Stephen, then autobahn’d north to Chicago. Heavy shower/downpour now – thankful I didn’t have to drive, even more thankful I had already finished today’s run 🙂
Chicago airport security, an hour half sentence managed by TSA rejects. Slowest, laziness, most inefficient location in our nation. Don’t argue you’re short-handed. Tens of employees walking around sharing weekend plans with co-workers. FOCUS! Small talk doesn’t keep us safe from terrorists. Lives depend on you doing your job — every day. Yep, every day. Ask me how I really feel. ARGH!
Touchdown in Denver just after 9. 2:30am’s gonna come early. Sharing a ride with Stacy at 3, catching a bus at 430.
50 State excitement is starting to build!
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- rained from Start to Finish – cold, messy day
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- LOVE a stadium finish — the best!
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- only one state to go — will finish my 50 State Quest tomorrow in Colorado
