Over my Quest, have been asked: what’s your favourite race? Previously kinda limped thru a response: “every state is different…”
Mesa Falls‘ (Ashton ID) high on my list (scenic Targhee National Forest start); also, rank Grandma’s (Duluth MN) near the top – my first sub-4, foggy cool drizzle along Lake Superior in mid-June, amazing crowd support.
Got a solid answer after today’s run – favourite 50 State Marathon: Crater Lake Marathon in Oregon.
Always strong in the mountains. Felt the morning cold blow, wind blasting over the Lake. Stood strong. Watched the sunrise peek over majestic Crater Lake. Nothing like it, truly spectacular.
Low key 730am start – ok, go. Eased into the first 3 miles, relatively flat, few ups & downs. Was not fooled – knew hills were a comin’. Researched this run in advance (altitude range 5,980 to 7,850 feet); would be my most challenging marathon to date.
Steady 5-mile climb near mile 8 – no relief…slight, medium or steep – but all grades UP as we climbed the top of the Rim.
Found hills to be an age equalizer. On each climb, I’d pass young guns walking the upticks. Every downgrade, they’d fly past my heavy legs. Mile 19, mile 21 – UP again. Tagged two runners (Michigan & Jersey) miles 22 & 23, and soaked in my surroundings – HUGE ponderosa pine & sunshine. Heat kicked in, eyes salt-burned but flying on adrenaline this day.
Have never experienced such a beautiful run – literally ran Start to Finish in a National Park. Whatta journey! Still appreciate my other state experiences – but telling ya, Crater Lake is unmatched, really something special.
Slowed on the cruel 2-mile finish UP but did not stop, did not walk – I stayed strong.
Breathing laboured & heavy, volunteers at mile 26 promised the last 2-tenths were flat…and straight ahead. Crossed with a smile on my face. Planted on a nearby tree stump — no fancy Finish digs, my 36th state finish.
Most challenging, most rewarding run ever. FANNN-FRICKIN-TASTIC day!
2015 Marathon
1 Sergio Morales, 2:53:38; 2 Gary Krugger, 2:53:38; 3 Kyle Hall, 3:07:38; 4 Stephanie Cooke, 3:32:52; 5 Richters Warnick, 3:37:46; 6 Scott Schwasnick, 3:39:59; 7 Mark Albanese, 3:40:44; 8 Jonathan Seiber, 3:43:53; 9 Thomas Hallberg, 3:49:59; 10 Angela Wells, 3:51:44; 11 Micah Harpel, 3:53:38; 12 Jeffrey Schulte, 3:57:34; 13 Stephen Guynn, 3:58:45; 14 Timothy Hamn, 4:00:31; 15 Josh Wood, 4:01:10; 16 Alyssa Bowers, 4:01:24; 17 Beth Henderson, 4:04:58; 18 Geoffrey Rabie, 4:06:01; 19 Paul Andrews 4:07:00; 20 Jessica Armstrong, 4:07:15; 21 Ryan Stansfield, 4:07:49; 22 Jennifer Arrowsmith, 4:07:49; 23 Aaron John, 4:10:43; 24 Darryn Zawitz, 4:17:25; 25 Tobin Turner, 4:17:40; 26 Joe Binevento, 4:19:58; 27 Jonathan Richards, 4:19:40; 28 James Salge, 4:20:17; 29 Adam John, 4:23:07; 30 Louis Pahnke, 4:25:02; 31 K R Haga, 4:25:39; 32 Irwin Hosea, 4:25:49; 33 Gerald King, 4:32:17; 34 Jeni Hous, 4:34:37;
Hiked Mount Hood, trail ran Warm Springs, marathoned Crater Lake Nat’l Park – leaving a HUGE fan of Oregon.
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- Finished 31st overall – WOW! Bring on the hills, STRONG today. Everything’s clicking – mountains & marathoning…perfect combo!
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- “Like No Place Else On Earth”
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- multiple forest fires ablaze, 30 miles away
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- towering Ponderosa pines (mile 22, 23 & 24) – INSPIRED!
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- The Pinnacles (mile 25)
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- warm finish: eyes burned, salt collected ’round my glasses
With recent life changes (& the onset of summer), haven’t stayed super consistent with marathon training. “You’ve done so many, your body is conditioned to run marathons.” Some truth to that, but I tell ya – getting up & randomly running 26 miles after throwing 6’s & an 8 over the past 2 weeks, is a struggle. Still coming to terms with dropping gym membership (eff July 1st). Started finding my groove again last Wednesday – tight timing for Sunday’s marathon (kinda late in the game) but mentally feel I’ve turned a corner & I’m back.
Up early Saturday, caught a flight to San Francisco – my 35th marathon, my 35th different state. Landed in dense fog, temps in the upper 50’s – San Francisco norm for July. Packed long-sleeves & a jacket – my kinda summer weather 🙂
No rental required in SF, great public transportation. Air train to BART to Embarcadero station – 0.7 miles from my hotel, half-mile from tomorrow’s marathon start/finish. At Embarcadero, located the free Marathon Expo shuttle – BAM, easy peasy.
Bib & shirt pickup. Check, done. Explored Fort Mason & caught my first views of SF’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge – the reason I chose this marathon for my California run. Truly stunning.
Early night – 5:30am marathon start tomorrow, one of my earliest.
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- marathon bib pick-up
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- Fort Mason (Golden Gate Park)
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- Golden Gate Bridge – will be up close & personal tomorrow 🙂
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- Alcatraz – all tours sold out thru Aug 22nd, who knew?
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- charmed life: Seattle’s Pike Market in June, San Fran’s Fishermans Wharf in July
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- hotel view: SF’s Transamerica Pyramid
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- “Rice-a-Roni…the San Francisco treat”
Quick shower, dressed in layers, running gloves & a hat – not your typical July attire. HA!
Arrived early, waited for my wave start – almost 15 minutes after the Elites. Lungs breathed water from the dense morning fog. Easy 5 mile, 8 minute-pace approaching Golden Gate Bridge. Yep, would be running OVER the Bridge to Marin County & back.
(bridge approach – one of the steepest hills I’ve marathoned. That said, better at mile 5, than mile 25 🙂 )
Got all nostalgic during the 3-mile Bridge out-n-back.
Have crossed the mighty Mississippi, run alongside both Atlantic & Pacific Oceans AND three Great Lakes (Michigan, Superior & Utah’s Great Salt Lake). Raced thru Nebraska & Iowa cornfields, Idaho potato farms, Louisiana bayou, Saguaro cactus in Arizona, down the Las Vegas strip at night, thru Kentucky’s Churchill Downs, viewed lighthouses in Maine, Wisconsin, Rhode Island & Michigan. 50 State Quest has been quite a life journey. Crazy proud of my country, our people & our national diversity.
Lotta hills in San Fran – I knew in advance, but still…a lotta hills in San Fran.
Fatigue set in early – lactic acid build-up near mile 12 (inconsistent training). 4-hour pace group passed soon after.
Haven’t run a large city race since Miami – enjoyed running with folks all 26 miles. While generally a HUGE fan of small-town America, latter miles can often be lonely. You wonder – does anyone know I’m out here?
A bit unorthodox but cell-phoned friends/family at miles 17, 19, 22 & 24. I would finish today. Last hill at mile 23, slogged in the remaining three miles. My 3rd 5-hour marathon – not particularly proud of that stat, guess it’s all part of the journey. Good days, bad days, sunshine/rain/snow/ice/heat/wind – and fog.
Pretty amazing day. Today I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge. Beautiful city San Fran — I’ll be back 🙂
San Francisco Marathon 2015
Bib: 30741
Name: K R Haga
Hometown: Louisville, CO
Finish: 5:07:45
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- marathoning over the Golden Gate Bridge
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- 5am block party in San Francisco
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- Bay Bridge pre-race selfie
Happy July 4th – Happy Birthday USA!
Woke early to chilly temps – not the summer norm for July but today’s 26.2 adventure started at 8800ft 🙂
Less than 100 runners lined up for the inaugural Angel Fire Adventure (full & half #s combined).
National Anthem, 3 wheelchair participants upfront – then we started running. No gun, no announcement, just running. 9 miles flat or downhill, surrounded by high peaks, alpine flowers & sage. Hard to imagine a prettier marathon start – breathtaking.
Outkicked by a runner near mile 13. I continued up the highway, he turned & finished the Half.
The number of runners now thinned considerably. Constant climb, miles 14 thru 18. Ran with two runners thru 18 – one picked up pace, one slipped behind – then I was on my own. 18 then 19, still climbing – zapped all energy.
Heat kicked up, became aware of sun blazing my neck & arms. Felt like a soft white marshmallow toasting in raging campfire. Car traffic increased along the highway; not sure the town was aware of this year’s inaugural event. Kept on the shoulder, no worries, but felt more isolated than I have in any previous race. Walked/jogged most of mile 23, then IT happened.
Older lady (70’s 80’s) pulled her truck directly in front of me on the highway shoulder. Heat delirious, lifted my head, looked her way.
“Have you been in any accident? Can I drive you into town?” (super nice I agree but…)
“I’m in a race.” Pointed to my race bib. All the time thinking: maybe I could hitch a ride to mile 25 & limp in from there. I wasn’t gonna win so who cares, right? Thankfully oxygen returned to my brain & I waved her away. How bad did I look? LOL>
My most embarrassing marathon moment.
Eventually I would finish – under 5 hours, but just barely. (Only a handful of finishers — heat & altitude bested most.) Grabbed an ice compress from the volunteer nurse; DJ still randomly pumping club music into the sparse high-altitude sky. Weird but true.
OVERALL PLACE OFFICIAL TIME BIB # NAME CITY STATE
13 4:58:35 104 K R HAGA Louisville CO
34th marathon Finish – post race celebration?
8am zip lining reservation (next day) with my friend Cliff. Had never previously zip lined. First pass was a head trip but after that – no worries. Super fun. Heck less scarier than skydiving, that’s for sure. HA!
Love New Mexico, love 3-day holiday weekends. Next up? Sis & family’s first Colorado vacation. When? 12 hours ago. Yikes!
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- 34th state, first high-altitude marathon, 8,800ft
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- wrapped in the American flag, running on the 4th — super proud moment!
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- zip lining at 12,000ft — SPECTACULAR views! LOVED LOVED LOVED it!
