Marathons/Ultras

Casper Marathon

Published June 7, 2015

After a day of hiking & river rafting on the North Platte, woke early Sunday for marathon #31 – my Wyoming state run.

Staying at the host hotel, meant all was needed was running shorts & my Newtons – short walk downstairs, Casper Marathon actually starts & finishes from the Ramada Riverside parking lot.

What to wear? Light rain, cool start, 40% chance of showers. I’ve run my share in the rain this year – bring it on! Local cannon send-off & 6 miles of road before hitting cement trail. Rain lifted early – greeted soon after with sunshine & warm air.

Ran steady thru the golf course, 4 miles of turns & increasing heat (no trees). From mile 14 (thru 24), shared the path with runners lapping ahead. Mentally tough watching folks run AT you (5 miles further on their journey)…lotta relay runners.

Mile 17: Fort Caspar – struggled with form, my breathing labored. Altitude? Walked mile 18 & the set of hills in Paradise Valley.

Park benched in Morad Park, seemingly nothing left. My friend Cliff waited at mile 21 – and we walked. Stopped to steady myself (heat dizzy). Puked ‘til nothing but dry heaves – and we walked.

Worst marathon finish to date – it’s a marathon, not a walkathon – felt broken. Only 186 finished, I placed 152.

K R HAGA (Bib 69)

Male from LOUISVILLE, CO

Finish

05:49:20

In 6 days I’m running Rock N Roll Seattle – tough to pick oneself up after a complete fail 🙁 Gonna get some sleep, clear my head & start over in the morning. This too shall pass.

It’s not how we fall, but rather, how we pick ourselves back up that counts. Stand up, plant your feet and make a statement.

: all smiles rainy start

: FINISH #31 — Ayres Natural Bridge (near Douglas WY)

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, Rocky Mtn West | Leave a comment

Vermont City Marathon

Published May 24, 2015

Early Saturday start, connection in Chicago, landed in Burlington VT just after 2pm. Bib pick-up, checked into the Hilton (fancy digs), then strolled pedestrian Church Street in search of lunch. Outside dining at Rí Rá, beautiful sunshiny day. Short walk down Battery aside scenic Lake Champlain, watched the sunset from my hotel room. Early to bed, early to rise – marathon #30 tomorrow a.m.

: early a.m. start: Denver ⇨ Chicago ⇨ Burlington

: Memorial Day run in scenic Vermont

: pedestrian Church Street, Burlington

: Lake Champlain sunset

Caught up with Wisconsin-marathoner Toni & husband Jeff for breakfast. First met this twosome in Jackson after Mississippi Blues in January. I’m not much for eating pre-race – but enjoy hanging with good people. Upbeat attitudes, good mojo.

8:03 start time, hats off for the Anthem, queued up under sunny skies.

Went out fast. Crossed the actual Start Line 3 times within the first 9 miles – course loops downtown, two separate out-n-backs. Drafted behind a runner trekking off road, followed along a 3 mile stretch resembling trail (good on the feet). We ran negative splits (miles 7, 8 & 9) & caught the 3:45 pace group. Stopped for water at mile 11 & they were gone.

Mile 15 – Battery Park. Drums beating, pre-warned this Hill was coming, kicked in & killed it – up & over mile 15, plus the surprise hill at mile 16. Drums set this marathon apart, a memory I’ll take home.

Course wound thru quiet neighborhoods & city parks. Residents turned on sprinklers & passed out popsicles as temps climbed. AWESOME crowd support! Toe on my right foot bled thru the shoe, slogged thru miles 21-24.

26 miles – seemingly nothing left in the tank – got into a foot race. 50 meters to go, I went full sprint against a guy fast on my left. Finish picture, a bit inconclusive – [in my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Relay runner. I go full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. If I could muster a little competitiveness throughout an entire race, forget sub-4, I’d sub-3. LOL >

Back in the hotel, lanced my toe to relieve pressure. Liquid sprayed like a fountain PLUS I lost the nail (Ashton says I gloss over the less glamorous aspects of the sport). Shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm. Life is good.

Vermont City Marathon and Relay

#3348 K R Haga 4:35:19

: breakfast w/ the pride of La Crosse WI

: 8:03 official start – queued up, ready to run

: a bit inconclusive – [my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Went full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. Too competitive? This guy’s smiling – my eyes say KILL

: THIRTY!

: shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Tagged kyrkan, rivers-lakes | Leave a comment

Fargo Marathon

Published May 9, 2015

Barreled out of work half-day Friday – destination: Fargo ND.

Chose not to run all week, resting a strained calf muscle – tricky strategy. Feeling tired/looking haggard, arrived in North Dakota for my 7^th consecutive marathon weekend. Met my marathon room-share, Randy, for the first time. Gotta say, sharing space with another runner was HUGE – saved $$ but more importantly, talking marathons was super motivational.

Bib pick-up at the FargoDome, Fargo’s largest landmark – we’d start & finish tomorrow’s race from NDSU’s arena stadium. Randy inquired ‘bout pace groups – whether they’d have a 3-fifteen group. 3:15. Way faster pace than I can ever hope to generate.

Foot-long sub & quick trip to the grocery store where Randy introduced me to Pedialyte. Not tasty (not even a little) but chock full of electrolytes. AND this guy runs like the wind so I too purchased a liter bottle from the Baby section.

Up early Saturday, had already scoped a parking spot the night before. Thanks Buffalo Wild Wings – ideal location 🙂

Cool sub-30 temps & sunshine. More perfect? Today’s run started inside the heated FargoDome. FAAANNNNTASTIC!

Hats off for the National Anthem. Kinda confused, looked around, removed my hand from my heart – Oh Canada? In hind sight, it’s a pretty anthem – don’t know if I’d ever heard the words. Just came as a surprise, running in North Dakota. No worries; soon after ensued “The Star Spangled Banner” – Go USA!

Fargo Marathon Start! Gun start reverberated inside the arena.

Exited the heated Dome, greeted by wind – initially took one’s breathe, woke the soul 🙂 Marathoned thru neighborhoods, greeted by residents sitting in lawn chairs, warmed by fire pits.

Lotta crowd support throughout the entire race – Fargo or Grandma’s (Duluth MN) rank as #1 in this category on my Quest. Lotta Norwegian pride too – several homes flew native flags, immigrant farmers settled this area more than a hundred years ago.

Crossed into neighboring Minnesota near mile 9. Ran thru Moorhead, university home of the Dragons. Again, lotta music, lotta crowd support. Beautiful campus. Mile 15, passed back in North Dakota; fatigue hit 2 miles later. Generally don’t hit the Wall ‘til miles 20 or 21, but hadn’t run in 7 days so struggled early.

Local bands were now playing at each mile marker. Pulled out my buds & took in the day. Sure, crazy tired but no shooting pain like last Saturday in Wisconsin – I could do this, one mile at a time. Ran mile 25 thru North Dakota State (home of the Bison).

FargoDome finish. FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC! 29^th state, end of my 7 week challenge – PLUS pizza & free showers 🙂

Race Directors: If you’re looking to increase participant numbers, look to Fargo. Well organized event – beginning to end, a runner’s race. Awesome crowd support. Only have good things to say ‘bout North Dakota.

Dear K R Haga,
Thanks for competing in the Fargo Marathon, you finished in a time of 4:33:31