Can’t expect to run 6 straight weekends without eventually having a work conflict. Threw a few bucks at the Race Director & had my race bib mailed (most marathons require bib pick-up in person day before the event). Worked Friday, boarded a late flight to Chicago, picked up my rental just before midnight (closing time). Hour drive to Wisconsin – then like a bum, slept at a rest area just outside of Kenosha. Wrapped in Mylar retained from a previous Finish, set an iPhone alarm, locked all doors, UP at 5am. Changed into race clothes, brushed my teeth – 2 hours later, my 28th marathon start. Yep, kinda ghetto – but I achieved work/life balance 🙂
Parked downtown & walked half mile to the Start. Caught the most AMAZING sunrise over Lake Michigan against a double lighthouse background. Just what I needed – helped remind me why I do this & how incredibly lucky I am.
Miss Kenosha struggled a bit with the Anthem (high notes) but still felt it in my heart. Go USA!
Shared the course with Halfers thru mile 12 in SUNSHINE. First race in weeks where I haven’t slogged thru rain. Coursed miles of road along Kenosha’s Lakefront. Crazy beautiful. The Wisconsin Marathon brands themselves as the Cheesiest Marathon – HOWEVER, BIG shout out to their lighthouses & scenic Lake Michigan. That’s what I’ll brain-log when I go.
First marathon in months without hills. Unfortunately, suffered a muscle pull in my left calf near mile 11 – first injury in 2 years. 7 weekends, 7 marathons, 7 different states – tough mental challenge (travel fatigued)…now also taking a physical beating.
One mile marker at a time. Just like tennis – gotta focus on the point being played, don’t look too far ahead/to the next game. Shifted weight to my right side, kept an even steady stride – didn’t speed up, didn’t slow down.
Stopped at mile 25, stretched. Teared up re-starting the machine. Mile 26, only two-tenths to go. Dropped my ear buds & let the crowd bring me home. I RAN & RAN hard. Could hear folks cheer as I sprinted – sprinted – thru the Finish Line.
Laid lazy in the grass, caught some sun & ate a post-race brat (better than any banana, hands-down).
Shower, lasagna (it’s tradition) – then off to Mars’ Cheese Castle for Wisconsin cheese curds. Purchased 2 bags, jalapeño & horseradish. [Ya’ll know I like my foods spicy.] Unfortunately, had to cancel all other stops, pop Advil & prop the leg.
Early to bed, early to rise – will be good to get home. Home, sweet Colorado home.
Place Bib Athlete Name Finish Time
423 290 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE CO 4:34:06
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- Good Morning from Kenosha!
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- sunrise start on beautiful Lake Michigan
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- State #28 done, digging Wisconsin. Shower, lunch, then Mars’ Cheese Castle. Happy Saturday! — at Kenosha Lakefront.
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- Wouldn’t be Wisconsin without cheese curds, right?
Greetings from Home!
Marathon morning in Kentucky. Overcast & humid – 90% chance of rain, just a matter of time.
“My Old Kentucky Home” played pre-race. Felt like Derby day. FAANNNTASTIC!
Halfers & full marathoners shared today’s Start. Assigned Corral D, minute between each starting corral. Expecting heavy rain, overdressed for the a.m. humid temps. Began stripping layers after mile 2; holding on to discarded clothing, still sensing precip.
Mile 8 – Churchill Downs.
My step-father gambled on the horses for years. First Derby winner I remember was filly Genuine Risk in 1980; officially Derby-hooked after Gato del Sol’s victory two years later – a gray horse running 21-1 odds, 10th highest payout in Derby history. Skip was killed in a car accident in 2008. Every time I watch horse racing, I remember Skip. Always.
Fast forward to 2015 – passed mile marker 8, now running in front of horse racing’s most iconic track, Churchill Downs. Tunneled down, then UP thru the Entrance where next weekend’s Derby horses will meet the track. WOW! Experience I’ll soon not forget.
Entered Iroquois Park, canopying trees shielded me from streaming mist/light rain. Up & down rolling hills.
Mile 11 – downpour. Gave in to the rain, all part of the experience. Cold, yes – but I’m gonna survive, just gonna get really really wet 🙂
Hill at mile 21, saw a military guy slow to a crawl – “hit the wall“. “Come on, man”, waved him up & he climbed that hill. Short “thanks, man” & we kept running. Mile 22. Mile 23: JT, a college kid in a bright pink singlet, charity-running for breast cancer. Military Guy called out “Come on” – & now we were 3. Mile 25, I slowed. “Just one more mile” – now it was Murray State providing encouragement.
Tightest camaraderie to date between 3 strangers. I thanked JT as we received our medals. Military Guy caught up as I was collecting my post-race bagel. Introduced his wife. I congratulated him on his 1st marathon finish.
Will long remember finishing today’s marathon – my 27th – & the camaraderie shared between three strangers endurance running in Louisville, Kentucky. Thanks guys, appreciate the journey.
Kentucky Derby Marathon: K R Haga – FINISH in 4:31:13. Time of Arrival: 12:02 PM.
LOVED mile 8 – running thru Churchill Downs. Experience I’ll soon not forget.
#27 in the books, next weekend – Wisconsin
After a whirlwind day of exploring KC & local Olathe, ended Friday with bib pick-up – including a selfie with Oz’ infamous archvillain, Wicked Witch of the West. Seemed appropriate running in Kansas 🙂
Woke Saturday early, hotel check-out, short drive from Lenexa to Garmin Headquarters in Olathe – where I promptly took a 30 minute nap before lining up under dark clouds in high humidity.
Singing of the National Anthem, then off we ran thru downtown Olathe. Heard thunder at mile 4, sky briefly lit up at mile 8. Kept thinking: run quick – don’t want race organizers pulling me off course early for inclement weather. Safety first…I suppose. 50 State Quest isn’t cheap – previously have had 2 marathons cancel. Loss of race fees, flights. Determined to finish all 50 in 2016 🙂
Down came the rain. Not the sprinkles we call precip in Colorado but Kansas/Midwest rain. Big drops accompanied with blowing wind. Scored a free race cap from a volunteer (thanks) but that only held off the inevitable. Eyes burned thru mile 12, hair sweat-drenched from the early humid miles – now salt-free, rinsed by sheets of rain.
Entered Indian Creek Trail at mile 16, where rain concerns were replaced with mud. Wasn’t worried about keeping clean – shoes soaked, muck splattered legs – concern was staying upright. Slick mud oozed on paved walkways under crossways & up bridges.
Felt Spartan racing in mud, pushing water from my shoes with each new strike on the pavement.
Rain subsided by mile 23. Not my typical run – generally I go out quick & sloth the last 4 miles. Today however, I was steady Eddie – nice even pace from mile 16 on. Who wants to walk in the rain, right? Positive note taken from less than ideal weather.
Keenan Haga was at Garmin Marathon in the Land of Oz.
April 18 at 1:27pm · iOS ·
thunder, lightning & buckets of rain – everything you’d expect in the Land of Oz. tough run conditions but scored a ‘yellow-brick’ medal & first race shirt with a flying monkey 🙂 check Kansas off the list folks, next week Kentucky.
2015 Garmin Marathon in the Land of Oz Result – Olathe, KS
K R Haga
Congratulations On Your Finish
Here Are Your Ultramax Sports Personalized Results:
Overall Place 329
Finish Time 4:42:48.23
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- pre-race selfie with Oz’ Wicked Witch
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- scored a ‘yellow-brick’ medal & race shirt with a flying monkey
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- over half way now – only 24 states to go!
