Luckily after a late nite of TV (NCAA March Madness stops for no one), enjoyed my latest marathon start to date – 9am. Scored off-street parking near the Start, then waited inside Cape May’s historic Congress Hall with a thousand new friends.
Lotta sunshine, check. Lotta wind, check. Cold day (27°F), check. All the makings for a new PR 🙂
Hats off for the National Anthem; then ran seaside down Cape May’s boardwalk, UP the short bridge past the US Coast Guard Training Center, another mile to Wildwood. Lotta runner traffic ‘til the 10-miler split off, followed by 2 more miles of boardwalk.
Posted a 1:48 Half – good pace. Maybe, possibly, sub-4 today?
Happy time: Saw my friend Stephen in Stone Harbor near mile 17. Super motivating. Many thanks!
Unfortunate: Miles 23-25 were a slog – lotta headwind & no spectators as we ran thru ‘new construction’ neighborhoods…wood-framed in-process homes, hammers, drills & work crews. Odd setting; lost focus.
Last mile, GORGEOUS – ran oceanside on Sea Isle City’s boardwalk. Seemed I could see the Finish for miles.
2nd sub-4 finish of 2015. Boo-yah! 3:55:10 – 11 seconds faster than my previous PR in Indianapolis last November. Great way to kick off my ‘7 week, 7 marathon, 7 state’ challenge. FAAANNNTASTIC!
Next weekend’s adventure? Charlottesville, Virginia – home of Thomas Jefferson.
Ocean Drive Marathon
Haga, K R 3:55:10 Louisville, CO, USA
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- Congress Hall, Cape May NJ (pre-race mylar wrap)
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- 2nd sub-4 finish of 2015 — FAAANNNTASTIC!
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- cold & windy: my kinda marathon, 23rd state finish & a new PR — I heart Jersey 🙂
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- dehydrated & cold — post-marathon relief in the medic tent
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- every young girl’s dream, being crowned “Polar Bear Queen”
What a cliff diver must feel just as he pushes off – that’s the feeling in my gut, knowing what I’ve signed for, knowing what’s ahead.
Fear & excitement, same time – how will my body hold up? Can I run injury free? How far & how often do I train when running full marathons over 7 consecutive weekends? Can I stay consistent with sleep & not blow nutrition – different airports, different time zones, racing in unpredictable weather, travelling from New Jersey to North Dakota?
Breathe, then…break a grin – good or bad, this experience is gonna change me.
- 03/29/15 Ocean Drive Marathon NJ
- 04/04/15 Charlottesville Marathon VA
- 04/12/15 Go St Louis Marathon MO
- 04/18/15 Garmin Oz Marathon KS
- 04/25/15 Kentucky Derby Festival KY
- 05/02/15 Wisconsin Marathon WI
- 05/09/15 Fargo Marathon ND
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- squirreling around on Pearl St
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- first dress-up, then treat
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- Colorado cowboy
week’s training inspiration – Steve Prefontaine & Everest
Sweet Home Alabama – marathon #22. Super psyched to be part of Montgomery’s 1st FULL marathon.
Didn’t sleep well nite before – sometimes for whatever reason, you just wake up not feeling it. Unfortunately, one of those days – gotta suck it up, pull up my big boy pants & post a result. Can’t finish what you don’t start.
Arrived early, welcomed with drizzle & warm temps. Pop, ran heavy for 4 miles, then tagged a local running group racing the Half, throwing 8 minute miles. Chatted 30-45 minutes, nice folks. Big hill at mile 10 & they were gone.
First 12 miles were gorgeous – old historical buildings, Alabama’s Capitol Dome, ran thru 2 campuses (Alabama State & Huntingdon).
Entered Maxwell AFB at mile 14. Shirt drenched from miles of drizzle & high humidity – struggled to wipe my face, salt burned my eyes. LOVED the first mile, support from servicemen & their families – and the planes. Double liked the planes. Miles 15-23 however, not so much. Sun, dusty airfields, nothing scenic. Concentration loss. Ran loops within the AFB – felt trapped for hours. Both 4 & 4:15 hour pace groups caught & passed me. Rough day, ran dehydrated.
Off Base, re-entered downtown, regained some form. Last hill – top of mile 25. Volunteers assured all downhill now (thanks). Half-mile to go, circled Riverwalk Stadium & ran thru the infield to the Finish.
UGGGGH-LY but I snagged another medal. Shook the Mayor’s hand (that was kinda cool), walked 20-30 feet more, then dropped to the ground. Sucked down two bottles of water & laid in the sun. Tough day.
Montgomery Marathon
Place Bib Finish Time
132 2075 K R Haga 4:38:33
It’s only March – gotta make peace with da heat.
Heading home, licking my wounds, then it’s Jersey shore baby – next race in 2 weeks.
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- State #22 done – check Alabama off the list
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- Alabama’s Capitol Dome
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- PSers tracking my journey at work (thanks Ash – awesome gift)
