Sunday morning, marathon morning.
Over the past few months, I’ve met a lotta marathoners. As a result, my FB newsfeed lights up on the weekends. Today I’m sharing the day with Rock n Roll Denver runners – crazy, I haven’t yet marathoned in my own home state. Strategy’s been to bang out an even mix of East Coast/West Coast races – based on ease of travel, cost & time away from work.
Not sure if Colorado will be my 50th, but keeping the possibility open. ALSO thinking NYC or maybe Hawaii. Wherever the location – it’s gonna be a party! 50 State Goal – 2016!
Arrived downtown early to secure parking, then slept like a bum in the rental until half past 7. Des Moines races 10,000+ strong – that’s a lotta runners, one of my largest marathon fields to date.
Long sleeves, gloves, a 2nd t-shirt – all geared up after last weekend’s chill in Rhode Island. Lesson learned.
Des Moines’ race route would be a mirror opposite of Newport. Lotta rolling hills over the first 17 miles, then flat to the finish. I felt strong today – despite marathoning only 8 days ago.
LOVE every marathon start. LOVE the excitement, the buzz, the music. LOVE our national anthem.
Hung close to the 3:40 pace group. Last weekend I went out fast for 15 miles before dropping back. This Sunday: same tactic, same result. But dang I was strong up the hills – unfortunately, no gas left in the tank for the flat finish.
Another ugly form finish but timed within 4 minutes of last weekend’s race. Sweet!
Mentally I’m getting stronger. Heading home with a Plan to improve nutrition, increase core & sub-4 in 2015 (Duluth won’t be a one-time wonder). Consistency is the key.
Lucky #13 marathon FINISHER! Woo-hoo!
Indy in 2 weeks, then another 3 races in 2014 (Vegas, Tulsa & Rehoboth Beach, Delaware). I’ll end 2014 at 17 states – that’s roughly a third complete. Heavy race schedule planned Jan-June 2015 (minimum 2 marathons a month), then taking off the summer. It’s 14er season in Colorado plus ya’ll know I’m not a fan of running in hot weather.
Missing Ro – will be good to be home. I miss Colorado 🙂
bib place name location time
1975 781 K R Haga Louisville, CO 4:21:28
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- 13 states COMPLETED — liking my progress!
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- 2014 Nov-Dec races (tan); 2015 Jan-Jun schedule (green)
Marathon Morning!
Left my Narragansett B&B before 6am, crossed RI’s scenic Jamestown-Verrazano bridge into Newport, then 20 minutes to Second Beach in Middletown to catch the marathon Start Line bus.
Wilted 2 weeks ago in 90 degree Nebraska heat. This day I shivered in short sleeves – morning temp, a chilly 39°. Gonna start packing a variety of clothes during the season change – lesson learned. That said, LOVE running in cool weather – not a hot weather person, don’t think that’s ever gonna change.
Waved at the race drone hovering overhead, then ran alongside ocean the first few miles. Whatta view! Felt really good early on – kept pace with the 3:45 race pack thru mile 15. There I grabbed water & my race pack posse was gone.
Kept pace to mile 17 where I saw my CT bestie Dawn at the Sachuest Nat’l Wildlife Refuge. Haven’t seen Dawn since last September in Iceland. Bestest mile 17 pick-me-up ever!
Hills started at mile 18 and didn’t let up ‘til mile 24. Yep, even oceanside marathons have hills – LOL>
Shuffle-ran to the Finish – ugly form but whatta 180 turnaround from Nebraska.
383 K R Haga 4:17:22 LOUISVILLE CO
He’s baaaaack – 12 marathons in the bag, 38 states (& 6 continents) to go!
[Slipped in my continent stat – a man can dream, right? 🙂 ]
Spent an hour at Point Judith soaking in sun & ocean breezes at my favourite lighthouse.
Ended Rhode Island, dining waterside at MatuNuck Oyster Bar in Wakefield. Seared scallops & risotto – YUM! Last fine dined with Stephen & Dawn in Akureyri, Iceland. Warning World: these 2 set the bar high!
Completely-over-the-top race weekend – good food & even better friends. 2014 top 5 memory.
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- marathon with an ocean view 🙂
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- double fist pump – Newport Marathon finisher!
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- favorite lighthouse – 10 minutes south of Narragansett
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- oysters in bourbon chipotle butter
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- seared scallops & risotto – YUM!
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- Hello Ro – LOVE this guy!
Hypnotically watched buffalo run in waves over the open prairie, toured the world’s 6th longest cavern at Wind Cave National Park – so what next? Marathon #11 – in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Arrived in Scottsbluff late – just enough time to pick up my race bib & head over to the pre-race pasta dinner in Gering. Listened to high school football over the radio – Scottsbluff on one station, neighboring Gering on another. LOVE small town America.
Actually slept in. 8 a.m. marathon start on a unseasonably hot 90-degree day on the Great American Plains (i.e. no trees). Not ideal K* conditions…but it is what it is – can’t change the weather.
Would love to blame hot temps for my worst-ever marathon performance, but if I wanna stay honest to the process – gotta call myself out. Reality is, I’ve dropped both intensity & dedication since Ironman.
you’ve run 10 marathons, why do you still train so much?
truth is: since evening temps dipped last month, I’ve skipped a lotta early morning runs – opting to sleep late.
you can eat whatever you want, you’re gonna run it all off anyway
Up 11 lbs since July, this boy can put away a meal – and then some. ALSO haven’t made the best food choices…pizza, spaghetti, mac n cheese & bread have all crept back into the diet. Comfort food – a sign something’s gone awry.
Soooo…no negativity directed toward this well-run Western Nebraska marathon – I sabotaged today’s results all on my own.
Positive – scenic run thru Scotts Bluff National Park & miles of Nebraska corn fields
Negative – roadside rattlesnake at mile 2
Negative – crazy HOT temps; 2nd to Montana but tough to acclimate after the prior week’s snow
Negative – hit rock bottom as a runner; surprised/shocked how my body shut down
Positive – race volunteer Ali who kept me iced & coherent from mile 15 to the Finish
Negative – walked for miles; it’s a marathon – not a walk-a-thon
Positive – NEVER considered quitting: 8 miles to go; only 5 miles then you can stop; come on, anyone can walk 3 miles!
Positive – short stretch of trees by the cemetery at mile 25, possibly the only trees in all of Western Nebraska
Positive – military lady who screamed lotta positive comments ¾ mile from the Finish
Positive – ugly ending but I did not quit, I FINISHED my 11th state marathon
Positive – Zofran (shot in the rump, wait 15 minutes, then BAM…ready for fluids)
Positive – met 3 Marathon Maniacs, first time I’ve connected with athletes outside of hiking/14er community
Chin up cowboy – positives far outweigh the Negative.
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will — Mahatma Gandhi
After brushing off my bruised ego, gonna remember what a charmed life I lead. Truly blessed. Running oceanside in scenic Newport, Rhode Island in 15 days 🙂
1048 K R Haga 77/106 5:36:29
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- livin’ the good life
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- Nebraska corn
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- prairie rattlesnake – mile 2
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- crazy HOT day – how I felt at mile 25
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- FINISH pic w/ new Maniac friends
