Marathoning

Horsetooth Half Marathon 2014

Published April 13, 2014

Jeez what a difference a year makes – or in the case of Spring weather, how ‘bout a day?

Woke to snow & sleet so hit the road early – it’s race day in Fort Collins, my 2^nd Horsetooth Half Marathon. Decided soon after Atlanta to try a Half the weekend before my next 2 marathons – as a competitive long run. My FULL race times have been worsening over the past 4 months – trying to mix it up by throwing in a 13 mile hill run 6 days before Salt Lake.

Snowy, cold & hilly – my new fave race conditions. Whereas I’ve been struggling in the humid South (Austin & Atlanta), I scored my best time in months running at almost 6,000ft in snow & pelting ice.

Almost bit it on the wooden bridge at mile 9 – super slick. Thanks to the anonymous runner who grabbed my right shoulder, stopped my fall. Took almost 6 full minutes off last year’s time. Heck, yeah!

SLC marathon next weekend. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow 🙂

Place Bib Name Nettime

284 4685 K R Haga 1:53:57

: snowy, cold & hilly – my favourite conditions

: race day snow after 70-degree Saturday

: lotta elevation — felt the 6% grade at mile 7

Georgia Marathon

Published March 23, 2014

“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” – Dean Karnazes

Quote sums up my 5^th FULL:

first marathon in USA Eastern Time Zone (never adjusted to the 2 hour time difference)
last marathon in the South for several months (temps are already heating up in Dixie)

Race Highlights:

the Omni Hotel (marathon started at CNN Center – super convenient)
Martin Luther King Nat’l Historic Site (mile 4)
the Carter Center (mile 6)
Emory University (mile 16) – super positive student volunteers
Georgia Tech (mile 24) – universities are always mighty scenic, runner eye candy

Paced well for 14 miles – up and down, up and down, one hill after another.

At mile 16, I grabbed water. At mile 17, I started walking up the highest hills. At mile 23, my quads ceased – too many hills, serious lactic acid buildup, began walking. Pulled it together & produced a slow crawl for the final mile thru Atlanta’s downtown.

Not a fine moment but I finished. Tough day – my 2^nd worst time to date.

1575 K R Haga Louisville CO 4:45:14

: 7am start – all smiles

: corralled in downtown Atlanta – 13,000 runners

: G-A Marathon FINISHER!

: Centennial Olympic Park

UPDATE:

4 weeks ‘til my April marathon in Salt Lake. Only 2 days after Atlanta I biked 17 miles (indoors), followed by a 1000 yard swim. Wednesday 545am, I biked another 17 miles & on Thursday (only 4 days after the Georgia Marathon) I ran 10 miles.

Already solved my calorie count in March (now eating 5 small meals a day). In April, I start outdoor cycling AND train for marathon #6 (my first in altitude). Colorado winter almost over, time to fully commit. No more excuses.

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, South | 2 Comments

Austin Marathon, Texas

Published February 16, 2014

Race day. Up at 5am, already 65 degrees & crazy humid – in February!

Spent 30+ minutes locating parking in the designated state capitol parking garage(s) – Austin’s gotta resolve I-35 traffic congestion & downtown parking (friendly suggestion) – then jockeyed my way near the 4 hour pace group.

Whole lotta runners. More than 18,000 participating in either the half or full marathon events.

Marathon was rolling hills from mile 9 thru mile 19. Yep, 10 miles of gradual UP.

Austin only provides marathon ‘Finisher’ tees, so picked up a local Longhorns tee for race day. By mile 9, my new cotton tee was soaked. Let the chaffing begin – that’s all I’m gonna say here but ouch, live & learn. Cotton never again plus wearing strategically placed Band-Aids in every marathon going forward.

Assume it was the humidity but whatever the excuse, today just wasn’t my best. Felt tired, struggled for motivation & was passed by my pace team a few miles past Lady Bird Lake. And because of super tight security, had no one encouraging me at mile 19, 20 or 21 (aka – Runner’s Wall). Just me this day. Tough one.

As the race day drug on, felt more & more like a fraud in that Longhorns tee. Whatever, I’ll take it 🙂