Marathoning

Frisco Railroad Run

Published April 27, 2019

There are just two things that need to be accomplished on race day:

1) Make it to the starting line

2) Make it to the finish line

Simple as that ~ Dean Karnazes

Documentation submitted & certified – just a matter of finishing my last FOUR marathons. All roads lead to Deadwood, the ‘Wild West’ South Dakota town where I’ll complete my SECOND 50 State journey ‘round our diverse/inclusive country. Vast different script than plays on TV media.

Juneau to Portland MAINE. Birmingham to Hilo. Our bonds are STRONG. Same heartfelt support & appreciative cheers in Meridian, Mississippi as in St. Paul, Minnesota. 6 continents now under my belt, still absolutely NOTHING BETTER than Team U-S-A, nowhere on Earth. Home.

Two-week run break. Starve a cold, feed a fever? Whatever the adage, ignored chest colds can also develop pneumonia. Legs rested/strong on Thursday but lacked lung capacity after 8 miles. One step after another, just gotta get it done today. Run, walk, crawl – pace myself & FINISH.

Willard Missouri. President Truman rode a train thru Willard (1948), town’s claim to fame. 4 hours from St Louis, 3 south of Kansas City. Luckily for me, only a 10 minute-drive from Springfield Regional, DIRECT flight from Denver. One chance daily, same plane back. Thanks, travel GODS.

Friday afternoon travel, Saturday morning run. Bib pick-up at the Middle school. 6am Start.

Few steps of greenway before the first show of water. Dark clouds. Low grumble. Two distant lightning sheets, ‘nother slow rumble. Rain first 6 miles & that was that. Storm threat gone.

Marathon delay didn’t affect my day – 50k DAY. Wasn’t lapped [by marathoners] ’til Garmin ticked 17/18, ‘bout same time I started to WALK. Day goal to run 16 miles. Pushed two past target. Long FOUR-HOUR (13-mile) return to Willard. No mas, nothing left. Excuses. They always come easy.

SUN 2^nd Half & a HUGE unexpected SURPRISE. Adam & Tye from ANTARCTICA. WHAAAT? Moment, time. Memory compartmentalized with penguins, my Punta Arenas hang-crew. In MISSOURI? Stopped, hugged. Crazy life. Ya just never know 🙂

31 miles. Check, done. Railroad tie plaque & a YMCA shower. Really really LONG day.

Wisconsin next. 8 days away. Uff-Dah, You-Betcha, I got this. Only THREE states to go!

11th Annual FRISCO Run

Saturday, April 27, 2019, 06:00am

Willard Middle School Willard, MO

29 KEENAN HAGA 6:55:42.50 LOUISVILLE 50K

: DIRECT from Denver

: Missouri’s Rail-to-Trail

: Frisco Highline Trail

: Truman ‘whistle stop’ (1948)

: 50k Day, 3 states to go

: Middle School FINISH

: thanks Mom ❤️

: brother’s GYM, super PROUD!

Posted in Heartland, Marathons/Ultras | Tagged urban-trail | Leave a comment

sibling PACT

Published April 15, 2019

Showers early Monday in Boston, clearing by 10am. Not the cold sleet mix experienced at last year’s Marathon.

Palm Sunday sleeps only 45 minutes away in New Hampshire. Heard metro weather updates, watched interviews with Des Linden (2018 women’s winner) & Sarah Sellers (the Arizona nurse who surprised last year’s pro field, finishing 2^nd).

The Boston Marathon, my sport’s most visible/named event. Most ALL have a ‘Boston’ memory.

Stephen’s family drove from Nova Scotia last April to support daughter Kyla. Boston-finished in under 4 hours. STRONG! 💪

Personally run Massachusetts TWICE — but never Boston. Falmouth on the Cape, Holyoke in the Berkshires.

Not fast enough for Boston. Never even BQ’d. As a guy, I’d have to cut 30 minutes off my PR – from FOUR years ago.

St Louis Marathon

text conversation with Sis:

One day before we hang it up. We’ll pay the stupid $10k [charity entry], run in the very back and embrace our hatred of majors. Our last hurrah. You’ll be 80 and I’ll be 78.

YES! I need to do this once in my life – and I’ll NEVER be fast enough.

Ditto. We’ll get our walkers out and away we’ll go!

All in – it’s a plan. There’s no half for Paul – have to be happy waiting with a whiskey high ball!

Yes. He’ll be our cheer team. Logistics man.

Sadly, Stephen won’t be there. He’s 7 years older than me. I’ll leave a pic of my medal on his spot. ‘Cause I’m not parting with the actual marathon GOLD – HAHA! Boston 2050!

He’ll be alive in 5 years. By then I can retire to halves. 2025 is a nice #.

Hmmm – ok, better plan – I’ll never remember 2050 anyway with my dementia genes.

YES! Ditto.

Boston 2025! It’s a plan.

Sibling PACT. Nothing’s stronger than Blood.

Now when folks ask – MUCH better answer. Woo-hoo, Boston 2025! Thanks Sis 😊

: Boston 2025

: chowda & Heartbreak Hill

: nothing’s stronger than Blood

: Christmas gifts hung; medal MOVE next rainy day

: best LUCK EVER ☘️

Posted in Marathons/Ultras | 2 Comments

Milano Marathon

Published April 7, 2019

Late 9am start. Showered/dressed, bib pinned, bags packed. Train to Malpensa post-marathon, hotel change – last night sleeps ‘cross from Milan’s Terminal 1.

Quiet walk thru Montanelli Public Gardens (city’s oldest Park), déjà vu mirror-moment. April last year: Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo. Birds spring-nesting/making their presence known, muddled sound of runner conversation. Did a dry run yesterday (walking off evening PASTA). No surprises – knew where to go/when to be there.

Bib shown, entry granted: Sector 7. Lot goes into marathoning international. Aside from registration/foreign language emails – medical certificates, applying for an Italian Federation ‘RunCard’, Visas (Brazil/Russia). They’re not all that way but Brazil, Italy, Russia, South Africa – jumped thru some Hula-sized loops. Learned to pace myself.

Little by little, bit by bit…one day, TODAY all comes together. Race day in MILAN, ITALY. Surrounded by centuries of architecture. All worth the effort 😊

Short heavy burst of water five minutes to Start. Short-sleeved natives noticeably shivered, muttered in Italian. Been a RAIN MAGNET this year. Cap, jacket, new gloves. Merino wool. Lesson learned from last Sunday’s COLD Indiana deluge. Il Duomo, Teatro alla Scala – first Half tour highlights.

Mentally plugged in. For me, that’s the battle. Easily noise distracted. Race horse requiring blinders. Inclement weather helps. Shifts focus. Day’s physical challenge? Cobblestone, SLICK & uneven. No slips, no falls welcome. Focus, take my time. Bloodied & bruised first mile in New Zealand, I can be taught.

Picked UP speed, mile 12. Third 10k my fastest (sub-9 min/pace, 30k timing mat). push, PUSH, push. Derailed the last 10k of course, hour-26 minutes. Yeah well, I’ll be ‘African’ next year. LOL>

Jonas. Runner tag-along Mile 23. Even young super heroes hit the wall, first marathon.

Shoulder tap. Walk, slow jog. Walk again, easy run. Quicker.

40k, two kilometers to go. Lost my run partner briefly (dude paced up too early). I’d see him again in 5 minutes. Bit rattled, outta breath. Gave him the universal ‘thumbs up’. Jog, canter, steady again – STRONG under the Banner. PRIMO! PRIMO! I shook my head AFFIRMATIVE. First marathon FINISH.

The look, the excitement. Any language, completely understood. CONGRATS man.

Metro to Centrale, train to Malpensa. Early start tomorrow. Goin’ HOME, Colorado HOME ❤️