Marathoning

Bismarck Marathon

Published September 15, 2018

3-hour flight delay Friday after-work. Only one chance to arrive before Saturday’s marathon Start. Yikes! Post-midnite touchdown in North Dakota’s capitol city. Rental car, hotel check-in, 4 hour sleeps.

Early 5:30am meet-up in Bismarck’s Cottonwood Park (thanks Marathon folks for allowing my last-minute, same-day bib pick-up). DIG places with human faces. I’ll remember ya.

USA Heartland, America’s friendliest people – both Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota & Nebraska. I’ve marathon’d all 50 States; I know. All-out outdoor beauty: Oregon, Washington, Colorado & Alaska. But if you wanna meet Americans with the kindest/truest hearts, stop & stay in our ‘fly-over’ states. Work ethic & Prairie.

Napped an hour in the rental, shed a layer, lined up for North Dakota x2. Ran Fargo my first 50 tour.

Cool overcast skies, perfect for Fall running. Combined FULL & Half Start – lotta company first 5 miles. Flat easy course, mix of suburbia & bike path. 2:04 first Half split. Pace faded after (my habit since Spring).

Riverwood Drive, Riverside Park, Riverfront Trail. Crossed the mighty Missouri at markers 5 & 16.

In-between miles spent travelling to/from neighboring Mandan. Surprise ‘Catch of the Day’? Run-miles 16 thru 24: riverside bike trail & a tree-lined golf course. Nice on the eyes.

Walk/jogged last 2 miles, sub-5 FINISH. No drama, just nothing in the tank. Medal Monday #128.

The Bismarck Marathon

K R Haga Residence: Louisville, CO

Thanks for competing in The Bismarck Marathon. You finished in a time of 4:54:56.

This message is provided as a service by Pickle Events, the timing company for the The Bismarck Marathon.

Lemons into lemonade. Unexpectedly snagged a lazy day – in Bismarck North Dakota (United cancelled my return flight home).

Long hotel shower. Local barbeque. Slow stroll around ND’s Capitol, a history-nerd’s playground. Historic buildings, flags, statues, monuments. (hotel TV) Community-access channel flooded with POLKA. 4-stars North Dakota, you had me at Sacajawea ❤️

: late midnite arrival

: North Dakota x2

: the Pioneer Family

: guided expedition, baby on her back

: TATANKA!

: North Dakota’s capitol city

: post-marathon GORGE ❤️

North Dakota LOVES Polka

Posted in Heartland, Marathons/Ultras | Tagged buffalo, capitol-domes, museo | Leave a comment

Huffin’ Puffin Marathon

Published September 3, 2018

Woke tired, head-zonked from time change. Only person rumbling early in my B&B digs. Holiday weekend, right? 😊

Rental ride from Stephen to Bowring Park (marathon Start/Finish). Morning lawn busy with ducks & geese. Beautiful well-maintained city green. Runner drop-off, early breakfast then he’d hike the island’s high historic overhang, Signal Hill. BIG miss on my end/super envious/lack o’ time. View from yesterday’s boat tour would have to suffice, be memory enough.

Gonna be a HILLY one today – why they call it the HUFFIN’ Puffin 🐧 Small race, mostly Halfers.

21.1k loop, 2 times around
twice past Quidi Vidi Village, two times thru Downtown, 1500ft elevation gain
two big hills, 5-mile marker & mile 8. Steady climb mile 11 thru the first Half.
big hills repeated, 18-mile marker & mile 21. Steady push mile 24 thru the Finish.

Comfortable temp, grey overcast skies (‘cept near end/sunshine for pics). Breezy downtown stretch (both loops). Totally lucked out. Never assured of weather, least of all September. Toughest month for unknowns. Rain, early snow, piercing sun, balmy humid heat.

Ran a strong first Half. Dropped pace at mile 12, second loop a full 2 minute/mile off target. Steady jogged ‘til the long grind at 24. Walk/run finish. HILL-Y course, I’ll take it. Mental-drag running 5-hour marathons (hour slower than last year). Outside longer, tougher on the body, concentration struggle/head demons. Right path though. Another FINISH, another medal & FREE race pics.

Newfoundland, my 5^th Canadian province. Stunning, MUST-SEE part of the world.

North American cousins, US & Canada. Distinct Atlantic/Pacific coastline cultures, farmer-heavy Plains, hiker-populated Rockies, an Arctic North & a couple major cities. Cousins. Québec, ugh, forgot about the French. Suppose we have Hawai’i 🌺

Next month: PEI, Prince Edward Island. Birthplace of Canada, smallest of the Provinces. Anne of Green Gables lore.

Subaru Huffin’ Puffin Marathon

Marathon Results

September 03, 2018

Timing & Results by Athletics NorthEAST

Name Bib 11 km 21.1 km 33.1 km Gun Time Chip Time Gender

Keenan Haga 25 59:50 2:07:58 3:33:13 5:05:04 5:04:59 M

: marathon Start/Finish

: downtown St John’s

: FINISH #127

: Newfy HILLY

: PUFFIN Power

: Terry Fox’s MARATHON of HOPE – started HERE, April 1980

: my 5th Canadian province

Posted in Canada, Marathons/Ultras | Leave a comment

Route 66 Challenge (August edition)

Published August 31, 2018

You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.

August 2018 update: BIRTHDAY month, good to be Colorado HOME.

Recommitted myself to process, completed my first 200+ mile month since Spring. In like a LION, out like a LAMB. Unexpected health change kinda sucked the wind outta my sails.

CAN – WILL – DO

Determined to maintain a strong fighting spirit all Fall season – my last busy run season. Many new places, lotta friend/family faces. Paring down the race schedule next 2 years.

Marathoning remains a passion – gotta CONTINUE the STREAK (almost FIVE years now) – but adventuring & my Faith is directing down another path. Unknown. Hoping that means lotta tall PEAKS & crazy heavy SNOW. My faith is STRONG.

Race ReCap: 2 marathons (Mt Sneffels COLORADO, Area 51 NEVADA). 21 FINISHES (including 2 new CONTINENTS) with four months of 2018 left to GO!

Marathoning Streak: 57 months

Mileage ReCap: ended August at 460 miles (89 miles behind GOAL)