Marathoning

UK Run Challenge (May edition)

Published May 15, 2018

it doesn’t get Easier. you get Stronger.

May 2018 update: Completed my first 6 week marathon stretch since 2015. 6 marathons, 5 US states, 2 continents.

3 races remaining ‘til GOAL, including my most difficult ultra attempt EVER – the Dirty 30 in Black Hawk. 32 miles of rugged Colorado trail, up-n-over FIVE mountain peaks – at ALTITUDE. Goal time: 8 hours.

Milestones:

April 25th – Nashville Marathon registration (cuss-n-discuss 26 miles w/ Sis; race date: November 10th)
May 1st – Prince Edward Island Marathon registration (2 Canadian provinces/year – 10 province FINISH: 2020)
May 6th – confirmation: Knysna Elephant Park, South AFRICA (2 nites lodging/July 2018)

June MANTRA: SEE it, BE it, BELIEVE it, ACHIEVE.

No excuses, finish the journey. BIGHORN in 30 days.

Race ReCap: 2 marathons, one ultra, all PRs. Best 50K EVER (Vienna IL); 50 State PRs in Delaware & Massachusetts.

Marathoning Streak: 54 months

Mileage ReCap: ended May at 942 miles (only 141 miles from GOAL)

: ended May at 942 miles

: 2018 medal medley

Lands End to John O’Groats

1083 miles, the length of Britain

GOAL: 15 June 2018

Ended Month 5 near Urquhart Castle, 21 kilometres southwest of Inverness, 2 kilometres east of Drumnadrochit.

Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.

The present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though built on the site of an early medieval fortification. Founded in the 13th century, Urquhart played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century. It was subsequently held as a royal castle, and was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Earls of Ross. The castle was granted to the Clan Grant in 1509, though conflict with the MacDonalds continued.

In the 20th century it was placed in state care as a scheduled monument and opened to the public: now one of the most-visited castles in Scotland. The castle, situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness, is one of the largest in Scotland in area. It was approached from the west and defended by a ditch and drawbridge.

: Mile 942: Urquhart Castle

: postcard journey (Month 5)

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Race of Champions Marathon

Published May 6, 2018

Another Friday post-midnite arrival, airport hotel sleeps. Free shuttle return in the a.m., rental car pickup. Things to do, people to see AND of course, ‘nother East Coast marathon (state count creeping over 30 now) 🙂

Saturday, play day. Birthday-celebrated with Michaela, afternoon’d in Hartford’s Elizabeth Park. Bit early in the season for roses but gardens of multi-coloured tulips they got. Warm temps, beautiful sunshiny day. Spring has sprung in Connecticut.

Trip to the Disney Store (can always count on Dave) then went our separate ways. Tough to say goodbye. Heart tug 💔

Race of Champions Marathon. Easy hour drive north to West Springfield Mass for bib pick-up. Motel check-in, watched the Kentucky Derby at Roberto’s in Northampton – PIZZA dined, taste buds WOW’d (& boxed leftovers). Highly recommended.

56th Annual Marathon & 4th Annual Half Marathon

Sunday May 6th, 2018 8:00am

America’s 10th Oldest Marathon and the 19th Oldest Marathon in the World….

The race is a full marathon, 26.2 miles. The course is USATF certified and can be used as a qualifying race for entry into the Boston Marathon. The course is very scenic including country roads, both dirt and paved.

Never previously marathon’d in the Berkshires but lotta personal history here.

Hundred years ago I left the South & resettled here (seems a lifetime ago). Springfield, Chicopee & Holyoke – had apartments in each. Took classes in 5 local colleges/universities, pooled my credits, finished 2 degrees in 3 ½ years. Ash was born, Michaela 3 years later. Lotta history, soooo much spaghetti, college poor. Bank teller employed, unloaded planes for UPS, delivered Sunday newspapers AND finished university. 5 years later I’d be working in Russia, travelling Europe kids in tow. Crazy wonderful life.

Sunday morning drizzle, again. Made peace this year, have become a HUGE FAN of RAIN. Cap, light jacket, keeps Spring temps cool/manageable. Bring on da RAIN, this runner fades in heat. Late 8am Start, no chance for a post-race shower. No YMCA with Sunday hours, seeing an airport splash bath in my afternoon future. Sorry fellow travellers. LOL>

One mile of Highway 5, then two miles UP UP UP Reservation Road to Mt. Tom [former ski resort]. Forgotten ‘bout hills. Can suck leg strength dry beginning of a run (lactic acid tight). Today however, really good head space. Slow & steady pace.

Never looked at the course, didn’t know how long this would last…and then, mighty nice surprise. DIRT. Run medicine. Three laps of rolling up-n-down trail, miles 5 thru 12. LOVE LOVE LOVED. Hardest of the day’s rain fell while canoped by tall leafy forest.

Small lake, rocks, lotta tall GREEN TREES. Super scenic.

Next 10 or so miles, road-ran thru small New England towns. Cows grazing/horses/quiet country farms. Folks sleeping, lulled lazy by Sunday’s morning rain. Digged today’s course. Really good head space.

Few congested Holyoke streets before directed on the town’s bike path. Built alongside a stretch of railroad/lotta trees though no canopy (LONG memorable patch of downpour). Shoes SOAKED, feet smacked pavement. Started seeing late Halfers sharing the course. Talked with 2 inspirational Halfers. Lotta weight loss, both ladies HUGE life changes. Not easy to get off the couch & MAKE CHANGE!

Last 2 miles ‘long Highway 5, relegated to urban sidewalk. Lotta roadside trash. It is what it is – but whatta shame, BEAUTIFUL 20+ miles of New England only to FINISH in ordinary. 15 minutes slower than last Sunday. I’ll take it, no frown. WHOLE LOT hillier.

Burgers/dogs/potato salad: HUGE post-race FOOD stretch AND a new Massachusetts PR. I ❤ New England.

WALTER CHILDS RACE OF CHAMPIONS

Holyoke, MA MAY 6, 2018

MARATHON RACE RESULTS

== ===== ======================

41 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE CO 4:35:41

: things to do, people to see AND another East Coast marathon

: Spring in Connecticut

: gardens of colour

: beautiful sunshiny day

: Michaela Month

: scenic run UP Mt Tom

: hills, RAIN & my new Massachusetts PR

: I ❤ New England

Posted in Family, Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Leave a comment

Delaware Marathon

Published April 29, 2018

2^nd touchdown in Philly in 4 weeks. Friday post-midnite arrival, airport hotel sleeps. Free shuttle return in the a.m., bought a ticket on Del Express to weekend’s marathon destination: Wilmington, Delaware (no driving/no rental car/LOVED the break).

2^nd marathon in America’s 1^st State, that’s little Delaware’s claim to fame (similar to PEI claim’s in Canada). Very different geography than my 2015 experience. Wilmington’s an urban crawl of Philly; Rehoboth Beach a lazy seaside village. Same state, opposite end.

DoubleTree host-hotel digs, bib check-in in the lobby. Check, done.

Saturday afternoon plans? Delaware’s History Trail, short two blocks away. Old Town Hall (circa 1798), Delaware Research Library, Willingtown Square & a 2-hour stroll thru the Delaware History Museum.

LOVE American history. Colonial America, Civil War history in the South & exploration/settlement of the American West.

What I learned ’bout Delaware: Originally settled in the 1600’s, first settlements along the Christina River made up New Sweden. Wilmington’s Christina River (flows from Pennsylvania to Maryland) named after Queen Christina of Sweden. America’s Dutch, Swedish & German colonies were taken by the English in the late 1670’s. However, English-ONLY wasn’t adopted by the Colonies ’til 1795 (over German). ALSO, did not realize Delaware was a slave state. Assumed only the Deep South enslaved Africans as forced labour.

School’s over. Early to bed, early to rise. Sunday morning marathon.

Woke to light rain, gusty wind. Mile walk to Tubman Garrett. Day’s goal: quick finish for a hotel shower 🙂

2 lap route crisscrossing Wilmington’s Christina & Brandywine Rivers. Downtown city course, one significant hill (mile 7/mile 20), nice forested stretch thru Brandywine Park. Overcast, cool temps (albeit windy) – all the right elements for running.

Ran STRONG today. first sub-2 Half of the year. Didn’t drop pace ‘til mile 19. Fell off for 5 miles, finished last two miles just over 10 min/pace. No ear buds, no drama – FINISHED with a smile. Marathon weekend 5 of 6 & I’m only getting STRONGER ❤

SUCCESS? Scored a shower before flying home. Next weekend: Massachusetts.