Crazy cold in Toronto 2 weeks ago, today’s forecast in New Hampshire: low 80’s.
Main Street FINISH
7am marathon start. Mid-50’s, sunny skies, pretty much perfect. Would go out fast, try to log as many miles as possible before temps started heating up.
My first cloverleaf course. Little confusing initially – overall, HUGE fan. Generally NOT excited ‘bout running loops…but when 4 of those 5 loops are unique, hardly seemed like lap running. Loved the ole New England feel of Nashua’s historic Main Street, [ran] out-n-back 4 times.
Started UPHILL past Nashua City Hall, on the right: Church of the Good Shepherd (circa 1871), [ran] by the Telegraph (city’s newspaper home), over the Nashua River, long trek down Manchester/Hill’s Ferry/Concord streets, east ‘round Atherton Park, back over the River, THEN Main Street-returned via my favourite chunk of local architecture – St. Mary & Archangel Michael’s Coptic Orthodox Church, built in 1898 (previously Roman Catholic)…beautiful old building, Nashua’s tallest church.
17 miles in, sun blazed warm. Avoided the day’s strongest rays for another 3 miles. Ran those miles alongside water-gorged canals in Mine Falls Park. Dirt path, BEAUTIFUL treed property – LOVED.
21-mile aid station. Stopped/regrouped, slow jogged back to Main. Loop 5: shortest of the cloverleafs. Seemed like a looooong 4.3 miles. Walk/jogged, water-doused my head at both aid stations.
Finish line. Came in hot, unsteady. Main Street never looked so good.
Southern New Hampshire Medical Center provided support in the Finish area. Blood pressure 80 over 40, body temp just over 93. Disoriented, not my best. Hour later, good to go ❤
Beautiful course, well run event – with friend support at both Start & Finish. Not a great finish (20 minutes slower than my past 2 marathons) but…a finish is a finish. #90 in the books.
3rd Annual Gate City Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay – FULL
#1095 KR HAGA
Place: 138
Net Time: 4:39:30.5
3 week run break. Next Sunday surrounded by Colorado mountains, I’m walking the bride. Nothing better.
-
- tried to log as many miles as possible before temps started heating up
-
- my first cloverleaf course
-
- 5th in 6 weeks, 12th of 2017
4:45am alarm, crazy tired start to marathon morning. Living B-I-G can have its drawbacks.
comparing FINISHER bling
Didn’t end Super Saturday early, even after a FULL day at Niagara Falls. My Canadian bestie next drove us from her Brampton home to downtown Toronto (45 minutes away). Trip wouldn’t be complete without a ride UP the CN Tower, tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Sarah however had other ideas. No trip would be complete without FINE DINING at the WORLD’s highest & largest revolving restaurant – 1,152ft UP. Yeah, yeah we walked out on a scary glass panel (2 floors BENEATH the restaurant) – but it’s our fancy 3-course meal, I’ll long remember. Thanks friend, GREAT idea!
Home by 11pm – morning came early. 5:15am climbed in Sarah’s car Milo, arrived at Ontario Place by 6am. 45-minute bus ride to Mel Lastman Square (marathon Start), dropped between the North York Civic Centre & Toronto Centre for the Arts.
7:30am Start, Orange Corral. Caught the 4 hour pace group after 2K (no miles today — we’re in Canada, running 42.2K). Cold damp day but unlike yesterday, no rain. After running in shorts the past 2 weeks, risked getting hot & donned a ski jacket…trying to outthink today’s 2nd Half along wind-happy Lake Ontario.
One steep climb 5K in. 3:50 pacers passed me going up, I caught them on the down. Stayed just ahead thru 25K. HUGE blast off Toronto’s Great Lake pushed me backward. Pacing bunny (that’s what they’re called in O’ Canada) went by on the left…and that was that. No mo’ gas. Flat course ‘round the lake (Martin Goodman Trail) but went out too fast too early. Strong headwind next 7 miles, running 9:40-10/min miles.
Entering Humber Bay Park, passed by the 4 hour pack. Wind at my back, 35K to the Finish. Slow/run combo to the end, no more slog. Either gonna run or walk fast – but no more humped shoulders/slow jog.
Realize I went out too fast today but on the right path – know I got it in me, I WILL PR this year. It will happen.
Back at Ontario Place, marathon FINISH #89. Couple seconds quicker than last weekend, 2nd fastest run of 2017. Third province completed & a new Canadian PR (almost 30 minutes better).
Convoluted flight path home, Monday morning work day awaits. Sunshine – home, sweet Colorado home 🙂
Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon
2017-05-07 • Marathon
583 K R Haga Louisville 04:17:04.8
-
- tonite’s glass elevator adventure
-
- tallest building in the Western Hemisphere
-
- HIGH ABOVE the City Aquarium
-
- CN Tower’s revolving 360 Restaurant
-
- MOOSE!
-
- ‘La Tour’ at night
-
- 3rd province, new Canadian PR
Run the Year Motto: EVERY day’s a run day, 2017 miles in 2017
April 2017 update: the magic of FOUR – 4th solid month of running (haven’t missed a day in 2017), 4th consecutive 200-mile month (already matched my 2016 best), finished 4 more marathons (in 3 different time zones).
4th year marathoning, scored my BIGGEST month ever – 279 miles – NEVER logged so many [miles] in a single month.
May focus: NUTRITION #bighorn52
from marathoner to ultra runner: Bighorn training has commenced. Calendar marked/circled/bolded in Sharpie: June 17th. 52 miles at altitude along the Wyoming/Montana border. 100% trail, HUGE elevation climbs, nothing lower than 9000ft.
Nutrition. Have yet to solve the riddle, [expecting a] 15 hour run day. Must learn to eat while running – or I’m doomed.
Race ReCap: 2 COLORADO marathons: Westminster’s Beat the Heat Marathon & Runs with Scissors in Brighton (finished 3rd place male). 2 COLD, high wind, HILLY runs: Savin Rock Marathon (in West Haven CT) & this weekend’s Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.
Streaks: 128 consecutive run days, 41 months marathoning
Mileage ReCap: fourth 200+ mile month, ended April at 853 miles (181 miles ahead of goal)
-
- ended April at 853 miles
-
- Milestone 600
-
- Milestone 700
-
- Milestone 800
Run the Year – May Newsletter
You are an inspiration! You might not be aware of the impact you have on those around you, but the fact that you have made fitness a priority in your life inspires others. When they see what you are doing, they start to believe that they can do it too.
“The bigger you dream, the bigger the challenges you take, the more inspirational you become!”
