Marathoning

Savin Rock Marathon

Published April 1, 2017

An intense north Atlantic storm pushed an unusual surge of sea ice at St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Friday, a sight not seen by some locals in decades.

The powerful Atlantic low, centered about 400 miles southeast of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, produced strong northeast winds gusting up to 70 mph in parts of Newfoundland.

This was the second major north Atlantic storm in a week.

End-of-month at work, no chance of taking [off] the day…especially after a half-month away in New Zealand. Friday night East Coast flight, connection in Chicago – Saturday a.m. marathoning in West Haven, CT. Tomorrow’s forecast – rain.

Descending from the clouds, water poured off my window. Not just rain, sloppy sleet & ice. Airport hotel by 1am, up again at 5. Crazy quick turnaround. Hour-15 minute drive to today’s marathon start. April 1^st – ironically, my first official ‘Spring’ 26.2 of 2017.

Race day bib pickup, bitter cold porta-potty, then retreated to the car for a 20 minute nap. Aside from visiting friends & family this East Coast trip, would be marathoning today with my Indiana pal, Carolyn. Finishing 26.2 in CT, would up her 50-State tally to 41. Go Carolyn!

8am Start, 2 loop course, cold & windy, 100% chance of rain. Beanie-opted after a ball cap gusted off my head. Luckily, weather man got it all wrong this day. NO rain. Strong headwind first 2 miles before skirting into town. Closely knit Brownstones provided multiple wind breaks in this old New England town. Mile 5 or 6, local WWI Memorial (photo opp).

Hilly run, deceptive beach o’ hills. Reality: hills helped equalize pace. UP UP UP, I’d lead. Downhill or flats, Carolyn flew.

Lap 2: took almost a 10-minute break. Indoor restroom, change of socks, waited while Carolyn de-layered (we had prepared for heavy rain). Head down, pushed thru the wind. Lost our way 2-3 miles in. Flagged down a police car who called in our location & got us back on track – 15 minutes, eight-tenths long, my first ultra of 2017 🙁 Stayed uber-focused race remainder…running long is never fun.

Nothing left/outta fuel at mile 24. ‘Go on, see you at the Finish’ – instead, Carolyn urged me forward. Good egg, thanks friend.

Back along the Sound, pushed thru swirling wind, circled ’round Savin Rock, then brought it home. 15 minutes slower than expected but another marathon FINISH. #85, my 2^nd in Connecticut.

Savin Rock Marathon & Half Marathon – April 1, 2017

Marathon » Overall Results

192 K R Haga 4:39:26.97

Goodbyes to my running pal, [she] needed to log 5 hours under her belt before hotel-crashing for the night [long drive home to Indiana]. I, on the other hand, enjoyed an impromptu dinner party with friends. Lived 9 years in New Haven, LOVE LOVE these guys!

: not just rain, sloppy sleet & ice

: layered UP, ready to RUN!

: first official ‘Spring’ marathon of 2017

: halftime show: change o’ socks

: Long Island Sound *BLING*

: post-marathon ‘circle of friends’

Savin Rock Marathon

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Leave a comment

Run the Year 2017 (March edition)

Published March 31, 2017

Run the Year Motto: EVERY day’s a run day, 2017 miles in 2017

March 2017 update: third month of 2017, 3^rd straight 200-mile month – killin’ it this year, HUGE!

31 more run days (haven’t missed since Christmas Eve), B-I-G work promotion PLUS celebrated being cancer-free – New Zealand, farthest I’ve EVER travelled (19 time zones away). Photo-blogged every day to hold myself run-accountable. SUCCESS!

April focus: short TAPER, quick RECOVERY

4 marathons, 5 weekend month. Taper, marathon, recovery x4 – Spring season, whole lotta running. No time goals (PR target: September/October) – but Bighorn training has commenced. Calendar marked/circled/bolded in Sharpie: June 17^th. 52 miles along the Wyoming/Montana border. 100% trail, HUGE elevation climbs, nothing lower than 9000ft.

Race ReCap: marathon’d New Zealand’s tropical North – Kirikiriroa – 4^th race outside the USA, my third continent.

Streaks: 98 consecutive run days, 40 months marathoning

Mileage ReCap: another 200+ mile month, ended March at 574 miles (70 miles ahead of goal)

: ended March at 574 miles

: work promotion, B-I-G!

: Milestone 400

: Milestone 500

The Redwoods (Rotorua NZ)

Posted in Run Challenges | Leave a comment

Kirikiriroa Marathon

Published March 18, 2017

My South Pacific marathon, Kirikiriroa. Bib pickup yesterday. Scoped out exactly where I needed to be, when I needed to be there…PLUS spent an afternoon in Hamilton Gardens — 2^nd fave thing in Hamilton, after Hobbiton of course 🙂

Kirikiriroa (Hamilton, in Māori)

Poor night sleep, less than 3 hours. Too many days abroad – super fun vacation, but missing Colorado. Auckland, Rotorua, then a week drive ’round South Island before returning 2 days ago to the Kiwi North. Noticeable weather difference on NZ’s two island nation. Unfortunately, marathoning on the hotter, humid twin. But it’s only weather…remembering today how crazy lucky I am in life, marathoning in the South Pacific two short months after Doc declared me ‘cancer-free’.

Travel buddy dropped me at 6:15am – still dark, no sun for 30 minutes into today’s 42k run. Followed a throng of local runners to the Start near an illuminated tent across the park. Last minute race details – luckily I wouldn’t be leading, absolutely no clue what was said. 2 weeks in, still struggling at pulling together full sentences [no good at the Kiwi accent].

8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 & we’re off. No starting gun, air horn, national anthem. 5K loop around & through Hamilton Gardens – mostly uphill before entering the River Road, along Hamilton’s Waikato River. Ran a short portion of this trek yesterday – rolling hills, like most of New Zealand…an island nation built on tectonic plates. Running hills for 2 weeks now, NZ-acclimated – bring it on!

Went out fast, pushed past runners walking the early hills. Tried to stay near the 2^nd pack, following their artificial light ‘til sunrise. Running downhill on the cobblestone path, caught an upraised brick in the dark. Took most impact to my left shoulder. Hit hard. Blood ran, pooled in my sock. Stung, but only road-rash abrasions. Walked a couple minutes, slow jog to the first aid station (first of only 3). Threw cups of water at my knee – ok, good to go.

First marathon body spill…the positive? Slowed pace, ran a steady 9:20/minute ‘til the 20K mark. Wairere Bridge, Horotiu Bridge, large horse farm off Pukete. Lost all tree cover, baked in morning sun, dehydrated fast. Took more water at 21K. Next international trek, wearing my hydration pack. Limited fluids/same situation last September in Russia – [guessing] we Americans are super spoiled with multiple water/sports drink stops in our marathons. No judgment, different culture – live & learn.

Bloodied knee stiffened. Last water station at 30K, 7 more miles to go. UP Cobham Bridge, entered Hamilton Gardens. Victorian Flower Garden backside, ran aside the park’s expansive Rhododendron Lawn…last half-mile. Came in HOT. Crossed the Finish, received my medal, then lawn-laid for 10 minutes. 84^th marathon, my 3^rd continent. YES!

Australia is also referred to as Oceania and in conjunction with Zealandia. Experts are heavily studying this area of the world and the definitions on the countries and areas that define it are changing rapidly. Currently, there are 3 confirmed countries that divide the continent of Australia. It consists of the country of Australia by the same name, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

Begged a late check-out & post-marathon shower from my fancy last-day NZ hotel. Late lunch, easy-going 2 hour drive to Auckland (haggled for ice cream with US dollars). Air New Zealand return flight not ‘til 11pm (yep, marathoning/flying home same day).

WOW whatta journey – furthest I’ve ever been from Colorado. Ran EVERY day – Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Franz Josef Village, Queenstown, Dunedin, Oamaru, marathon finish’d in Hamilton. Palm trees, glaciers, geysers, glow worms, whole lotta sheep ❤, Fiordland Nat’l Park, Hobbiton & penguins too! Nothing left undone, no regret life.